SHIP 12 DIV 057 PIR 2/3/12

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Permalink Reply by Richard Foose, ATC (AW), Retired on January 31, 2012 at 7:53am

Congrats Steven. Let me know how your trip went. I go to see my son a week after you (10 Feb) and would welcome any tips you have to offer. He's staying at Great Lakes for "A" School. I live in Virginia Beach, VA. I was hoping he'll get orders in the area. What is your Son's "A" School?

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Permalink Reply by Steven U. on January 31, 2012 at 9:09am

Thanks.  He goes to "A" in Charleston, SC.  He will be in the Nuke program.  Heads out the day after graduation.  We'll be going to see him off at O'Hare airport on Saturday morning at oh-dark-30, I guess.   I spoke to him last Friday, and I asked if he was excited, and he replied "You bet.  This time next week, I will be a sailor in the United States Navy".  My wife would love to see him get orders close by too, but he wants to get out and see the world.  He told me he wants carrier duty, instead of sub, which he'd previously given some thought to.  Such an exciting time for him, beginning his career in one of the most elite organizations in the world.  Congrats to your boy too.  What program is he in for "A" at Great Lakes ?

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Permalink Reply by Richard Foose, ATC (AW), Retired on January 31, 2012 at 10:07am

You can't beat the nuke field with it's intense training in "A" School. He'll be highly marketable in the Navy (with those re-enlistment bonuses) and on the outside if he decides to get out. My Son enter the Advanced Electronics Computer Field (AECF). Going in as a Electronics Technician (he went the other way than me, I retired as an Avionics Technician. But hey, a tron is a tron.). I am glad he got a good rating just like your Son. Funny, my Son said the same thing about seeing the world. Good to hear that your Son will be closer to home. His "A" School is probably long which you both can make trips to see each other. 

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Permalink Reply by Steven U. on February 6, 2012 at 5:54am

Back from PIR trip.  What an incredible experience.   We stayed at the Ramada, they offered a shuttle to and from RTC, though its not far if one wanted to drive.   We opted not to because the Gate Pass says you have to have your insurance card, and I do not carry mine, and the ins card in the rental had expired in December, so - we took the shuttle, which worked out perfectly.  (Though when we got there, we found families arrived where the ins. card was not checked at the gate).   If you have not made dinner reservations yet, you should definitely try Lovells of Lake Forest.  It is a restaurant owned and operated by Jim Lovell (retired Navy, and commander of Apollo 13, played by Tom Hanks in the movie).  AWESOME dinner.  It was a little pricey, but - how often will your boy graduate into one of the most elite military forces in the world ?  There is much Apollo 13 memorabilia there, so leave yourself enough time to visit.  If you get waited on by J.T., you will also get a lot of history during dinner (not obtrusive at all) and he was very instrumental about making sure my son got back to RTC by 7pm.  Also - Lovells is literally right down the road from RTC, so - you can cut it close and still get your son back to base when Liberty ends for him.  Per JT, Capt Lovell comps the new sailors dinner, so that was a nice savings, but we gave it back in the tip.  My boys ended at 7 because he had to leave for O'Hare at 2am.    On Saturday, we drove to O'Hare to spend some time with our son, get some photos, and some final hugs before he headed off.   Unlike most families that went into Chicago, we opted to go to Kenosha, WI to see the Civil War Museum, and a Museum of Natural History (both were 'ok' - nothing stellar), and to walk along Lake Michigan which was fantastic, though cold, but we got some nice photos there.   We got a call from my son last night that he was all settled in at South Carolina, and his 'A' school starts in 3 weeks.  We are still bursting with pride from the ceremony.  Unfortunately, our camera did not cooperate, and out of the 88 photos taken, we got about 10 good ones - but - that was the only snag of the trip.  You will have a great time and meet a lot of wonderful families.   We sure did.

 

 

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Permalink Reply by NavyDads Co-Admin, Jim on February 9, 2012 at 9:36pm

Sounds like you had a great time Steven! I hope to be in Chicago this year again. One of our co-admins, Tim will have another son go to RTC and I'm going to drive over and meet him. I'm only about 100 miles from Great Lakes.

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