PIR questions!

[BarbH]

Our son is graduation on Dec 5th....any guidance/suggestions on dress for the day?  Our daughter will be attending with us.  Can't wait to see him!  Also, we've not heard from him, but it appears from the letter we got that he will leave the day after graduation for A School.....does anyone know if they get leave for that Friday (day of PIR)?  Trying to see if we can schedule a little dinner/lunch out somewhere....no word from our son yet!

[navy2014]

Did you book refundable flights?  Our son leaves for bootcamp November 17th and should graduate in January.   Refundable flights are really expensive and I would spend less even if I lost one non-refundable flight

[Winston]

Yes, ours left Nov 11th - Veterans Day - he's been gone a year already! No, we bought non refund tickets but we did book to leave here Wednesday. Figured if there was a weather issue, giving ourselves one extra day would give us a better chance of dealing with delays and actually getting there by Friday. Honestly, I was ready to drive from CA if the weather hadn't eased a little.

[tina41]

hello!!

congrats on your son making it to PIR and you are able to go!!   safe travels!!  I live in pa.  it was a very nice drive. of course all we could think about was seeing our "sailor"!! he had PIR in 2011.  people wear from jeans  to dressy clothes.    he had liberty Friday till about 8pm then we met him at the airport at 1am and stayed with him till his flight left, 6am(?).    safe travels!! 

[Coach Shelia]

HOOYAH! Hello BarbH! Congratulations on your upcoming PIR! The metal bleachers in the ceremony hall are cold! LOL My husband and I bought some seat cushions night before at a Wal-Mart nearby. Our son's PIR was in May of last year. It was like 70 degrees in Texas, and 35 degrees, cold and rainy at Great Lakes. Safe travels and have fun! Navy Mom Strong!

[latinnative]

I recommend if you go into Chicago I would leave by 4pm. Traffic gets really bad.. It gives you some time to hang out before your son has to be back at base instead of spending that time in crazy traffic.

[madhoby]

My son graduated 10/17/2014.  Each division will have a set of soldiers with their number.  Sit in the section in front of that number.  A friend had told me to sit high as you get a better view than being on floor level.  We did, and it helped as my son was the last in line because he was so tall.  We were able to find him very easily.  His dad, mom, brother, and sister were in the hall, and his girlfriend and her cousin were in the chapel watching on a big screen.  His girlfriend and her cousin were able to meet up with him outside the hall after the graduation.  He had watch right after PIR.  We spent about 45 minutes together before he went on watch.  He told us to be on base by the chapel at 3:45.  We picked him up, and went back to the hotel.  We got food from Walmart, and spent the time from 3:45 to 7:00 in the room.  He only wanted to be with us,sit on the bed in his drawers, and watch a little football.  He did not want be around a lot of people.  I had made him a pecan pie and brought with me from Tulsa Oklahoma.  He ate some of that.  I saw lots of families doing the same thing at the motel I stayed at in Waukegan.  We stayed at Spring Hill Suites Marriot Waukegan.  It is very nice, and I wanted a really nice motel as I knew we would be tired from the 12 hour drive.  The important thing is to get a close place to base as you don't want to waste time in transitions. We took him back at 7 as he had to be there in barracks at 8 and we had to wait in line to get into base.  It takes about 30 minutes for him to walk from where we dropped him off to where his barracks were located.  He was at O'Hare at 3 am.  We met him there, and he was able to get us a pass to go back to the gate with him until he flew out at 10:15 am.  

My friend did recommend the Navy Lodge, but it was booked before I ever was able to go online.  I used booking.com to get my room, and I rented a car from Entreprise in Tulsa to drive there.   If you check on this site you will find a group that has your PIR date and lots of advice.  

[BearsMom aka Amber]

Hi Madhoby,

Question for you, I noticed that you said your sailor's girlfriend waited and watched in the chapel?  Is that on base?  Does her name need to be on a list to get on base?  I just found out yesterday my son's gf will be able to come with us.  Is there a limit to the number of people that can wait and watch in the chapel?  I would like to bring my other two kids as well if I can.  I have never heard this mentioned before...Thanks

[Margaret]

Hi everyone we recieved our phone call last night our son didn't sound too happy, it makes me sad because this is what he has always dreamed of doing.  Has any one elses child called and sounded sad?  I told him it would get better and all be worth it in the end.  I can't wait to see him on Dec. 5th!

 

[Winston]

Our calls, I was more sad, couldn't stop the water works! But honestly, keep writing upbeat letters, with lots of uplifting quotes. I wrote every day, even just a card, always with a motivating quote. My son said his first 5 days when they're a 'nobody' said...his words "I thought I'd been dumped in hell - it was the worst 5 days I think i'll ever have in my life" !! Once he got to his division, he was fine, good days and bad...so maybe this was just a low day for your boy. He'll be fine, tell him 'one day at a time - if that's too much, one task at a time, focus on the smaller tasks and get it done' and he will get it done, he knows that, he was just feeling bad - keep positive in all your communications, it will rub off on him and keep him on track. He'll do great!

[Anti M]

Almost everyone hates boot camp initially, thinks they have made a mistake, or misses their family intensely.  Just be encouraging, they get over it and into the routine soon enough. 

[Tammyd6506]

Margaret
Sorry to hear your son didn't seem too happy but I know what you mean. It's hard for a mom to hear and feel helpless. I'm sure he'll feel good about it when it's all over but I think a very big part of it is that they barely see daylight from what I understand. My son said they go outside maybe a few days a week but it's at 4:30am and when they're inside all the windows are painted over so they never see daylight! That will depress anyone. Like Winston said, send positive letters and remind him it'll all be over soon!

[saundra]

Hi My name is Saundra and my son James is in Great Lakes ans he Graduates on Dec 5th too.  I have gotten a couple of calls and only 1 letter.  He seems to be doing okay.  I am very excited to see him.