Pass In Review - Tips, Hints, and Helps

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Comment by MarkM on February 9, 2010 at 1:14am

One last thing. We had heard via N4Ms that the sailors are sometimes a little dazed and confused following PIR. We saw this firsthand with our son. They are so used to having every little thing of every minute of every day controlled that they find making decisions confusing. Mark couldn't look at the menu and make a decision without our help on Friday. By Sunday, he was doing much better.

Comment by MarkM on February 9, 2010 at 1:04am

Here is info from what I have learned this weekend.

1. PIR is awesome! Depending on the number of divisions graduating, they may not even open the balcony. The seats are plain bleachers. If you sit on the back row, you will have a wall to lean against and its good for photos and videos.

2. Navy Lodge is a great place to stay. You are literally 2 minutes from the RTC gate.

3. Taxi is the best way to go. They charge $3 a head each way. There wasn't a long line for cars to get in, they still had to wait. Taxis just pull up and let you out. DON'T FORGET YOUR PHOTO ID.

4. Eating places
a. Rainforest Cafe at Gurnee mall was very good. That is about it for sit down IN the mall. There are several places right around the mall. We had lunch there on Friday. Friday night, we did Subway on base. Our son loves Subway.
b. Saturday morning we did breakfast at a place about 12 minutes up the road called Wildberries. It was very good, but maybe just little on the pricey side.
c. Lunch on Saturday was Lou Malnati's Pizza. I was told by a friend from Chicago that it is one of the best and ClayH, who lives here confirmed it at the meet & greet. They were right...DELICIOUS pizza.
d. Last night we ate at the Silo. All of our food was very good and they gave my son a free dessert pizza. Two of the desk folks at NL didn't recommend Silo, but we couldn't see why.
e. Full Moon Restaurant (left on 41) has a really good breakfast and was recommended by the NL desk. We ate there Sunday morning and was very pleased.

5. Go to the Meet & Greet. It was a lot of fun. The Ramada did a great job.

Comment by greg delany on February 5, 2010 at 1:15am

Hey guys,
Before you get to PIR look up http://www1.netc.navy.mil/nstc/rtcgl/families.asp
for honor graduates and parking passes.
Our son's was PIR 1-15-10. He was grad and go to GL so like Norman we had our son for an hour after PIR to say hello and give him our hotel number and our cell number to call us and tell us where to pick him up on the A-school side. Tony is an HM so the A-school barracks for HM is at Gate 3. Finding this gate by asking a sentry at the gates might send you 5 miles in the wrong direction like they did for us, so listen up. PIR is on Buckley. From the PIR Gate head East on Buckley (turn right out of gate) and go under the RR bridge and stay in left lane. It will curve around and go up a hill and dead end at a light at the top of the hill. Turn left at the light and gate 3 is on your left maybe 200 meters. A bonus is across the street from gate 3 is he train station to Chicago. They sell the elusive navy ear muffs that are usually sold out at the NEX. We spent 6 hours searching at both on and off base NEX stores and the mall. The only place to find them was the train station at gate 3. We are from Sunny AZ so our son was having trouble with the cold, so we spent the early AM hours of Saturday trying to buy upgrades to his uniforms. Sweater and name badge can be worn with peanutbutters under the trench coat and they will stay warm. These items can be purchased at the NEX on base. If you remember to save your PIR parking pass it will get you onto base all weekend if you are escorted by your sailor and show this parking pass. Beats walking to NEX, long walk. Plus after you buy the items he will be needing in his new room, ie.. computer, phone, pad lock, sun lamp, extention cord, lint roller and new uniforms. it is a lot easier to drive your sailor to his room than to make him walk a mile with it from the main gate to his room. The base is huge and he will not know his way around the first day so all help is good help.You will have to drive through main gate on weekend not gate 3. To get to Main gate turn right at the top of the hill past RR bridge and it is on your right. Go right through main gate and not visitors center entrance.
Silo's was great food, pizza... They also offer half off on first monday of the month to all sailors in uniform. Tony said he will be there every time. We found lots of stuff at Walmart in Gurnee on Grant rd East of Mall. The phone we got at mall. He had a cricket phone in AZ so we switched the number and cell tower to Great lakes in the mall. His barrack room has Comm cast high speed internet. $15 a month and no reception issues. Cell phones don't work all that great on base. These are just things we did and most of you already have your own plans I am sure. But these tips might save you some special time with your sailor and get them ready to learn and be able to call you and video chat with you every day instead of waiting for US postal service every day. And your sailor might stay warmer and not be sick. Good luck and enjoy a great PIR ceremony.
Greg

