Gino's is a great place to eat & we also ate at a Steak house that is close to the Gurnee Mall (which is a fantastic mall/HUGE) that is really good too... As far as advice for PIR??? Get there EARLY!!!!!!!! It's a great experience & it gets very crowded.... Have a great time...

Gatesville is only about 40 mins from me... I'm a Physical Therapist & I've worked in their nursing homes before; but that was a long time ago... I don't know anyone that lives there now that I'm aware of....

Also; It's been 2.5 yrs since my son's PIR so I'm sure some things have changed; but one thing for sure I'm sure the security is still tight....

What is your son's rate & where will he be training???

Since I was in the Air Force I think things are a lot different by listening to all the salty dogs talk here on Navy Dads. I called when I could. Like here in Great Lakes we were at the mercy of our flight leaders when it came to making calls. In the Air Force they use the term flight instead of division.

The second half of bootcamp is all go, go, go. For us bootcamp was only 6 weeks. In the second half we had the obstacle course, physical fitness, final exams, barracks inspections, 2 retreat ceremonies, and a parade to march before we got to graduation. For us it was passing the final exam. We didn't have anything like battle stations to get through. I bet that is hard and a rush all at the same time. Sometimes I wish the Air Force was more like the other services. Since it is the youngest service, being just over 60 years old, there isn't as much traditions as in the other services.

I'm betting their last 2 or 3 weeks they are so busy they don't have much time to think about much else but what they are doing and what is coming up. It should be a fun time for them. Maybe exhausting at time, but fun.

Talk to you later!