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Link to Navy Speak - Navy Terms & Acronyms: Navy Speak
All Hands Magazine's full length documentary "Making a Sailor": This video follows four recruits through Boot Camp in the spring of 2018 who were assigned to DIV 229, an integrated division, which had PIR on 05/25/2018.
Boot Camp: Making a Sailor (Full Length Documentary - 2018)
Boot Camp: Behind the Scenes at RTC
...and visit Navy.com - America's Navy and Navy.mil also Navy Live - The Official Blog of the Navy to learn more.
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Always keep Navy Operations Security in mind. In the Navy, it's essential to remember that "loose lips sink ships." OPSEC is everyone's responsibility.
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DO be smart, use your head, always think OPSEC when using texts, email, phone, and social media, and watch this video: "Importance of Navy OPSEC."
Follow this link for OPSEC Guidelines:
Events
**UPDATE as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.
FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:
RESUMING LIVE PIR - 8/13/2021
Please note! Changes to this guide happened in October 2017. Tickets are now issued for all guests, and all guests must have a ticket to enter base. A separate parking pass is no longer needed to drive on to base for parking.
Please see changes to attending PIR in the PAGES column. The PAGES are located under the member icons on the right side.
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PIR for sailors staying in Great Lakes
Just came back from an unbelievable weekend with my son following PIR and wanted to share a few tips. Because he didn't have to travel to A school we were able to spend the weekend with him. Thanks to a tip I read here weeks ago, I booked a room at the Navy Gateway Lodge which is right on base. It was actually only a parking lot between his ship and our lodge. A short walk to pick him up. He could go between us and his new ship to unpack as he wanted. No driving and waiting at gate. A nice restaurant right next door. We were able to move around the base and become a little familiar with his new surroundings (like the Navy exchange where we bought all the things he now needed) We booked a suite with kitchenette for 55.00 a night. Very clean and comfortable. Also, if you are staying for the weekend and want to leave base but not hit up the concrete jungle of a shopping plaza, check out Libertyville, quick ten minute ride. Nice downtown for window shopping with some really nice eateries! My son is there through February and I am hoping to do the trip one more time. You will need to fill out a form via email to pass security clearance to stay on base. Very worth it if you are there for the weekend. Enjoy your visit.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by d2b2707 on
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Thank you lemonelephant for the clarification and also giving websites, I really appreciate it!
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Permalink Reply by lemonelephant on
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You are very welcome.
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Permalink Reply by Susan06239 on
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Yes it is the Gateway. No chit required for my son who was there for A school during PIR weekend. Although he did say something about the Inn being off limits under any other circumstances. We did have a car which made it all very easy. Lemon-can I stay there again while my son is in A school if he sponsors? And can he sponsor while in A school?
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Yes, you can stay there while he is in "A" School and he will need to be your sponsor. He will need the deviation chit to visit you there.
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Permalink Reply by bcd mom on
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Thanks for the info. I think I have reservations at the Navy Lodge, But The Navy Gateway sounds like it may be more convenient with my Sailor staying in GL for A school. Where do they get the deviation chit at? The lady at Navy lodge says most people stay at Navy Lodge because the chit and the background check is not needed. Is one better than the other to stay at? We will not have a car, will be using shuttles for the weekend.
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Since you don't have a car, the Navy Lodge will be a better choice for you because you will have to walk from the gate if you stay at the Gateway Inn and Suites and a taxi or shuttle can go right up to the Navy Lodge. They don't have their own shuttle, but they can give you the numbers for several in the area or you can call Sarge. Sarge has a taxi service and he is a wealth of information and has a Meet and Greet at the Sundance Saloon in Waukegan the night before PIR. His cell number is 847-212-0246. His M&G and services have been getting great reviews. Find Sarge on N4M as OldSarge.
Several have mentioned that they are allowing Sailors to visit the Gateway Inn and Suites over PIR weekend without the deviation chit, but they go over the info on how to get it during orientation once the new Sailors move over to the TSC following PIR if it is needed. The Sailor must get the deviation chit, not the loved ones.
Both the Gateway Inn and Suites and the Navy Lodge have gotten good reviews, but as has been mentioned, there are some drawbacks to the Gateway Inn and Suites when you don't have a car and if the deviation chit is required.
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You are very welcome.
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Permalink Reply by Lynn on
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Hello, my son left from Sacramento MEPS on July 9th. I called the Navy Lodge in IL, but they dont have a shuttle, only Taxi service. I made reservations at Sleep Inn Lake Bluff. They are the closest Hotel to the base, a half a mile. And they have a shuttle service, Reviews was decent. Navy Lodge is a mile and a half from the base. Not too far, but I wanted to get as close as possible... Good luck to your daughter :) Stay strong...
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Permalink Reply by shellysue1968 on
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My Son has just started his Basic Training this week and I am looking for information on how to learn when his PIR will be so that we can book reservations. Any thoughts or tips are greatly appreciated!
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Sorry you can't book the reservations until you receive the form letter with his PIR date. You can guesstimate the PIR date by counting 9 Fridays from the date of arrival to get the most likely PIR date of 08/23/2013, but then know that it could be the week before, 08/1/2013, if he was one of the last to fill his division and is in a Push Division, which happens more for those arriving on Monday or Tuesday than for those arriving later in the week. It could also be the week after if the storms caused more recruits to be shipped this week and some were helpd over for next week's TG, which happens more for those arriving at the end of the week. You justhave to wait on the form letter to know for sure.
Join the group, DEP-Leavin for bootcamp in June, to connect with others with loved ones who left thesame day and may have PIR together.
You may want to join, or at least check out, Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones) and New Members Stop Here. Once you know your SR’s PIR date and/or division number, watch in Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones) and/or at http://www.navyformoms.com/forum/topics/groups-listed-by-pir-date and join the group for that once it has been created. There will be a lot of great information and support for you in those groups. Be sure to check out the Pages (found under the pictures of the Members) and Discussions within the groups. Arrival and What Happens at the RTC within Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones) will let you know what is happening, but you will also want to check out the other Pages in all of the groups.
(Group names within this reply are clickable links.)
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Permalink Reply by Prevo (Ship 11 DIV 279) on
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Susan, very good information...thank you for sharing!!
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