The following is provided by lemonelephant, the mom of a Sailor.

Check out the information in the Family Guide.

Know that your Recruit may know about week 5 or so when he/she will leave the RTC, but it can change. My Sailor was told one thing and then it changed the last week, a day or so before PIR. I have seen others who have also commented that the flight arrangements changed, so know that it is possible that things will change.

The procedure now is for those staying at GL to move across the street soon after PIR. This takes 3-5 hours and then those Sailors have Liberty. (Some families have indicated that going back to their hotel room for 2-3 hours worked for them, and a few said they wish they had done this. Some with young children went out to eat at a kid friendly restaurant, which helped keep them happy while waiting. So this is something you may want to consider.) They have to be back to the base each night and will know the time. They will most likely be able to have Liberty on Saturday and Sunday and will have to return each evening. The Sailor will know when they can be picked up and when they must return. The Sailor may have watch at some point and would have to be back for that.

Those flying out to A Schools in other states most likely will leave the RTC in the wee hours of the morning on Saturday. Once Liberty is called on Friday, your Sailor will know when he/she must return to the RTC and when you will be able to meet him/her at the airport and which one.  (Make sure when you talk to your Sailor following PIR, that you write down the airport, airline, flight number, and time his/her flight is!)  It is possible that your Sailor may have to stand watch at some point and would have to be back for that. Even though Sailors are taken to the airport in the wee hours of the morning, some do not fly out until later and so you can spend time with them or they can go to the USO. If your Sailor is unable to fly out on Saturday, he/she will know that and will let you know how things will go for the next day or so.

At the airport or once your Sailor has moved over to the other side at GL, you will be able to give your Sailor a black backpack containing his/her cell phone, laptop, comfort clothes (favorite underwear)--some A Schools do not allow them to keep them right away and they get locked up upon arrival and others can have them, and favorite snacks. Many Sailors like the padded backpacks that will protect the laptop better. The backpack can contain no obvious labels. Check the groups for your Sailor's A School (there is a page for this) and see if there is anything else that you will want to include. For example, those with MA's will want to include a sealed travel size bottle of baby shampoo for use following OC Spray. (Recruits are now issued backpacks rather than utility belts while at the RTC and they may be able to get it to you to use. Be sure to ask about this before buying a backpack.)

Here are some things to think about when booking your hotel for the weekend. You will want to arrive on Thursday or earlier so you will be well rested and will not risk being late for the ceremony, which starts promptly at 9:00 AM on Friday morning. If you arrive before 6 PM on Thursday, plan to attend the PIR 10/07/2011 Meet and Greet. If your Sailor is staying in GL for A School, you will be able to have Liberty with him/her each day through Sunday evening, so if you are able to stay through Sunday or Monday, then do. If your Sailor is flying out for A School, then he/she will most likely fly out on Saturday, but some Sailors have also flown out on Sunday or later depending on flight availability, so you may want to plan to stay and check out on Sunday