Our PIR experience - (sorry its long)
First of all congratulations to all the sailors and their accomplishment and to all the families who support them. It was an awesome experience for us. Very emotional. Very amazing. We just got back and wish we could have stayed longer with our son. If anyone is not sure about going to this, YOU MUST GO. Do whatever it takes to go to PIR. You will never regret it. We are very proud as are all the other moms and dads. These are the sons and daughters that will protect our nation and it’s freedom.
So since we just got back from our whirlwind trip to our son’s graduation and while it is still fresh in our minds, we wanted to input a few thoughts to make your experience a little better.
-Shuttle or drive in.
We know there are many varied opinions about this and we had intended to drive onto the base, based on this forum. BUT - since our travel day from the west coast was very long and we had to fight horrible traffic Thursday afternoon from Midway airport to get up to Waukegan where we were staying ( nearly 3 hours to go 45 miles), our party of 4 decided to take the free hotel shuttle. Best decision we made. Your mileage may vary but having someone else drive after a long day of stressful travel and driving, we were ready to let someone else do the work. We got to the base at 7:30am by shuttle and after security checkin, we were in the hall in the stands by 8:10am. We had time after it was over to go the NEX, get some shirts and putt around with his shipmates and their families until our shuttle picked us up at 11:30am. It worked out great.
- Take a seat cushion to sit on!
Those aluminum bleachers are hard on the old derriere. I read somewhere about this and forgot to take one.
- Bringing back to base
Make sure you have your car pass and you can pull right into the base with your sailor when returning them each evening. They just check each person’s id in the vehicle and your good to go.
- Respect the ceremony.
I’m sorry to bring this up but when the announcer specifically asks that you hold your applause and cheers until they go through what I think was the list of divisions and certain honor graduates, I don’t get why some don’t listen. We are wanting to hear what they are saying and then you have some who have to interrupt with noise and cheers when they were just told to be quiet and wait until they are done announcing to cheer. So you have to have some patience. Also, we sat by some who decided to carry on a loud conversation with each other during the ceremony and finally about halfway through my wife turned and gave them “the look” that told them to be quiet, and they stopped.
Sorry to be so long but overall it was an awesome experience. We are grateful to this web site as it helped us so much to understand what families go through when their sons or daughters are in bootcamp and what to expect at PIR. May your experience be as blessed as ours.
So since we just got back from our whirlwind trip to our son’s graduation and while it is still fresh in our minds, we wanted to input a few thoughts to make your experience a little better.
-Shuttle or drive in.
We know there are many varied opinions about this and we had intended to drive onto the base, based on this forum. BUT - since our travel day from the west coast was very long and we had to fight horrible traffic Thursday afternoon from Midway airport to get up to Waukegan where we were staying ( nearly 3 hours to go 45 miles), our party of 4 decided to take the free hotel shuttle. Best decision we made. Your mileage may vary but having someone else drive after a long day of stressful travel and driving, we were ready to let someone else do the work. We got to the base at 7:30am by shuttle and after security checkin, we were in the hall in the stands by 8:10am. We had time after it was over to go the NEX, get some shirts and putt around with his shipmates and their families until our shuttle picked us up at 11:30am. It worked out great.
- Take a seat cushion to sit on!
Those aluminum bleachers are hard on the old derriere. I read somewhere about this and forgot to take one.
- Bringing back to base
Make sure you have your car pass and you can pull right into the base with your sailor when returning them each evening. They just check each person’s id in the vehicle and your good to go.
- Respect the ceremony.
I’m sorry to bring this up but when the announcer specifically asks that you hold your applause and cheers until they go through what I think was the list of divisions and certain honor graduates, I don’t get why some don’t listen. We are wanting to hear what they are saying and then you have some who have to interrupt with noise and cheers when they were just told to be quiet and wait until they are done announcing to cheer. So you have to have some patience. Also, we sat by some who decided to carry on a loud conversation with each other during the ceremony and finally about halfway through my wife turned and gave them “the look” that told them to be quiet, and they stopped.
