What happens during the PIR program?

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Permalink Reply by Tina on August 26, 2008 at 9:04am

Hi Doreen. My son had PIR on Aug. 15th...Like you I had no clue what would happen. All the divisions come in thru a large 'garage type' door and are announced by division. they parade in front of all the people there and then stand just right of where you will be sitting. They do not go on stage or get announced individually unless they are award winners. Mostly theres a bunch of talking by the guest speakers...all the new sailors will sing Anchor's Away, they will all recite the Sailor's Creed, etc....At the end they announce Liberty and everyone rushes to the floor to find their Sailor. It is an amazing thing though...I wouldn't have missed it for the world!

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Permalink Reply by Tina on August 26, 2008 at 12:54pm

Yes, you can video tape it...I did however It didn't turn out very good. When the door opened for the recruits to enter I got to shaking so bad I had to stop and I didn't get to tape the entire thing since I didn't have enough battery.

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Permalink Reply by Jeannie on August 26, 2008 at 7:20pm

To those of you who have been there......... What do we wear to PIR? suits, dresses, casual, jeans???
Thank you,
Jeannie
mom to John, Div. 373 USS Theodore Roosevelt

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Permalink Reply by joanne on August 26, 2008 at 9:48pm

Melissa and Jeannie:
I made the mistake of trying to tape the whole thing and I wouldn't recommend it. We just received the professional video and it was well worth whatever it cost. You concentrate so much on taping it that it takes away from the live ceremony. What you can't see up close at the ceremony you are able to see on huge screens up close.

Since the sailors are in white uniforms, you can wear just about anything you think is appropriate. We saw a wide range of outfits from jeans to fancy dresses, but most women were in capris, skirts, etc. (remember you are sitting in bleachers). My advice is to wear what you think would look good in pictures with your sailor! There is a bit of walking from the car to the graduation hall, so wear comfortable shoes.

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Permalink Reply by Jeannie on August 26, 2008 at 10:02pm

Thank you very much Joanne!
Jeannie

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Permalink Reply by Marianne Green on August 30, 2008 at 1:23pm

I'm wondering about the seating . . . my son is in Div 337/Ship 14 . . . so is there a specific or labeled section for parents of those sailors to all sit together, or does everyone just sit wherever they want? If they do sit together, does the division stop in front of those parents so we can see our sailors? Finally, when did you get your child's pictures -- were packages available and how expensive? Thanks for the info.

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Permalink Reply by April , PNM of Tyler on September 1, 2008 at 10:45am

Your sailor will have their pictures taken and order the packages that they want (dvd, keel book) around week 5 or 6. They usually have it taken out of their pay. When we were there for PIR we actually went with our son into the photo place and paid for his pictures ourself and they gave them to him then. Some of them have them sent home and they arrive the same week as PIR, it all depends on what your sailor has chosen to do.

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Permalink Reply by carols_kitchen on September 1, 2008 at 8:22pm

When is PIR? Has your sailor passed battlestations yet? I made sure to ask my son in every letter where we should sit--so when he passed bs, he told me exactly where they would be "parked" for PIR. We were able to pick him out right away.

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Permalink Reply by Doreen on September 2, 2008 at 6:56am

His PIR is 9/26 hopefully. We think his BS are 9/23-9/24. I'll have to ask him where he will be for his PIR - because I'm sure they all look alot alike with the same haircuts, uniforms, glasses, etc.

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Permalink Reply by Doreen on September 1, 2008 at 10:27am

I read somewhere on here that if our recruits PIR is after Labor Day - they will wear their blue uniforms for graduation. If you go to U-tube - you can watch some of the PIRs. Some have white and some have blue uniforms. So we'll have to see on 9/26. CANT WAIT!!!!!

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Permalink Reply by MP - PNM of Ashley IT3 on September 1, 2008 at 12:11pm

My daughter graduated Sept 21, 2007 and she also wore whites. I believe they change to Blues in Oct.

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