PIR Ceremony

[YMM (Ship 12 Div 98)]

Descriptions and Experiences

[YMM (Ship 12 Div 98)]

The music at PIR is VERY loud, drums, trumpets, etc. I would bring ear plugs for your little ones, it could hurt your baby (or worse, wake her up!). Bring quiet, soft toys for them to play with. They can run around until about 8:45, then they will need to stay put, but you can walk around still or stand near entrance to bathrooms. There are two very large motion picture screens so you'll still be able to see the graduation. (the hall is huge!). Oh..... and bring $5 bucks to buy you 4 yr old a dixie cup (Sailors hat, or Lid as the sailors call it). They are NOT ever allowed to try on or wear any part of a military uniform, so they sell these hats to help prevent that and kids love it (it's their size too). They sell them near the coffee stand inside the hall, but they go quickly, so find your seat, then go get a hat before they are gone!

[BunkerQB]

Here are a few photos from PIR October 29, 2011 - so you'll get an idea of the ceremony.

[YMM (Ship 12 Div 98)]

Information taken fro RTC Facebook Site:

 

Are we allowed to make signs for PIR?
U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command: PIR is a formal military ceremony and signs are strongly discouraged as not only can they be disruptive, they block the view of the guests who will be seated behind you.January 30 at 6:38pm



 

Applause & Computers

U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command: Yes, you may bring a laptop into graduation, and yes, guests are allowed to yell, clap and cheer at the appropriate time. The inappropriate time to yell, clap and cheer is at any time when it is quiet such as during speeches or when the recruits are receiving instructions.
January 31 at 8:06am

 

900 Divisions
U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command The 900s divisions perform in the two preceding PIRs before their"s as well as their own.
January 30 at 12:00am

[YMM (Ship 12 Div 98)]

Comment by himmiemom 12 hours ago

Make sure you get there plenty early.  You have to wait in line in your car, park in the parking garage, walk to the visitors center and wait in there in a line while everyone gets through security and is checked on the list.  Make sure you bring your drivers license with for everyone that has one.  They do check at the gate.  If no drivers license make sure to bring a SSN card and birth certificates of the ones that don't have a DL to get into the PIR.  They do check.

[YMM (Ship 12 Div 98)]

Comment by Proud USA Mom Feb 17, 2011

We took the taxi (shuttle) to PIR and found it easy.  Dropped us off right at the gate and the Hall was right there - not a lot of walking.  Afterwards just go right back out to where you were dropped off and cross the street and jump into any taxi to get back to your hotel.  $3 per person, each way.  After seeing the line of cars, we were happy we used the taxi.  Do not be afraid to ask people who are directing traffic, for information/directions to taxis.  We opted to take a 7am taxi, which was @ 40 minutes late picking us up.  By the time we got into the Hall, it was packed.  I had some great mom's who saves seats for my family, so we were not forced up into the balcony.  With such a large group, go early!!!  Pack yourself some granola bars for breakfast and hit the road to ensure you get to sit where you want.  I would not take items to PIR that you do not need, as things do fall under the bleachers easily and you will not be able to retrieve them until after the ceremony is over.  805 - You will have the worst seats in the house, so be prepared.  Your Sailor's will end up right in front of you though and it is amazing to just stare at the group.  They do have a movie screen so you can see what is going on, center stage, but it isn't huge.
We did not go to NEX after PIR, we saw the swarm of people heading over there and decided we did not need to be in that crowd.  My son had to get back, so we only had a few minutes to spend with him anyway.  He was Grand and Go and moved that day over to the other side of the base.  Some were released for Liberty within just a few hours of moving, mine was with the very last group and did not come through the gate until just after 5:30pm.  Once they move, they are not allowed to enter the RTC side anymore.  My son needed to go to NEX to get some uniform ear muffs.  We had no problem getting on base (Gate 1) with him as our escort to go to the NEX on that side.  He had weekend Liberty and again we had no problem driving him on base Sunday evening, back to his barracks.  He had quite a bit of personal items to carry so this was nice that we could drive him back.  You are allowed to walk into the building with them, but not allowed in their barracks.  If you drive on base with your Sailor, let your Sailor do the talking with the gate guard.  If the guard asks you a question, then answer it.  DO NOT touch your Sailor's ID, they must show it themselves.

[emilee27kak]

I have a few ?s. 

Whats NEX?

How long is the PIR?