Sorry to be so long but overall it was an awesome experience. We are grateful to this web site as it helped us so much to understand what families go through when their sons or daughters are in bootcamp and what to expect at PIR. May your experience be as blessed as ours.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Melissa T. on -
I know all about the bug. My son was sick all weekend but didn't let it get him down. I didn't see anyone pass out. Whatever virus that was going on was horrible. He had a 104 fever less than a week before battlestations. They do need to do something for them. PIR is definately great and you need to go, no matter what.
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Permalink Reply by Phyllis Jeff on -
thanks for all the info, my son pir is july 3rd i have been reading about the sickness and the passing out. i think that the navy can do something different,we have waited a long time to see our sailor and to have to see them sick is heart breaking i know that the navy has to may them strong but when it comes to their health it is something different.
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Permalink Reply by beachmomma on -
Do they let the recruits leave the base the day of PIR-and if yes, do they get to ride the shuttle back to the hotel with you?
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Permalink Reply by Mary, Proud Mom of Nick on -
Yes, your NEW Sailor can ride the shuttle back to your hotel. They usually do get leave the weekend of their graduation unless they have grad 'n go orders. The other thing is they can have duty on their PIR weekend and you will need to work around that.
Some sailors will receive the full weekend off, others will have to report back each evening and some will have duty that weekend. You won't know what your son's schedule is until after the PIR ceremony.
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Permalink Reply by Bonnie on -
Just Returned from GL! WOW! OH MY GOSH! What a wonderful experience! All those sailors in their dress whites! I have to say, the ceremony was so moving! Unlike Bob and Candi's experience, the announcer at our PIR TOLD us to show our support for our sailors!! There are times when you just watch in awe, like when the drill team thorws those guns around! WOW! IMPRESSIVE! Loud clapping goes on then, for sure! When the Sailors come in from outside, VERY LOUD clapping! and TEARS??? Oh my word! So many PROUD tears!
I am so glad I insisted he buy the pictures! What a nice job they do on those! My son had a special frame made up for his Dad for Father's Day! His 5x7 pic, his Diviion pic and the Navy Creed all in one large frame. Made his Dad cry! I told him that I thought it was the nicest thing he has ever given him.
We got lucky with Earl. He got to have the entire weekend with us! He didn't have to be back on the base until Sunday night. We went out to eat and the first thing he said was, "where's the ice cream scooper?" LOL Appearently while in boot camp, they are fed strictly proportioned meals which involves an ice cream scoop! LOL He's changed so much! (all for the better) He even folds his napkin after dinner!
Go to the Navy Pier in Chicago if you can. Neat place with lots of shops and an area of rides if you are into that kind of stuff. It has tons of shops as well. We enjoyed a meal at "Bubba Gump Shrimp". While walking on the Pier, a lady came up to Earl and told him that her father was once in the Navy, a very long time ago and she asked him if she could take a picture with him by the water to send to her aging father. My son said he would be proud to do that. She was almost in tears!
and then there were the other people that would come up to him, shake his hand and thank him for serving our country. He was so humble!
Our hotel wasn't the best...If you can AVOID the Great Lakes Motel...do so. Even though it's just down the street from the base, it's not a good place to stay. Rating it 1-10, I'd give it a 2....after the first night, we never got our room cleaned, we had to ask for clean towels, more toilet paper and were never given more plastic glasses. Oh and they never took out our trash! I guess the best thing about the hotel was that their AC worked....really good! LOL
Flannigan's is right next door. They have pretty good food there, Breakfast bar, Salad bar and lots of different eats on the menu. The night life is interesting there as well! LOL There is a nice family style place south on RT 41. Just down a bit from the motel on the left. Lot's of menu choices there as well. TRY THEIR CHEESE CAKE OH MY GOSH!
Earl leaves for "A" school on Monday. Then who knows! His Grandmother told him to call her when he got there, she isn't far, and wants to see him.
All I know is we are so PROUD of our Navy Sailor! Good Luck Earl!!!!!
Bonnie
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Permalink Reply by connie on -
Hi Bonnie and all:
Glad to hear you had such a great PIR weekend with your son. My son has a few more weeks to go (07/18) He's in the 900 division so I suspect he'll be involved in the performance. I am so looking forward to his PIR....
