PIR Stories

[TxLadyJane(ET Nuke Mom)]

Well I wanted to give my account of our PIR weekend. First off, it was amazing, EVERYONE should try to go, it will mean A GREAT DEAL to your Sailor and you will always remember that weekend for the rest of your life. Lessons Learned:

1. If you are a “Debit Card” user, then make sure you understand both the hotel and rental cars will charge your card for over what was quoted for some new federal mandated card requirement. It’s ok if you plan on it but we hadn’t, so just beware of these fees. Hotel was $100.00 extra Rental Car was $200.00, it is no problem but remember it takes your bank time to reconcile the funds.

2. The Residence Inn in Waukegan is GREAT. It has plenty of room for everyone. To include once your Sailor wants to hang out in the room. The Breakfast’s are good, and they have a buffet style dinner the night before the PIR. The facilities are GREAT, they even have a large guest laundry one on each floor. Also dishes/pot and pans in their small but functional kitchen. The room was 740 square feet, with 2 bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a pull out sofa bed in a small living area. Both bedrooms have queen sized beds, my husband is 6’6” so it was a little tight for us but we managed.

3. Use the PIR Shuttles WORTH IT, as you only have to walk through the gate, just inside to the PIR Hall, less than 100 yards, no long lines to deal with trying to get onto Base. Sailor’s directing your way once inside the gate and outside.

4. From what we were told only use the yellow and orange cabs/PIR Shuttles as they are not going to rip you off with a “long ride around.”

5. If your Sailor is a Saturday Departure, GO WITH THEM TO THE AIRPORT, if at all possible. We were able to see him interact with his new Shipmates and hear more stories about his Boot Camp experience. My husband did not go, but me and his Fiancée did. I wouldn’t trade this time with him for the world. He had to be there at 0100 hours, we got there about an hour later, they were still dividing up into departure groups so we had plenty of time before we all had to go through security which opens at 0500, the security was no problem either, they let us though with a GATE PASS. This was at Midway. Once our Sailor was handed his boarding pass, we just handed the Ticketing people our ID’s (must be a driver’s license or STATE ID card). The reason I mention this is because we had “military ID’s” and they didn’t want us using these. I also was able to get photos of the people that he hung out with during Boot Camp. This is a MUST. Please do this if you can even if you get little or NO sleep. His Fiancée and I only got 3 HOURS sleep, but we did this, and it was worth every moment.

6. Book the extra day on Sunday even if you have to be back at work early on Monday, stay AS LONG as you can “just in case” they get longer on liberty. You may think that the RTC is trying to prevent you from seeing your new Sailor, but they are trying to save the government money, by shipping them out as quickly as they can. It costs the military more money when they are in a training environment. I had to be back to work on Monday at 0700, and got back into my house Sunday at 2330, but again it was worth the LACK OF SLEEP, to see my new Sailor.

7. We used Budget Rental Car Service, after we returned the car, they gave us a discount but they didn’t tell us about it up front as it is not advertised. Shhhhhh LOL.

8. Don’t make plans, let your new Sailor lead the way on what he/she wants to do; this after all is their weekend. Do have options for them. If their favorite food is let’s say Korean Food, well have the directions already for these places it makes it easier to make “quick” plans and to adjust.

If I can think of anything else, I will let you know.

[lemonelephant]

I know you know this by now, but others may have the same question.  You choose where to sit.  There are signs placed on the floor that will let you know where the divisions will be and youcan use that to help you decide where to sit.  Sitting at an angle to the division will allow you to see those in the division better than sitting right in front of the division.

[Not so Blue]

thankslady jane

[SHIP 14 DIV.056/Mom/Cristy]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE MUCH NEEDED INFO....WE LEAVE NEXT WEEK FOR MY SON'S PIR...

 

I SURE HOPE NAVYLODGE DON'T CHARGE EXTRA...: /

[photomom CTN/AO]

Let me know because tgat us where I am staying! I knew about the extra for car rentas.l

[lemonelephant]

The Navy Lodge does not charge the hotel tax or surcharges that other hotels do.

[sedw1234]

We are staying at the Ramada Inn when we go on Jan 24th and for our sons graduation on Jan 25th and got a great rate and they dont charge a 100.00 extra.

[photomom CTN/AO]

That is wonderful information! What I am worried about and praying about is when my daughter will be heading to Pensacola AND from which airport!

[lemonelephant]

She most likely will fly out the Saturday following PIR.  The Page, Liberty During PIR Weekend, within Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones) will give you more info on that.  You may wish to join Sailors In Pensacola, FL For A School....Corry Station too!! since she will be at Corry Station for CTN "A" School.

(Group names within this reply are clickable links.)

[rporter1023]

Thank you...this is very helpful and we are heading up for graduation on Feb. 1...we are staying at Navy Lodge. Should only the people on the list go to the base for graduation and the rest of the family wait at the hotel until he gets to leave and should we still print a parking pass if we are going to take the shuttle.

[lemonelephant]

Anyone who is not on the Access List should wait at the hotel and either meet up with the new Sailor there or at a place away from the RTC during Liberty after PIR.  (There is more on that in the Page, Liberty During PIR Weekend, within Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones),)  No, you will not need a vehicle/gate pass if you are not driving a vehicle onto the RTC.

[Ur angel]

How many days n nights we get to spend with them??coz my boyfriend told me or thinks its just one day that's all..and they have to be back same day at around 9..his A school is also in Chicago...and one more question does he get to use his cell phone after graduation??if yes, what else??

[OldSarge]

As far as the Taxi's are concerned, if you feel you are getting ripped off - here's the solution:

The rates during the morning pick ups from all the Waukegan Hotels is $3.00 per person.  After graduation and NO LATER THAN 12:00 Noon the rate is $3.00 PER PERSON. You must get the CAB inside the gates at RTC.  If you take a cab outside the gate by the train station, they will charge you the metered rate which is $4.00 the first mile and $2.00 each additional mile.

After 12:00 Noon theCAB rates are as stated (METERED) above. The average cab rates (not per person) to the hotels are as follows

All fountain square/waukegan  hotels including Candlewood Suites is $15.00

Gurnee Hotels and to the mall is $20.00

Mettaw/Lake forest $26.00

Other hotels will be charged METERED Rates..

If you feel that you were over-charged, get a written receipt. The drivers name and his cab number are on the cab. Color of the cabs does not guarantee that you will not get Ripped Off. Here is the list of cabs in the area:

Metro Yellow/Metro North chicago

Gurnee Flash and Red and Black Flash

C & C Transportation

J & B Transportation

American Taxi

All City Taxi/transportation

Admiral Taxi

There are other cab companies that are licensed in the area.

 

NOTE: All cab driver PERMITS should be visible to the passengers. If you have any issues - get a written receipt showing pick up and drop off location and amount paid. If you have the information, you can contact the Great Lakes Police Department at 847-688-5555 or the waukegan police department at 847-360-9000 or the North Chicago Police department at 847-596-8710 or the Gurnee Police Department at 847-599-7000. Remember the report can only be filed with the ORIGINATING POLICE DEPARTMENT. 

 

Remember - know where you are going and ASK THE AMOUNT BEFORE YOU DEPART. Here are additional charges that can be charged.

1. Multiple Stops along the route

2. Tolls

3. Clean up fee (if someone gets ill or unrinates in the cab and body fluids have to be cleaned up)

4. Waiting time

All cabs that pick up at the base or anywhere in the City of North Chicago are governed by North Chicago Ordinances. Other pick ups are governed by the PICK UP CITY ordinances.

 

Any questions feel free to reach out to me at 847-212-0246