Hi all. We head out tomorrow. Leaving from Norfolk VA to Great lakes. The question I have is. Being i am Navy Retired, I have stickers to gain access to any base I want to go on. So does this include Great Lakes? Anyone retired able to just get on base? Also, my son will be packing out that day. Anyone know how long of a wait that will be? Thanks and we cant wait!!!!
071 CONGRATS!!!
Replies
First of all, congratulations!
As for base access, there are two access points on the day of the PIR: the main gate, and the next gate down toward the commuter rail station. As a civilian, my family and I entered through there, where the large garage is, and which is very close to the Midway ceremonial hall. That was the most strategic place to enter, at 7 am in the morning. They were not allowing very many cars to gain access through the main gate as I drove past, although later when I dropped my son off, and we shopped in the NEX, we were allowed access at that gate, and into a parking lot near the Exchange. There was enough access to the pertinent parts of the base all day, although I did have to print out the parking pass off the RTC website, and present photo ID.
Is your son moving across the street for his A School, staying at NSGL? Or is he a grad n go to another training site in the US? If he's staying there, I think the packing out and processing was a few hours. We were able to take our son out to enjoy the frozen delights of Great Lakes, Waukegan and North Chicago about an hour or so after PIR, because he was a grad n go to San Antonio, so he packed his sea bag after we parted company that night at 2000 hours. Lengthy I know, but I hope it helped a bit.