Our PIR Experience 06/05/2015

[ChristinaNavyMom]

Hello BC Moms!!!
I totally understand what you are going through, my SR just graduated Friday and is in A school in Pensacola. I saw a post about letters, Write! Write! Write! I encouraged family and friends to write as well. I wrote a letter or sent a card everyday. I thought of it as keeping my son company. We just returned home from GL yesterday and while it is still fresh, I want to share our experience with you all. First of all, please do whatever you can to attend PIR, IT IS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE!! We flew into to Milwaukee, for us it was cheaper (flight with Southwest) and less traffic driving from Milwaukee to Great Lakes. It was a 40 minute drive to GL, no traffic. Traffic in and out of Chicago can be terrible! We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in Lake Forest, 10 minutes from the base. They offer a Naval Graduation discount...ASK FOR IT when making the reservation! Not sure of other hotels who may have a similar offer. We have an EZ Pass for tolls and used it with our rental car. We used Budget, they have the I-Pass in their vehicles if you need one. We drove through two tolls between the hotel and airport. Sarge's Meet & Greet was pretty cool, get there early! We did not stay until the end. We were exhausted and had to go by Walmart, which is across the street from Sarge's M&G. Do a trial run to the base going down Buckley to Ohio St gate and a trial run taking the shortcut. We arrived at the gate early on PIR morning (before 6am), didn't need to use the shortcut. Process getting on base and parked was a breeze. They did open the doors before 7am...which was awesome! Division signs are posted so you will know where to sit. Bring your camera, iPad, phone, etc. You will want to record and take pictures. After the ceremony, the family is able to visit the exchange to eat, shop, and purchase more pictures. We took our SR out to eat (15 mins from base) and hung out at our hotel. It was laid back and relaxing. My SR was excited about being off base! We took our SR back to base and drove him to the chapel (that's as far as we can go). At 1:00am Saturday morning, we made our way to Midway airport to spend those last few hours with our SR before his flight out. It's great to walk them all the way to the gate and watch them board. Always have your ID!! Please feel free to ask any questions, I'm sure I left something out. Enjoy the journey!!

[deputydawgofduke]

Christina,   This is wonderful information.   Thank you for the time you spent in writing this up and answering our questions.   I assume your son went to Pensacola, is that right (based on a comment).   Do you know if most Pensacola A school sailors fly out of Midway or is there no way of knowing?  I read where you can take a backpack to them at the airport with their cell phone, computer and 2 civilian changes of clothes.   Did you do this?  Was it a problem?   I remember being like a sponge and soaking up all the information I could before he left for boot camp.   Now I'm soaking up all the PIR information.  Again thank you and congratulations on your U S Navy Sailor!

[ChristinaNavyMom]

Welcome! Thank you and Congrats to you as well. It's a wonderful journey and we are just getting started. I know I was searching and reading everything and everyone has a different experience. Yes, my SR is in Pensacola. Not sure if they all fly out of Midway. I know there were a group of sailors transported to O'Hare as well, not sure where they were headed. Yes, you can bring them a cell, laptop, clothes, etc. Just remember they will have their sea bag, back pack and garment bag, every item was packed full. Of course, my son checked in his garment and sea bags.  We gave him one outfit and his cell. I am going to send more clothes and his running shoes tomorrow. They can not wear civilian clothes for awhile anyway. Hope this helps!

[ChristinaNavyMom]

Your time is approaching fast! After graduation we went out to eat and hung out as well. Quiet quality time was great. Bring something for daughter to wear in the hotel room so she can hang up her uniform. My son was glad to have his jogging pants to lounge in, even if it was just a few hours. 

[CryptoDad]

Christina,

You continue to refer to your Sailor as "SR". Is he still rated as an SR, Seaman Recruit? 

Thanks for sharing. Stay in touch, the real adventure is just beginning.

[ChristinaNavyMom]

No, just a habit. Lol

[Dawna]

Hi Christina,
Congratulations on your son!! I have a question, hopefully you will know or can give me some insight on. Is anyone allowed to meet recruits at the airport gate? By anyone, I mean other family members that are not on the list for PIR graduation?? My nephew swears in tomorrow & leaves for boot camp 6/23 but sadly I will not be on his list for graduation attendees due to, too many parents & grandparents that are going. I am thinking about still going to Great Lakes and maybe take my chances to see him if he's allowed to leave the base after & at the gate as well. He will be going to Shepard AFB for A School so I'm assuming he will fly out.

[lovemyson]

HI! thank you so much for this information! What would you rate the hotel? and would you please provide the number where you rented your car? Thank you!

[ChristineRN]

We just got back from 6-26-15 PIR. I agree with everything posted in the description above- except for what happened for us after PIR.  My SR stayed at A school in GL after PIR. We had a very brief (5 min) visit after the ceremony and he hustled out to be processed into his new ship. We met him at the front gate at 2:30 and had him until about 9:30 that night. We did have to sign him into his ship that night. But not all ships in A school require this.  They let us all back on base to his ship at the NSTC- we had to show ID and could go inside the base as long as he was with us. We signed in and out the rest of the weekend he had liberty Saturday and Sunday from 7 am to 9:30 pm. We were told by a cab company that personal vehicles were not allowed on base, but we were allowed as long as our sailor was with us, and then left once he was signed in. It was a great experience and I am very thankful that we were able to be there for him.  Just a note, it does seem that things change often- about 90% of the info I read on N4M was accurate, but a few things were different. Your SR/Sailor will have specific instructions and will know the right answer for him/her- it's just hard to plan for PIR with out the communication! 

[Tawnie]

My SR's PIR is coming up soon.  I had to book my flight early due to actually being in Chicago for work.  My flight is originally coming in late Thursday before PIR and I will miss the Sarge's meet and greet.  I may have an opportunity to take an earlier flight in...do you think I should so I can attend the Sarge's meet and greet?