PIR DEBRIEFING

[Sassafras Proud Mom of a Sailor]

INTRODUCTION: A place for parents and others who have attended PIR and graduation weekend to share comments, suggestions and ideas that will hopefully make it easier and more enjoyable for other familes who are preparing for their own PIR events.

 

WHAT TO DO: This is an 'interactive' forum, with each person encouraged to start new topics (by posting your comments in the 'blank' at the top of each page) -and- respond to individual posts (by clicking 'reply' on that particular post).

 

ALSO: Over time, I will be organizing some of the posts herein as a sort of 'guide' which will be static -- that is, there will be no new posts to that discussion... thus it will not actually be a 'discussion' but more of a factual and flowing narrative that takes the reader, moment by moment, through happy hours of PIR, covering the basics with good recommendations about what to do, what not to do, and how to do (or avoid) doing it.

 

To get started on this process, it would be very useful to hear from you regarding which posts and/or particular information do you think should be included? Sincerely, I look forward to hearing from you and transcribing our collective wisdom for those who will attend PIR soon.

 

 

 

 

[Sassafras Proud Mom of a Sailor]

Okay... First let's confirm that your Recruit's PIR is Dec. 3, 2010 -- because that is the only pass available right now.

Second, let's make sure you're going to the right login page:
http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/pdfs/RTCGATEPASS_1.pdf

And note that when you get there it may take a minute or so for the 'enter password' window to pop-up. AND if you have a pop-up blocker on your computer, you may have to temporarily disable it (usually, a little warning will come up and give you this option).

Then, after entering your password (IN ALL CAPS), give the system a couple of minutes to load the PDF file. When it is fully loaded, you should be able to print it out.

And finally, if NONE of this works, contact the Recruit Training Command Public Affairs Office at 847-688-2405...

And please let me know if this works... or doesn't work... or what you had to do to get it to work . I remember this was an annoying problem with quite a few folks in our PIR group... so don't be discouraged. Hang in there. (((hugs)))

[Julsburd]

Just for your info.. I downloaded the pass on the first day it was available with no problems so I bet it is your pop up blocker or something on your browser. You might try another browser on your computer if you have one.

[logcabin4]

bet you hit it with the pop up blocker!! will try again later, hoping my little brat calls because of it being Sunday so can't stay on long, up here in the mountains of Vermont we still deal with dial up!! lol Thank you for your help!! oh she's ship 03 div 018...

[BunkerQB]

The problem could also be your browser. Download Mozilla Firefox - it's free. Then try it again. I know a number of people who had problem with Internet Explorer.

[logcabin4]

May be too late, she said if she didn't hear from us, because at the time of her call over a week ago, we didn't think we could come, she would give her passes to a friend..so I guess we will wait for her "Battle Station" call and her coming home from Cali.near Christmas.Thank You soo much for your help these past few days,, she'll do fine, may miss mom and Dad but we will see her for the Holiday.. again Thank You and Best wishes for the new year to all recruits and families.. A very quiet, smart little girl but she's tough as nails, and the Navy is just what she wanted, so all is good...

[JessicaB-Sailor Mom]

Actually they aren't real passes. She put 4 names on her invite list and this is what they look at. Her 4 names were on the form letter you got in the first week or so.

So please try to go. Download Mozilla Foxfire browser it wi really easy to do...you just search for it and then click on download.

[logcabin4]

will do right now!

[logcabin4]

it's been a half hour and still downloading on firefox, my best bet, call tommorrow and get it that way, but if she doesn't call, she wont even know we are there!. I do have it on IE, but it is all incripted on my downloads

[logcabin4]

I did

[WORRY WART]

Hi JessicaB, I have a question regarding the intended guests listed on my recruits access pass. While in contsvtbwith my recruit I told him 2weeks ago that he needed to revise the names as 2 of the 4 aren't coming but 2 friends from Milwaukee will attend instead. He has the names to revise. We spoke about it. I told him thstbhe needed to get it revised asap as the RTC info page stated it must be done prior to the week before or the list cannot be revised. The next call from him he stated he asked to revise the access list & his RDC ? told him he couldn't revise it until the week before then made him do 100 push ups for askimhb I guess they want them to know for sure who will attend to avoid revising. I'm worried because I'm afraid if he waits until his RDC has told him that it will be too late. I asked him to verify it if possible because it is contradictory to what the form that came home with his intended list. It said to make sure to keep in touch with your recruit so if revisions need to be made they can be made prior to TJE week before or the list will not be revised & if the people don't match the list they will be denied access. Help!! How will I know if the changes have been made?? He said he was not going to question the answer he received. Untold him I understood. He needs to followvhis orders. But my question to you is (if you know) it seems that the answer he received is incorrect & if so it will result in NO revision & denial ofvfamily friends to attend (substituting the 2 who were unable to travel. What do you think? How will I be able to know if the changes were made since according to his RDC he can't revise until the week prior?? Once they give Public Affairs the list the week before there's no way to do anything? Do you think they set aside a time on the day prior to turning in the list for all recruits who need to make revisions to do so at that time??? I'm concerned. But the RDC would not tell him that knowing he needed to revise the list if it would be too late to revise it....would he???

[JessicaB-Sailor Mom]

Okay...they say only 4 names on the list but I have NEVER heard of anyone not getting in that had proper ID and knew ship/division of rct they were there to see graduate.

So, please don't worry. Also, kids 13 and under don't count towards the 4 on the list. The RDC is just testing him. Tell him not to worry, that everything is okay, that everyone will get to see him march through those doors at PIR and to be ready for HUGS!!!

[TRea's Mom (ship 09 div 015)]

My son went through PIR on Friday 12/3/2010 and it was an amazing experience!! I went to Great Lakes with my two daughters and my son-in-law. I agree with the comments by Sassafras Proud Mom of a Sailor, especially regarding the new sailors being allowed to have their cell phones.

But we did come upon a couple of experiences in the Great Lakes area that I would like to pass along. First, regarding choice of a hotel, DO NOT stay at the Super 8 on Green Bay Road. We chose it first and foremost because of the price. We just couldn't afford to spend a lot on accomodations, but for what we got, it was way overpriced. The showers were terrible, not much water pressure and the water temperature was all over the scale, first hot and then cold, without touching the control. Also the shower curtain was hanging by a very loose set of screws and we had to be careful not to pull the rod off the wall. The hotel is generally rundown and they are obviously not investing anything in it. The beds were okay at best. But the worst was the very loud party that took place across the hall from my room, and I do mean loud!! There was music so loud the floor was vibrating and then the party spilled out into the hall with people yelling curse words. Finally the police were called and they arrested some people. When I talked to the hotel manager about taking something off my bill for inconvenience, he said they handled it the best they could and would not be giving any discount.

The next item is from my daughters and son-in-law. While I went to the Meet and Greet, they went to King Buffet near our hotel for dinner. It was a chinese buffet. All three of them said it was by far the worst chinese buffet they had ever seen. My daughters and son-in-law are not picky, but when they all agreed the best thing about the meal was the chocolate pudding, that's pretty bad. They even recommended I put this info on here so others wouldn't waste their money like they did. Since I didn't have dinner, I asked them to run through a fast food drive-thru after the Meet and Greet, and they said that I got the better meal by far than what they had.