PIR--Lessons learned- Long
Just returned from my son's PIR this past weekend. It was great to be able to attend!
Some things we thought we'd pass along. Your mileage may vary and these are our opinions only.
Navy Lodge ($62 a night, close to base):
- You do need a vehicle to get around (for the most part) or cash for taxis. Yes, you "could" walk from Navy Lodge, but it's a long walk and not one I'd like to make. Also, there are no restaurants within walking distance. One poor couple was told there was and didn't have a vehicle. Although some restaurants delivered, I wouldn't recommend it unless this would be the only way to attend PIR.
- Navy Lodge is ok, pretty common for Navy Lodge (we've stayed at more than a few). We did ask for rooms with kitchenettes, but didn't receive them, but we did get a frig and microwave. The rooms are clean but not fancy. No breakfast, so you do need to weigh that (and see #1). If you have a few in your party, it might make sense to get a room at a place with breakfast and pay a little more. Not extravagant by any means, so if you like a little nicer digs you'll want to look at one of the chains, but it's adequate, clean and close to the base.
- Jakes on Greenbay Dr. not far from the base is a good place for a chicago dog. They also have a very extensive menu, so everyone is bound to find something they like. It's casual. Uno's Chicago Grill in Gurnee near Gurnee Mall is a great place to get Chicago Deep Dish pizza. Yum.
- Metra is close by and an easy way to get into Chicago. You could drive, but there is construction and it can be irritating. We went to the Zoo in Lincoln Park, it's free but parking is at least $14. Well worth the visit. We didn't visit Navy Pier (lack of time) but it looked fun and was nearby.
Ceremony:
-Arrive at the base early on Friday morning. They started letting us in at 6:15. Have your ID ready and have your parking pass - ours was green. Keep this pass, we did have to show it one time when picking up N.
- Doors close at 8:45, so be there before this time. Seating was limited for late arrivals, so if you want a seat, get there early. They have videos that are intended to entertain you while you wait.
-Pictures allowed inside the hall only. They clear the hall out in 15 minutes, so if you want pictures there afterward, take them quickly inside, but not outside! :o)
- Seating is on bleachers unless you have a disability or need to be seated on the floor. If sitting on metal bleachers is an issue you may want to bring a cushion. They do have limited number of wheelchairs--if you need one tell the MAs as you pull in the parking lot and they will get one for you.
- Be aware that when you arrive there will be signs on the floor with the division number. We were told by one RDC that our son's division (the last division on the end) would be directly in front of the last set of bleachers. It wasn't. In fact it was in front of the bleachers next to us. We would have sat there if we knew.
-Before the ceremony there are t-shirts for each division available for purchase. They are $15 and feature the division's flag which they create. Very cool!
-Water and soda are also available for purchase, as are cute dixie cup hats and commemorative bricks.
(these next are somewhat blunt, please take them in the manner intended, as helpful ideas to make your visit pleasurable and allow others to enjoy the ceremony, too)
- Please use the rest room prior to the start of the ceremony. The ceremony is only a little over an hour but it's not only distracting to others to have people walk in front of them as they are trying to view the ceremony, it's also rude to those graduating and/or performing. Be considerate, please. The hand dryers in the rest rooms are VERY loud as are the flushing toilets and it's very difficult, if not impossible, to hear the ceremony over them.
-If you have very young children who aren't able to sit still for three hours, you may want to make other arrangements for them, tire them out before you are seated or be willing to take them out if they are fussy. While I love children, we found it very distracting and disappointing to have to listen to crying babies and cranky toddlers. Most children were very well behaved, but it only takes a couple to make it unpleasant for those around.
-If you are taking pictures you may want to sit about halfway up. There is an overhang that can make your pictures come out darker than you would prefer.
-Don't bother with gifts, they aren't able to take them back. This doesn't apply to grad-n-go's and may not apply to those staying in Great Lakes for school after boot, someone will have to clarify that, but N was not allowed to keep them. They also cannot take cell phones back to the ship.
-Bring Tide Sticks or Shout wipes if they are graduating in the spring or summer. Their whites get dirty easily!
Hope this was helpful. I'm sure there's so much more that we only scratched the surface.
Some things we thought we'd pass along. Your mileage may vary and these are our opinions only.
Navy Lodge ($62 a night, close to base):
- You do need a vehicle to get around (for the most part) or cash for taxis. Yes, you "could" walk from Navy Lodge, but it's a long walk and not one I'd like to make. Also, there are no restaurants within walking distance. One poor couple was told there was and didn't have a vehicle. Although some restaurants delivered, I wouldn't recommend it unless this would be the only way to attend PIR.
- Navy Lodge is ok, pretty common for Navy Lodge (we've stayed at more than a few). We did ask for rooms with kitchenettes, but didn't receive them, but we did get a frig and microwave. The rooms are clean but not fancy. No breakfast, so you do need to weigh that (and see #1). If you have a few in your party, it might make sense to get a room at a place with breakfast and pay a little more. Not extravagant by any means, so if you like a little nicer digs you'll want to look at one of the chains, but it's adequate, clean and close to the base.
- Jakes on Greenbay Dr. not far from the base is a good place for a chicago dog. They also have a very extensive menu, so everyone is bound to find something they like. It's casual. Uno's Chicago Grill in Gurnee near Gurnee Mall is a great place to get Chicago Deep Dish pizza. Yum.
- Metra is close by and an easy way to get into Chicago. You could drive, but there is construction and it can be irritating. We went to the Zoo in Lincoln Park, it's free but parking is at least $14. Well worth the visit. We didn't visit Navy Pier (lack of time) but it looked fun and was nearby.