And what if we have someone who doesnt have a handicap thing but might have a hard time walking really far? Part of her leg is paralyzed and its hard for her to walk far distances. Could we drop her off at the entrance then go park?

Thankss!

[emilee27kak]

I think they want to drive there because his dad hates taxis and buses. Hes weird. Haha. Now the NEX thing makes sense. I would have never made the connection. Haha. Well thanks for the info. Im just worried someone is going to have to carry his mom! :) Do we get to see them right after PIR or does it take awhile? And how do we find him?

[emilee27kak]

Okay. I will talk them into using one. Thankss!!! Im scared I wont be able to recognize him! Ive never seen him without hair! Haha.

[Life is Peachy]

 

Yes, my son always had a head full of hair and (quite honestly) all the Sailors look alike at PIR.  They stand in the straight rows and unless yours is in front, it is very difficult to spot yours.  The best thing to do is ask your SR where he stands when they march - what row and how many over from the right, so you will have some idea where to look.

 

Call ahead and ensure you know how to make arrangements for a wheel chair.  Since your Sailor may want to take you to the NEX or something, the walks can get long.  Better to have the chair than not.

 

[emilee27kak]

Yea. I have her the #. She is going to call and talk to them! My boyfriend had long hair and a beard! Then shortly before he left he cut his hair short but still had the beard! He said in his letter he is a flag carrier. So will he be a flag carrier at PIR?

[YMM (Ship 12 Div 98)]

Taken from comment by by Maryl59 3/15/11

In addition........the front desk at Residence Inn told us that we wouldn't need to be at the base any earlier than 7 am because the gates do not open until then. So we took the 7 am shuttle but did not get good seats. We had to sit up in the balcony and try to take pictures through the railing.( I got told to return to my seat when I tried to get up and take a picture at one point) I strongly recommend taking the first shuttles over. I believe they begin at 6:15 am. BUT the problem may have been worse for us because we were with the 900 division.

 

From where we were sitting I could never get a good picture or even view for that matter of the choir and band. 900 divisions do not come out with all the other groups and are spread out all over since they have various jobs. I think it would have been better if we would have been able to sit on the floor level. Just get there early, know what job your daughter has and look for her. But be careful, you can get in trouble if you make a fuss over her and hug her for too long.

[YMM (Ship 12 Div 98)]

Taken from comment by TxLadyJane(ET Nuke Mom) 3/16/11

Yes find out what your new Sailor will be doing at their graduation if they are a 900, Division.  We had gotten there at about 0715, and most all of the ground floor was already taken even the 900 Division seating, I am thinking that a lot of people "just sat down" didn't matter what Division their new Sailor was in. 

 

We had a woman whos daughter was an usher (in our section) and she was sitting on our row, and she was getting up every few moments to hug her Sailor and fawning all over her, (to include several other family members) well the RDC's saw this and MOVED her to another place.  All's I was thinking about was I sure hope this new Sailor didn't loose ALL of their LIBERTY over her families actions and really her own, as she was allowing her family to hug her like that.

 

When I hugged my son, when I saw him on the ground floor after the Graduation, once the "hug" had gone the "alloted" time he patted my back and I knew that I had reached the time of the embrace needed to stop.

 

Please keep in mind anything they do during the PIR they can still loose their liberty or part of it. Or be put on watch while another Sailor gets to take more time away from the Ship with their family.

Taken from comment by TxLadyJane(ET Nuke Mom) 3/16/11

Yes find out what your new Sailor will be doing at their graduation if they are a 900, Division.  We had gotten there at about 0715, and most all of the ground floor was already taken even the 900 Division seating, I am thinking that a lot of people "just sat down" didn't matter what Division their new Sailor was in. 

 

We had a woman whos daughter was an usher (in our section) and she was sitting on our row, and she was getting up every few moments to hug her Sailor and fawning all over her, (to include several other family members) well the RDC's saw this and MOVED her to another place.  All's I was thinking about was I sure hope this new Sailor didn't loose ALL of their LIBERTY over her families actions and really her own, as she was allowing her family to hug her like that.

 

When I hugged my son, when I saw him on the ground floor after the Graduation, once the "hug" had gone the "alloted" time he patted my back and I knew that I had reached the time of the embrace needed to stop.

 

Please keep in mind anything they do during the PIR they can still loose their liberty or part of it. Or be put on watch while another Sailor gets to take more time away from the Ship with their family.