Pass In Review - Tips, Hints, and Helps

Comment

Comment by Jim C on October 31, 2010 at 9:03am

Chris, your right about connectivity. The hotel had free wireless which was terrible. My laptop has a verizon wireless card which gets reception in all of Idaho Wyoming and Montana. The signal near great Lakes was non existant.

Comment by Chris H. on October 31, 2010 at 8:47am

One of the things about laptops (our daughter had her PC at GL A School) is the availability of an Internet connection AND the reception. There usually is NO plug-it-into-the-wall and you're okay setup, so a AT&T or Verizon type USB stick (wireless through the respective service like a cell) needs to be used. That's pretty expensive for the amount of time they'll have in A School. Our girl used her laptop to catch up on Grey's Anatomy DVDs and what other DVD movies we brought. Even aboard ship, both the cells and laptops cannot connect to anything. In port, the cell can get a signal on deck, and if they're in a port with a NEX or other US recreational/dining facility, free wireless Internet may be available.

Comment by JON WALKOWSKI on October 31, 2010 at 8:17am

Thanks for the info Jim, I was going to bring a laptop for my son to take to A-school....

Comment by Jim C on October 31, 2010 at 8:10am

I forgot some things that *might* be important to some parents. My sailor said that all recruits were allowed to recieve cell phones at the airport regardless of which A school they were going to. No laptops were allowed to be handed off.

She is at Cory station now and just texted and said to send her laptop, civilian clothes and home made snacks for her and her new room mates ASAP. So at least at Cory thier allowed to get stuff right away.

Comment by Chris H. on October 30, 2010 at 8:16pm

Congratulations to all who experienced PIR this week! It is so awesome. But more good things happen, like getting an email today from our April 9th Sailor who deployed a couple months back saying the next port she's heard has excellent Skype capabilities so we'll be able to meet face-to-face. No destination, timeframe or anything else, but, like waiting for a letter from Boot Camp, the information certainly brightened our day!

Comment by Jim C on October 30, 2010 at 7:59pm

We got to the gate about 5:30. I know that sounds kind of extreme. But, I wasn't going to chance letting anything mess up the day. The entrance is on Buckley road right as the road detours to the left due to construction. At that light you make a right and the base gate is on the right.

I forgot to include; If your sailor ordered pictures and your paying for them at the NEX.....that place is an absolute zoo after PIR.

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on October 30, 2010 at 7:53pm

Keep in mind we've just a serious terrorist threat at several large airports here and abroad....security is very likey increased so allow extra time everywhere.....RTC is a military base first and foremost so you very likely will see delays there as well.

Comment by Troy Gunn on October 30, 2010 at 7:48pm

Jim......Thanks for sharing that great story and useful info. Congrats to your Sailor and to you!

Comment by JON WALKOWSKI on October 30, 2010 at 4:40pm

JIM, CONGRATS TO YOU AND YOUR SAILOR. MY SON'S PIR IS DEC 5TH - I CAN'T WAIT!!

Comment by Jim C on October 30, 2010 at 4:28pm

What a cereomony It's not something I'll ever forget. We drove to PIR and I'm glad we did. We were the fourth car in line, parked right at the doors and had our pick of the seats. The folks that took a shuttle had quite a walk and there teeth were chattering by the time they got to the door. The temps were in the high 30's so it wasn't to bad but I would hate to make that walk in colder temps or with snow on the ground. There were no vehicle inspections, they just wanted to see the parking pass. They did match ID's to the guest list in the first building you go through. Thier were a lot of families who showed up later and had some problems finding seating. There were only 9 divisions graduating and the hall was pretty full. I'm glad we got there early.

We let our sailor run things Friday. She wanted an Arby's sandwich and to walk around a mall for and hour or so. Then we came back to the hotel and just hung out.

If you learn anything from this remeber the these things. Our sailor was a grad&go and had to back at 8:00 pm. My hotel is only about 3 miles from the base. We left at 7:00 thinking that would be plenty of time, it wasn't. I had no idea traffic from parents returning thier sailors would be that bad. Several sailors, mine included got out and walked into base because they could do it faster than traffic was moving. Mine got back to the ship with 8 minutes to spare. It's a long walk from the main gate to their ship. I have read that the parking pass is good for all weekend and you could park near and return to the NEX. This was not the case when we returned our sailor. Parents had to make a U turn right inside the main gate and head back off base as soon as thier sailors were out of the car.

When your recruits make the I'm a sailor call it might be a good idea to tell them not to lock thier knees at parade rest. There were a couple of fainters. I guess it's fairly common. The sailors were fine but I cant imagine what the parents were going through when the sailors went down.

We were at O'hare at 3:00 am to meet our sailor her flight didn't leave until 11:00 but at least we got to spend more time with her. The USO is on the mezanine level. Take the elevator right beside and to the left of the security check point. All new sailors have to check in there. Us and another family beat our sailors to the airport and the USO provided drinks and food and more importantly information while we waited. Delta did give us family military passes so we spent the whole time with my daughter.

Ya know, the ceremony was great. The 900 divisions were outstanding. But the one thing that struck me the most was the change in my sailor. Maybe it's somethong only a parent can notice but I saw it in the eyes, faces and demeanors of more than one sailor. It was the quiet confidence and pride, knowing they've completed things these last weeks they never thought they could do and most are never asked to do. To be able to say the simple words "I am a sailor in the US Navy.' That will make one hell of a change in you're recruit.

I would be in huge trouble if I didn't give a huge Bravo Zulu to division 349 (my daughters division) The newest hall of fame division. Well done, well done ideed!

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