Comment by Norman Cantrelle on February 2, 2010 at 4:45pm

Boot Camp Dads,
Friday was Nathan's PIR. It was an incredible experience and I just wanted to pass along a few tips.
1. Try to get into town early enough for the Navy Mom's Meet and Great. They did a great job, and it was a pleasure to meet some of the folks we have been chating with as well as others that are in your Sailor's divison.

2.I think a taxi or a shuttle is the way to go. We used the shuttle from the Ramada and it worked out great. There were plenty of taxi cabs and vans also available after PIR.

3. If your Sailor is Grad and Go and staying at GL, make sure that they tell them they have family staying in town. Nathan did this, and he got Liberty for the entire weekend. He can stay with us until he has to go back on Sunday. No back and forth to the base. Be prepared to wait about 5 hours or so until they are finished processing. We saw Nathan for about 20 minutes after PIR and then he had to leave. But having him for the weekend was worth the wait.

4. Silo's is great choice for your Sailor's first off base meal. Pizza was excellent as were the ribs. They have whatever your Sailor wants. They also pull an outstanding Black and Tan, which made Dad happy!!!

Dads, this time will pass faster than you think. It did for us. And even though we did not have Nathan for the holidays, it was worth it to see the new man he has become. The letters won't be frequent enough, calls may or may not happen, but when you get that "I'm a Sailor" call and you see your Sailor at PIR, none of that will matter. We have incredible children who have chosen to serve our country and their countrymen at a time of great need. Friday I watched 664 of America's best join the ranks of the most powerful Navy the world has ever known. To those of you who have yet to experience this be prepared for one of the proudest days in your life, and thank you for letting your child be one of Nathan's shipmates.

Comment by Steven S on February 1, 2010 at 8:15pm

PIR question. As you return from your time there, did you seriously have to start sitting down at 730am.? I see that I don't want to be up top now, but did you all start walking up at 730am and think you could have waited till 8a or 830a ? just wondering..

Comment by Joe on January 30, 2010 at 3:34pm

BY the way Douglas there were wheel chairs there put made be helpful to bring them incase

Comment by Joe on January 30, 2010 at 3:33pm

Hey Douglas some luck you have, but I hope this will help my family attend the PIR 8 Jan 10 and what I saw happen was there are handcapped spot near the buiding where you check in there were also sailor there to assist people in wheelchairs if you need help just let them know as far as I saw that day the sailor assisted anyone that needed help also they will sit the wheelchairs right on the floor in front on the division your son/daughter is in. Also enjoy it was one of the greatest moment in my life to see my son in PIR any other information I may help with please ask this is why we are here to assist and help each other one great Navy Family Good Luck and Enjoy

Comment by Douglas Gould on January 30, 2010 at 3:13pm

Ok, here is something that I have not heard much about to help me. My mother in law will be joining us for PIR on Feb. 12. She is not able to walk as far as it sounds like we will need to, so I am wondering what we will need to do to be prepared. Will we need to bring a wheel chair with us or can we call someone at GL and have one available at the gate?
But before you answer there is more. I broke my leg in November and the doctor has not released me to put weight on it yet so I am still on crutches and not sure if I should get a wheel chair for myself also so that I do not have to walk that distance.
I am looking for any suggestions or advice from others that have gone through this. I will also post this in the Navy Boot Camp group for information. Thanks.

Comment by Steven S on January 21, 2010 at 11:25pm

Thats what I thought. Your up late.. Thanks boss!

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on January 21, 2010 at 11:15pm

Shuttle to all the rental cars as I remember....about the same for each

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