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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
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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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- Graduation Info
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My Experience PIR / July 2015
SUPER TIP: When driving to RTC, do not get in right hand lane to turn in like everyone else - drive past and under Overpass and do a u turn. There is NO traffic in opposite direction. We did not do this, but saw several people do it and were wishing we had lol.
Tip #2: The graduation hall was freezing lol. I get cold easily though and had a sleeveless top on. So, u might want to bring a light sweater.
OUR HOTEL: Holiday Inn Express in Waukeegan.
Drive time to RTC: 15 min and very light traffic.
Price: $159/night
Beds: 2 Queens
Pros: Super clean, completely non-smoking (although someone was breaking that law somewhere near our room), seems recently remodeled or newer hotel, close to RTC, decent area of town.
Cons: You can hear people walking on floors above all night(we bought ear plugs and slept great second 2 nights), pillows are nice but not for stomach sleeper so I had to buy a pillow for that (no biggie), breakfast was okay (nothing to write home about), my husband said the air conditioner sounded like a busted chainsaw lol but it was more like "white noise" to me and once I got the ear plugs, it didn't matter, beds are very firm.
Our Rating: 3 of 5 stars.
We got two queens thinking our graduate would stay overnight but they were not allowed to, so keep that in mind. His school was in Great Lakes so he got liberty all weekend until 8:30 or 9:00 pm.
LIBERTY: (for graduate staying in Great Lakes) After PIR, they have to go check into their command. This took about 4 hours for our graduate but they are marched to the visitors center in groups. Once a group of a certain size is checked in they march them up. Once they come up, you then must bring your graduate BACK to his barracks where YOU must sign him out as his liberty "chaperone or buddy". Check IN/OUT can be a LONG wait due to all of the graduates trying to leave so be patient. You CAN drive on base but ONLY with your recruit in the vehicle. Have ALL ID's ready.
You do not need your graduate to drive around and off the base once u have checked in.
WHAT WE DID:
Shedd Aquarium - the line to get into this attraction was 1 - 1 1/2 hours long. I asked one of the employees how long the wait was and seeing that my son was in uniform, she sent us to the short line! This probably doesn't happen all the time - it was just a courtesy. God bless her! Once we took our shortened journey in, we learned that they were running a military special and the 3 of us got in free! A $140 savings!!! Thank God for the savings because it is NOT WORTH FULL PRICE ADMISSION! Very boring IMO and super crowded. I'll never go back and was disappointed and perplexed at all the amazing reviews it gets.
DINING: Lou Malnettis in Buffalo Grove. Authentic Chicago Style Pizza. Excellent pizza but we went there to dine in and the wait was over an hour. :(
So, TIP #3: Call ahead if you go here. It's worth the wait though. Our graduate had to be back by 9 so we were just cutting it too close.
If you are planning on going to Chicago, go as early as possible. Traffic is horrendous. In retrospect we would have taken the Metra Link located next to RTC to avoid it.
Keep in mind that your graduate will be in uniform, so walking around Chicago in the heat of summer is extremely uncomfortable.
I'm tired of typing now so I'm gonna sign off... I hope this is helpful to someone. Please feel free to ask questions, I'll answer as soon as I can.
Enjoy PIR!!
Views: 915
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tami frank on
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If your recruit is staying in Great Lakes after graduation for his school after he checks in to his new barracks and we get him for the weekend does he get to stay with us for the whole weekend or do we have to check him back in each night?
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Permalink Reply by Christyp66 on
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Thanks for all the info! I look forward to my trip!
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Thank you for your tips. I am looking at that hotel for our PIR 9/4/2015.
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Permalink Reply by Texasmom on
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My SR told me that there will be an overflow room in the Chapel for family members not on the list. Was this the case when you attended? I need to find out as much info as possible since my daughters will be with me and they will not be on the list to get in. This is stressing me out just a little. Thanks,
Jackie :)
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Permalink Reply by lemonelephant on
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Jackie, The Chapel is not always available. When it is only 3 Extras are allowed there and they must be 18 years old or be accompanied by an adult. Don't rely on the Chapel being available. Those who are not on the Access List should stay in the hotel and watch the livestream there. See more on that and more in PIR Day and Liberty During PIR Weekend.
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Permalink Reply by CryptoDad on
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I would rely on what "A Family's Guide to Recruit Training" has to say about extra guests and the chapel. The Guide is maintained by the RTC Public Affairs Office.
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When your SR was checking into his command did you leave the base and then come back and get him, or did you wait there for the 4hrs?
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Some go away and eat and do other things and head back toward the base after 3 to 4 hours and are in the area when the new Sailor calls. Some go away and wait for the call from the new Sailor before heading back. Some go eat and then they do hang out in the area, such as at the museum. Some wait in Building 1326 at the RTC Recreation Center located next to the NEX until they get the call to meet their new Sailors.
It has only taken 1 to 2 hours for some to check in while it has taken nearly 5 hours at other times, but you won't know how long it will be until it happens.
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Thank you lemonelephant :)
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Permalink Reply by Farah on
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So where is the best place to stay for PIR in Chicago?
We need a reasonably priced place to stay. The Days Inn doesn't look like an option.
So each sailor is different in the time they have over the weekend depending on their A school....correct?
I am new to this and I am trying to read everything I can but I feel like the more I read the more confused I get.....lol
Its just the not knowing factor that drives me crazy......(I better get used to it....lol) My son leaves at the end of August so I am starting to feel a little anxiety.
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Farah, Those staying in GL will have daytime Liberty all weekend and those flying out will most likely fly out the day after PIR. See PIR Day and Liberty During PIR Weekend to help you know how to plan your weekend.
I left info for you on your My Page.
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