Pass In Review - Tips, Hints, and Helps

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Comment by V. Michael Roberson on June 24, 2012 at 11:15am

Just a quick question, is it better to stay at the Navy Lodge for PIR, or to get hotel room and then take shuttle to base on the date of the PIR... also need the link to Sarge's so that can be there in time for the meet and greet on thursday evening.

Comment by Ralph Pinney on May 13, 2012 at 10:07am

Hello all.   I want to relay our experiences while attending PIR May 11, 2012; both the good and the bad.

We flew into Chicago and rented a car. I thought I was getting a pretty good deal with Dollar, but every time I turned around, they were trying to pile on extra charges.   The GPS was an additional $12 per day.   I figured it would be worth it so I went for that option.  Unfortunately, the unit was not charging in the car we had, so the battery died after 2 hours.   I fully expect to get that charge removed, but if Dolllar does not, I will add to this post.   The lesson here is to verify it is working BEFORE pulling out of the rental car lot.  Also check with your personal insurance agent and your credit card company and make sure you understand what coverage you already have.   That way, you may be able to waive all the optional (and expensive) coverage the rental car company wants to add on.   When we said that both my wife and I wanted to be listed as drivers, they said that will be $10 per day extra.   When does it end?

Using the brochure that came with our son’s form letter, we had made reservations at the Quality Inn.  The rate was competitive, $59 and we have used that hotel chain many times in our travels, so we were expecting a decent property and a clean room.   That was not the case when we arrived.   The room was not clean, it smelled, and the property was very run down.   It was definitely not up to Quality Inn standards.

Desperately calling around, afraid we couldn’t find anything at the last minute, we did find availability at the Homewood Suites in Lincolnshire.   It’s in the brochure also.   They had a great rate for people attending the graduation.   We paid $79 for our 1 bedroom suite.   Super clean hotel with a fantastic free hot breakfast.   The only downside was it does not have a shuttle, which I worried about at first, but that turned out not to be a big deal.

Before leaving home, I printed out the gate pass, just in case, and I’m glad I did.   RTC is easy to find, and unless you are one of the very early birds, you will wind up following the line of cars.   Just stay in the right lane on Buckley.   After you turn right onto Ohio St., you go about 2-3 blocks and turn into the gate.   Have your photo id’s ready as they will check before passing through the gate.  Immediately on your right, you will be directed into a parking structure.   Just off the North end of the parking structure is the building you go through for security.  The walkway is covered between the two, so there wouldn’t be a problem in case of bad weather.   It took 10 to 15 minutes to get through that process, not bad.   As you leave that building, you immediately enter the building for the PIR ceremonies.   At first, we were going to take a shuttle from the hotel, but I am glad we did not.  

The ceremonies were fantastic!   We were all very impressed and so proud.   What a fine group of sailors we saw.   After finding our son, we learned that he had to fly out for A school early Saturday morning, instead of Monday morning so were would not get to be with him for the weekend.   I guess we will have to wait for his A school graduation leave to catch up. 

Good luck and fair winds to your sailor.   HOOYAA!

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on May 10, 2012 at 2:43pm

for PIR this week:

Hey Chicago Buddy fans - This Saturday May 12 at 6:00PM you can meet legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Gregg Allman at Buddy's club Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago! He will be signing copies of his new book "My Cross to Bear"!! For the first time, in his own words, Gregg discusses the unflinching story of his life and music—from the death of his older brother Duane, to his solo career, to his string of failed marriages (the most publicized one to the entertainer Cher), and of course, his struggles with drugs and alcohol, Gregg details his rocky path to becoming a member of classic rock royalty.

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on May 7, 2012 at 9:41pm

try this link Laz  http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2310130160?profi...

Comment by Ron Bowen on May 7, 2012 at 9:19pm

The meet n greet for sarge is a great thing. They should go and check it
Out. I have all the details on my site http://callsforrecruits.org if you need any info.

