What I learned at PIR

[ajoyb]

I want to write all of this down before I forget.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Waukegan. It was excellent!!!  The beds and pillows were so comfy! We got a suite with a couch and were able to sit and visit. There was about 10 of us in the room visiting.  Hide-a-bed not so comfortable.  All family stayed at the same hotel. It made it easier.

The breakfast was great!  It was very close to the base and very easy to get to. 

Take a roll of quarters if you drive for the toll roads. or get a toll-pass before hand. We used quarters. If you rent a car, get the toll pass for a few extra bucks a day.  

Get to the PIR EARLY!!!   Go when the gates open and bundle up!!  We stood outside for a while in line to enter the building. It was -3 degrees (or close to it)

We sat in the stands for 2 hours, but it was worth it. We had a great view of our Sailor during the ceremony.

Also Ask your sailor where his marching position is when he calls home (during one of the few calls)  This will help you locate their face. Bring binoculars if you can. We did and we used them at PIR and to look at the lake later as we toured Chicago on our own.

After PIR, you go down to the floor to hug on them and then your Sailor will have to go back to his area and grab some stuff or put some stuff away. Have him pick up his pictures and meet you at the NEX. At the NEX you can buy lots of Navy apparel. I got my Navy Mom t-shirt, decals, magnets.......and so on.   

Plan something for your Sailor, because he hasn't been able to do anything for 8 weeks!  But, not too much because he is TIRED!  Mine wanted to see the Lake. So we did that and then we ate and went back to the hotel and just visited. 

Take your Sailors phone, computer, x-box, a couple of outfits. Pack them in a carry-on. Have your Sailor check everything but his orders :) That way he can take the carry on you bring him. His sea-bag, garment bag, and back pack will all check.  

Your Sailor can not take anything back to the base with him, but you can take it to him at the airport. The USO is located before security check in Terminal 2 at O HARE. Meet up with your sailor here. Also, put a note in your phone where you park. it is a large airport.

Pack something to do at the airport. It is a boring wait. Playing cards or games will make it go by faster. We arrived at 7am and he departed at noon. Some left a lot sooner than that. Depends on where they are going. The airline should give you a gate pass to get through security if you want to wait with your sailor. If not they can wait with you outside of security until they need to go on. I saw both happen. We went through. there were 5 of us!  Mar Lou @ United Airlines is fabulous!! She told us only 1 was supposed to go but then let us all go! (Mom, Dad, grandma, and 2 sisters) We were blessed.

My sailor was so happy we all came to see him!  Only four of us could go to PIR, but everyone else came and got a good visit in with him Friday evening!  He loved it.  

Here is a key piece of information we did not know......Only 4 people may attend the PIR, but additional family can still come to the base Chapel and watch it on the screen.  I am not sure we would have done this, but someone may want to use this option. Our extra family waited at the hotel and watched it on computers. They didn't have to get out in the cold and they got to sleep in a bit. But, My sailor was looking for them to be a the chapel....so whatever you chose.

  

On Saturday we moved to a hotel downtown and enjoyed the sites after we said goodbye again to our sailor  .If you stay in Chicago afterward, don't depend on a GPS too much downtown. Ours in the car couldn't pick us up sometimes with all of the tall buildings. We used the one on our i-phone and it worked better in those areas. Be prepared to pay for parking!!  It is pricey.  Everywhere in downtown, unless you are fortunate to find a spot on the side of the road.  But the garages are pricey, so budget for that. We paid about $25 every time we parked. Cabs take cards.:)  We took cabs and walked a lot.  

My favorite restaurant we tried. Pizzeria Due. Downtown Chicago. On the corner of Ontario and Wabash. It is a whole experience. Small bathrooms, small restaurant, big pizza, and great staff! 

We stayed at the F airfield INN downtown. It was okay. I would probably try something different next time, but I think we got spoiled by those beds and pillows at the Holiday Inn Express in Waukegan. :)

My favorite part about this experience was just seeing my Sailor!!  It is so good to know he made it through, he made some great friends, and now I can talk to him more often. 

 

[SW]

Thanks for the information.

[ArmHawkmamma]

Thanks for all this great info.  I'll need it in Mid March.

[Jo1]

Great advice!  We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express also and it was very nice.  :)

[popeyesgirl]

GREAT information! Thank you so much for sharing! We will be headed that way in March - still waiting to find out when! : )

[Jill]

Thank you for all the good information,  I think it will be very helpful when we are down there in mid-March.  I hope it will be a lot warmer when we go down.  I am just not sure whether to stay in Waukegan or Gurnee since we are coming in on 94 from Wisconsin. 

[ajoyb]

I hope March is warmer for you ladies!!  Maybe spring will be peeking through at you when you are there. That would be nice.  I know I read, and read, and read on this site during his bootcamp. It was nice to feel like I knew something, because I was cut off from my sailor.  Good luck to you ladies. keep your phones close and write, write, write!!  They look forward to their mail!  

Jill, I don't know much about the area, but what ever you feel the most comfortable with. I choose Waukegan because that is the town that IDed on my phone when he called. I knew it had to be close. :)

[lemonelephant]

As for:

Here is a key piece of information we did not know......Only 4 people may attend the PIR, but additional family can still come to the base Chapel and watch it on the screen.  I am not sure we would have done this, but someone may want to use this option. Our extra family waited at the hotel and watched it on computers. They didn't have to get out in the cold and they got to sleep in a bit. But, My sailor was looking for them to be a the chapel....so whatever you chose.

That is an option that only those extras who absolutely must be on the RTC should use (people who drove in and don't have a hotel room, extra children too young to stay alone and then someone has to stay in the chapel with them..). You really are supposed to check with the PAO about it first. If you have a hotel room, the Extras should stay there and watch the Live Stream.

[Coach Shelia]

Congratulations ajoyb! Sending prayers and well wishes your way today and forever!

[Lovingmysailor(SHIP03 DIV 115)]

Thank you for all that information.  I will need it the end of March for my SR :)

[ajoyb]

Thanks Coach!