PIR Reference Information

Marcy, the recruit sends you (or other person of his choice) a form letter (see example at http://www.navyformoms.com/group/newmomsstophere/page/5-what-your-o...) with the names of the 4 people he is inviting who can get in without waiting as well as the password that will be needed to download a vehicle pass if you are driving a vehicle onto the RTC.  Your recruit decides on the names to be put on the Access List and is the only person who can give out the password initially.

Thanks lemonelephant!  Should've explained :) I'm doing a scrapbook for a friend. My sailor just re-enlisted, it's been five years since I did PIR!  Don't they also send out something with hotel/motel info?  Like a separate brochure or something?

Aha! I just saw brochure referenced in the last line.  Anyone have that by any chance?

Marcy, you can try contacting MWR (see http://www.mwrgl.com/special_services/itt/itt.htm).  I tried the link at http://www.mwrgl.com/gen_info/rtc_graduation/hotels.htm, but it did not work.

 Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom - yes they do send a brochure with the letter. I got the letter with the graduation date, who are coming and all the information we are going to need for the PIR. Your recruits will send you one.

My daugther PIR was August 24, 2012 ship 9 div265. When is yours Marcy-Corpsman Mom?

chinadoll, Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom has a Sailor.  Her Sailor had PIR five years ago and has reenlisted.

I would like to know which is the closest airport Ohare or Midway or are they the same, and if we use Southwest it only lands at Midway so does a shuttle exist from there to Great Lakes?

My son is in ship 11 div 305 his form letter said his PIR is Sept 25th this is a tues? Could this be true? Anyone have any thoughts, I am trying to get time off work to go and will need to get  plane tickets asap. Thanks Jenideer

The number on the RTC's site for the Public Affairs Office is 847-688-2405, why not call them in the morning and get the information from them :)

jenideer:      was it hand written, it probably was supposed to be Sept. 28th?  You should post this in the bootcamp forum, so you will see other moms posting that they are the same division.....?

Is anyone in ship 4 div 820

My son didn't graduate 8/10 due to medical reasons. 'Im curios if he will have battle station and PIR opportunity. Will family be allowed? Someone mentioned pushing them out quickly once hes completed run to get on to nuke school

blythe9041, if he has been moved to the RCU this late, no he will not have PIR, but yes, he will be given the chance to pass any tests that he still needs and then have BS-21 with another division and then he will be sent off to A School as soon as it can be arranged and you may be able to visit with him there once that is permitted. Any other questions you have about how that works can be answered in the group, SHIP 04 DIV 2341, which I see you have joined.

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Navymassmom, be sure to join the group for your SR's PIR date, PIR 09/28/2012 TG 46 — 13 Divisions (307–316, 819, 820 & 946). As Dakota's Mom said, you will se everything as far as clothes at PIR. I suggest you wear business casual or dressy church wear with comfortable shoes. You will be seated in metal bleachers so keep that in mind. Also remember that your Sailor will be in dress whites so consider the occasion and what you want to look like in pictures.  Some do wear the division T-shirts to PIR, but a few have later said that they felt underdressed by doing so and I totally agree.  Save the T-shirts for other times when you are out and about.  You can wear the PIR ribbons anytime beginning the night before at the Meet and Greets (there is info on the 3 of them in your PIR group, but Sarge’s is getting the best reviews lately).  The gates open at 6:30 am and there will already be a line to get in.  Traffic gets worse the closer it gets to PIR time and with 13 divisions in that TG, traffic is going to be bad, so get there early.

I absolutely agree with lemon elephant, well put.  Appropriate wear is business casual (slacks - not jeans - or skirt and nice top) or dressy church.  Wearing t-shirts is too casual and disrespectful of the sailors, their instructors and the command officers in their dress uniforms.  

Also, we took the shuttle to graduation instead of driving, the car line was so long, by the time we got there we were maybe 15 feet from the gate because the shuttle was so much quicker! We also dressed nicely. His mom and dad were in slacks and nice shirts, and I wore dress capris and a nice dress shirt. I wore some dress sandals as well because we were told we would do a lot of walking that day. I highly recommend wearing some comfortable, but dressy, shoes. If you are comfortable wearing heels go for it, but if it's not your normal type of shoe doooon't do it lol. His mom had nice shoes but they weren't what she normally wears and she got some blisters by the end of the day =(.

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Looking for info from any parents that had a SR graduate(recently) that headed to Charleston after PIR.  Our PIR date is 10-5 and we are trying to arrange our departure flights and are torn between Saturday evening or Sunday.  Any feedback would be great.  Thanks.

Sandymomto3, only your Sailor will know his particular flight details. Know that even Sailors who are going to the same A School may be on different flights or fly from different airports depending on flight availability. Sailors usually fly out on Saturday, but flight availability issues could cause a Sailor to fly out on Sunday instead. Also, all of the Sailors are taken to the airport at the same time regardless of flight time, so your Sailor could be at the airport for a short time or several hours. If you are able to fly out on Sunday, then do so that you will have the most time with your Sailor. Send your SR a note card to write down the flight details for you and give to you after PIR.

Thank you for your help.  We are hoping for an airport delivery of his cell phone so hanging out at the airport would be fine with us.  