Ceremony:
-Arrive at the base early on Friday morning. They started letting us in at 6:15. Have your ID ready and have your parking pass - ours was green. Keep this pass, we did have to show it one time when picking up N.
- Doors close at 8:45, so be there before this time. Seating was limited for late arrivals, so if you want a seat, get there early. They have videos that are intended to entertain you while you wait.
-Pictures allowed inside the hall only. They clear the hall out in 15 minutes, so if you want pictures there afterward, take them quickly inside, but not outside! :o)
- Seating is on bleachers unless you have a disability or need to be seated on the floor. If sitting on metal bleachers is an issue you may want to bring a cushion. They do have limited number of wheelchairs--if you need one tell the MAs as you pull in the parking lot and they will get one for you.
- Be aware that when you arrive there will be signs on the floor with the division number. We were told by one RDC that our son's division (the last division on the end) would be directly in front of the last set of bleachers. It wasn't. In fact it was in front of the bleachers next to us. We would have sat there if we knew.
-Before the ceremony there are t-shirts for each division available for purchase. They are $15 and feature the division's flag which they create. Very cool!
-Water and soda are also available for purchase, as are cute dixie cup hats and commemorative bricks.
(these next are somewhat blunt, please take them in the manner intended, as helpful ideas to make your visit pleasurable and allow others to enjoy the ceremony, too)
- Please use the rest room prior to the start of the ceremony. The ceremony is only a little over an hour but it's not only distracting to others to have people walk in front of them as they are trying to view the ceremony, it's also rude to those graduating and/or performing. Be considerate, please. The hand dryers in the rest rooms are VERY loud as are the flushing toilets and it's very difficult, if not impossible, to hear the ceremony over them.
-If you have very young children who aren't able to sit still for three hours, you may want to make other arrangements for them, tire them out before you are seated or be willing to take them out if they are fussy. While I love children, we found it very distracting and disappointing to have to listen to crying babies and cranky toddlers. Most children were very well behaved, but it only takes a couple to make it unpleasant for those around.
-If you are taking pictures you may want to sit about halfway up. There is an overhang that can make your pictures come out darker than you would prefer.
-Don't bother with gifts, they aren't able to take them back. This doesn't apply to grad-n-go's and may not apply to those staying in Great Lakes for school after boot, someone will have to clarify that, but N was not allowed to keep them. They also cannot take cell phones back to the ship.
-Bring Tide Sticks or Shout wipes if they are graduating in the spring or summer. Their whites get dirty easily!
Hope this was helpful. I'm sure there's so much more that we only scratched the surface.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Carol B... on -
We bought the video...it's a grainy and not very good quality, except for some of the portions of the speakers. It's also not the entire ceremony, it's cut together...a bit disappointing but glad to have it.
We were more disappointed in the Keel yearbook. It didn't have any pictures of our sailors in the day to day life sections (2 all male divisions for the book, but all the day to day shots were from the co-ed groups). The division pics are in black and white...but again, glad to have something for him to remember those boot camp days...
We stayed at the Comfort inn. Newly remodeled and has continental breakfast. Only 5 minutes from the command.
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Permalink Reply by Cyndi Newlon on -
Most helpful!!! Humm.... What is N? Thanks.
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Permalink Reply by Achseh on
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N is my son. :o)
To protect his privacy, I just refer to him as that. RDCs do read the message boards, so I don't want to say anything inadvertently that might affect him.
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Permalink Reply by Donna on -
Thank you all very much for your postings on PIR, my son's PIR is 8/1 this information is really helpful..
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Permalink Reply by Kelly(KBNM) on -
This was awesome - our son graduates on 8/22, and even though my husband was in the Navy, he went to boot camp in San Diego 20 years ago, so I am full of questions! Thank you for sharing this information. It will help us a lot!!
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Permalink Reply by Tammy on -
I took notes on this before we went last week to GL. I agree with everything 100%! I brought the Shout wipes that came in handy for him and for my white shorts. hehe! The bathrooms are loud, the sailor that stood next to the sign on the floor stood on the wrong side of it, so we sat a set of bleachers away from his division. We got there in our seats at 7 and if we'd known we'd had plenty of time to switch. A lady had a 2 year old in front of us that screamed for over a hour and a half. She should of taken him to the bathroom or left him with someone. No one by us could hear. Get the shirts early, they sold out pretty fast! When the bleachers where full we kept having to move for the people that didn't use the restroom. It was hard when it was completely full! Oh yeah, Jack's on Green Bay is awesome. They have a little bit of everything. Emily's was great for breakfast. It's also on Green Bay. Thanks for posting this Achseh, like I said I took notes on this and brought them with me! :0)
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Permalink Reply by Teri (Boo's Mom) on -
Thank you so much for sharing. Sounds like CASH is the order of the day of PIR. Also, we inquired about staying at the Navy Lodge but were told that we couldn't stay there unless we had a 'Navy Escort'....??? Regardless, we have a hotel and car pass. We have PIR on 8/15!! I'm so excited just to see his sweet face......
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Permalink Reply by Sarah K3 on -
Here's a question. But first, I got a phone call yesterday! Oh hearing him was the best thing ever! okay but on to my question, he says he is in the Awards room DURING graduation for the honor recruits. So he said he will not actually be apart of the ceremony, he will be in another room with the Admiral and officers and whoever else. So he said I won't actually see him during graduation, but after graduation of course I will. Is that true? I thought they would like call out names or something. But has anyone ever heard of that? I so hope that is not the case, I mean don't you actually see ALL the recruits graduate?
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