Comment by Laz Surabianfamily on May 7, 2012 at 9:11pm

my grandson will have his pass in review on may 11 Shio 09 div 143 i saw something about a meet and greet for parents etc. held by someone named Sarge any idea where and what time these take place. my daughter my wife and i will be ariving thursday mid afternoon if the flight is on time...
Thanks

Comment by Todd S on April 29, 2012 at 12:10pm

A heads up for those attending PIR on May 18th 2012. My son is waiting to class up in A-School at GL. He says that no sailors will be allowed to go to downtown Chicago for liberty that weekend due to security for the NATO Summit being in town that weekend. 

Comment by NavyDads Co-Admin, Calvin on April 16, 2012 at 5:57am

Ron, Great story, glad it worked out good and y'all had a good time.

Comment by Ron Bowen on April 16, 2012 at 5:32am

Well I have to share my PIR experience with all of you...lol....first off, we drove to Los Angeles on Tuesday night....As we were heading out of town, we stopped and got the mail.  We got our last letter from our son....And it was one full of thanks dad, I now understand everything you have been telling me my entire life....thanks for not being my friend and raising me right.....It was a great way to start the trip...We flew out of LAX on wednesday and had a stop over in Salt Lake City...Just as we landed and I turned my phone on, we got the I'm a Sailor call....it worked out so perfect....I was now even beaming more than before....and to top it off, he told me that he was promoted to E3 in bootcamp and got sharpshooter award....then he gives me the great news that he was leaving on Sunday and got to have Liberty on Saturday....This trip was getting better at every turn!!!! We flew into O'Hare and had no problems getting through....we found our shuttle and got the rental car at ACE rentals....it is off site, but what a deal we got....from wednesday to sunday, a chrysler town and country that would seat 7 for just over $300....I thought it was a great deal...I didn't do the ipass and i am glad I didn't....it was easy enough to pay to tolls, and I don't think I went through enough to make $8 a day worth it....car was fully loaded (gps, backup camera, heated seats and steering wheel, etc).....we then headed to the hotel...stayed at the Comfort Inn on Belvadere....Nice Rooms, Great Rate (got 2 rooms for 4 nights for about $800), and took the free shuttle to PIR....no complaints at all.....Thursday we went in to chicago by train and walked to millennium park.....had a good time and got back just in time to have the FREE dinner at Sarge's Meet n Greet....that was great....he does a good job and puts out a lot of info...I was going to drive to PIR, but his speech talked me out of it...glad he did too....like I said, had Liberty Friday and Satuday...Went to Chicago and up the willis tower, had pizza at Anastasia's (great place...went there just about every night after dropping him off and had a few beers before bed...lol)...Went to the Gurnee Mills Mall...Went on base and went to the NEX so he could buy a new jacket...he just had to have one...lol....On sunday we got up and checked out of the hotel and drove to Midway (he flew out of there) and spent the day with him in the USO....what a wonderful place....they do so much for our sailors!!! The line at Midway to get to the planes was CRAZY!!! We got to go to the front since he was traveling on orders, but man it was packed there....I thought I needed to get to O'hare really early after seeing that....so we left earlier than I wanted to.....got to O'hare and it took 15 minutes to get through security.....no problems with rental car...free shuttle took us back to airport....no problems with anything.....we flew delta.....we again had a layover in Salt Lake City....this is where it gets interesting...lol....we sat in line on the taxiway in O'hare and waited for over an hour due to weather....our flight was scheduled to leave SLC at 9:30 and now were weren't getting in until 10...thought we were gonna have to stay the night...lol....Delta held the plane and we made the connection....we were the only connecting flight that got held...all others had to reschedule and wait for a flight the next day....I was so relieved....we got into LAX about an hour later than scheduled....but all in all...it was a great trip....that was the only snafu...but it came out just fine.... PIR was AMAZING....and we took a Sailor that left with him the same day to chicago with us because he didn't have any family come to PIR....we all had a great time....They took the AMAZING Pic at the Willis Tower Saluting the city.....we got them back to the base around 2000 and they had plenty of time to make it back by 2100...The whole trip was just so successful and We had a great time!!! 

Comment by John A. Tejeda, Sr. on April 14, 2012 at 6:32am

Once again  I will say as a veteran NONCOM, we run the day to day routine in the military, so promps to the Sarge keep marching on Troop.

SSG Tejeda

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