I spent all day at O'Hare with my daughter.  If you get there when they check in, you can get a pass to get through security and sit with them until their flight leaves.  I was there at 5:30 AM and her flight didn't leave until 4:30 PM.  It was worth it!

mom2e, here is the link to Lalas page message her and she will send you the information.

http://www.navyformoms.com/profile/Lala?xg_source=profiles_memberList

Lemonelephant:  Can you elaborate on the "note card" suggestion for flight information.  I am a little confused exactly what that means. 

thanks!

darcy, just send your recruit an index card or other small card to write the flight details on.  The recruit can then put it in his/her pocket to give to you following PIR so the information does not get mixed up.  Some Sailors and parents have been so excited to see each other that they have forgotten to get the info and Sailors have sometimes forgotten which airport they are flying from.

If you wanted to put something on the index card, you could put the following:

Name of Airport:

Approximate arrival time at airport:

Date and time of flight:

Airline:

Flight number:

Best place to meet (if known):

I just need to clarify the age limit for a child to not be included on the PIR access list and still get into the ceremony. I have a disabled daughter who will turn 12 September 20th. My SR's PIR date is September 28th. My daughter is also in a wheelchair. First, I had thought children 12 and under were allowed in without being on the list. In fact, I saw a post just now that says it quoted the RTC website saying, "12 and under." But I looked at the RTC website and it says "children under 12." Now I'm worried. My son didn't include her on the list because we thought she would not need to be on the list to be allowed in. Now I'm not sure. Also, is there a place for wheelchair seating and will an adult be able to sit there with her? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank You.

Your daughter will get in without being on the access list.  (See page 2 of the Family Guide.)  Yes, there are places for wheelchairs and one family member will be able to sit with her and the others will need to sit in the stands.  Choose the handicapped seating area that is closest to the sign for your SR's division.  Have your handicapped placard hanging from the mirror when you enter the RTC and you will be directed to handicapped parking, which will make things a little easier for you.

huskylms, you are so welcome.  This is one less worry for you and I am glad I could help.

Paging IndyMom.  Just saw you are from my hometown so I PM'd and friend requested you.  Saw your profile pick but it ain't ringing any bells :)  Class of '85.

I recently saw a post where it was  said that you had to have the private word to enter the gate at the base as well as another for something else.  Does anyone have any clarification on this, because our Initial letter only gave us the one private word to use.  thank you!

cynthia/Matt'smom, the password that you need to get the vehicle/gate pass is in the form letter--the letter that had the PIR date and names of up to 4 people your SR planned to put on the Access list.  That is the only password you will need.  Go to http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/upcoming_grads.asp and click on the link to print the vehicle pass.  Remember that the password should be typed in all uppercase letters.  You will need to handwrite the information on the pass.

Thank you lemonelephant!  I have already done so, but when i saw  that post I was a little confused, but that's easy to do these days with all we have been through lately lol!!  I appreciate your quick response!

Cincymom1...I have ordered challenge coins from Northwest Territorial Mint.  In fact, I just received the one for Third Class Petty Officer for my son's graduation from A School next Friday!  So excited to make another trip to Charleston to see him and then he's home for 10 days!!  I'm a happy mom...good luck to you and your son!

Cincymom1..They have all types of coins.  I bought my son his first one after bootcamp. 

Robin-Nuke ET class 1228-  HI!  I had bought my son a commemorative coin @ bootcamp graduation, at the NEX.  Can you tell me how to order the other challenge coins? My son is HT-FA and is on the USS Boxer.  Thanks!

Hi SheilaD...I bought one of those at PIR too.  I think the coins may be more for me than for my son. LOL I like the ones at Northwest Territorial Mint. Here is the site: http://nwtmint.com/   I have so much to learn.  What is HT-FA?

The website to order the Division T-Shirts online is http://usnavytees.com/Home_Page.php or go to http://www.mwrgl.com/gen_info/rtc_graduation/div_tshirt_order_6_201....  Your SR may have ordered one or more, so check before ordering.

My son just had his PIR on 9/12/12. It was the most amazing experience. I noticed that there were professional photographers taking pictures during the PIR and would love to purchase a video of the ceremony. I have searched and searched for  information on this and obviously am not looking in the right place! Any suggestions?

It truly is amazing, isn't it!?  I found the following here:  http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/faq_family.asp, scroll down to the question "Can I order a DVD of my son's graduation from boot camp?" and click the "+" sign.  It says:

Please verify with your recruit that a DVD has not been ordered by them prior to placing your request.

To order a DVD of your Recruit's PIR, please provide the following information:

Recruit's Name
Division Number
Date of Pass-In-Review Ceremony
Return Address (Sorry, No P.O. Box or Overseas Addresses Please)
Daytime Phone Number

For prices and additional information, please contact the Navy Exchange Photographic Services Office at 847-578-6205.

Hello everyone and Congratulations to all your Sailors!! We just got home from our PIR 11/16.. It was wonderful, we went to Sarge's meet and greet and used the valuable information he provided, we were able to sit front row infront of our son's DIV! Also we only had one day with our Sailor, but we made the most of it, he wanted to eat at Chili's and we were there with many other families and their Sailors. As well, we went to Lake Bluff Beach, it was 5 minutes from the Navy Lodge. We took pictures at the Lake and it was beautiful (see my new profile pic). Also we stayed at the Navy Lodge and we had a suite. Their suites are new and all 6 of us were able to stay together with plenty of room and a kitchenette (when you call you need to press zero, because only this Navy Lodge has suites and you need to talk to their front desk). Have a wonderful time!!! HOOYAH!