Question? Pictures: Do you get them while there at PIR --I'm talking about their formal grad pics that were taken a couple weeks before graduation. Thanks
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Permalink Reply by Bonnie on
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Earl had already paid for his pictures and had them in his locker. He brought them with him when we picked him up at the gate. Some folks picked them up at the exchange after PIR as well. If your son already paid for them, he can pick them up or wait until PIR. Also, you can buy a DVD of your son's PIR. There is a form inside the picture packet or there are people in the exchange that can help you with that. Be prepared to go into the exchange with some $$$!! They have all kinds of neat tee shirts for every member of the family! Pretty cool bumper stickers as well! (I don't put bumber stickers on my car, I tape them to the back window!) There is also a place to eat there, you'll be thirsty and hungry by the time you get out.
Overall, it's such a great experience! I am so greatful that I got to go! If you have any other questions, give me a shout!
Bonnie
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Permalink Reply by connie on
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Bonnie, Thank you so much for the info....I want to make sure we get the pics and the DVD. Look forward to it all.
Thanks!
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Permalink Reply by Nicole Handel on -
Hi Bonnie,
Thank you for all the great info. My son graduates on Aug. 15th and we can hardly wait. We're flying out from Oregon and I'm reading everyone's posts to find out all the do's and don'ts.
I loved reading your story, especially about seeing all our soldiers in their dress whites. That must have been something. We'll try the NAVY Pier also.
I hope Earl is doing well in A School.
Take care, Nicole GO NAVY!
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Permalink Reply by Maureen on -
Hello there, I truly appreciated reading your comments that I thought I would add my own. Your input was fabulous! First and foremost, try to get to the get together for the Navy Moms!! It rocks!!
My son graduated on June 20. We stayed at the Holiday Inn in Gurnee. It was great! $79 (Navy rate) included a continental breakfast for 2 each day. We had a King and pullout Queen sofa. A free shuttle to and from, 2 tickets there, 3 back, (for the recruit). This is the way to go. No lines. Just have your ID ready. The Holiday Inn is about 9 miles from Great Lakes which is about 12 minutes by car. We got a car from Budget. I found that to be the cheapest. O'Hare is about 35 miles north from Chicago and Great Lakes is about 40 miles north from O'Hare. All in all, it is about a 35 minute ride from O'Hare to Great Lakes. Make sure you have plenty of change for the tolls. There are no attendants on the toll roads and the fares are 50 cents to 80 cents to $2.00. Stay on the outside lanes as there is alot of construction. There is so much to do in Gurnee. There are hundreds of chain stores and resturants. Your sailor can go and do whatever they want but there is no drinking, swearing, smoking and they are true to the rules. Bring an umbrella and Tide to go sticks for your sailor. Make sure you buy water when you first get into the Naval Base for the PIR, it sells out fast and you will want it. Bring your sailor's cell, laptop and Ipod. They can use them when they are with you but can not bring them back to the base. We sent our son's by FEDEX the next day to Pensacola.
They want to hang out, talk to you, their friends, watch TV, sleep, take a shower. If you are lucky enough, Liberty is called at the PIR and you can have your sailor until 6 or 7 that night. You get to pick them up about 8 on Saturday and return them by 7 that night. You can go out to eat, visit, travel (50 miles), go to the movies, etc. They do not want to be late coming back. That is a bigee. Our son left at 1:30 Sunday morning for Pensacola and we were grateful for the time we had.
The next day, my husband and I went to Chicago for the day. The Metra was $5.00 for the weekend back and forth. It is a 2 hour drive by car or a 1 and one half hour train ride. Once you get to Chicago, take the yellow star trolley (free) to Navy pier. It is awesome there. Take the architectural boat tour $28.00 for an hour cruise, well worth the money.
You will have a wonderful time. I hope I have answered you questions. Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions. If your group has a get together the night before......go, it was so awesome to meet the mothers I had met online...we will be lifetime friends! Enjoy I hope this helps!
Maureen
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Permalink Reply by Happy Thanksgiving on -
Congratualtions to your Sailor !!!!!!
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Permalink Reply by Carol F. on -
I can't wait for my son's PIR which won't be until September.
I do have a comment about the boys getting sick. Apparently, when they get their shots the first week, one of the shots is to test their immune system. They are giving the sickness shot. So this is why most of them end up being sick part of boot camp.
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