DS19 Got his Military Orders

[natenapril]

We lived in Okinawa Japan from 1998-2003 and loved every minute of it. I still have dreams about the food So good It was much warmer where we were but he will have more travel opportunities on mainland.

 

[PatsGirl]

Thanks everyone for all the information, especially for mailing, bank accounts, and of course DL

And, sorry if I offended any of the SE Disers on board here....DS is now stationed in Biloxi and has found nothing he likes He took a weekend trip to NOLA and hated it there as well. Keep in mind that he is 19 and doesn't much care about educational/cultural learning just yet. I think he went to NOLA to check out the jazz bars and the Hurricanes Absolutely hated his stay at Lackland in San Antonio. I visited him there and it isn't any place I'd go again.

We are spoiled here on Cape Cod with the most beautiful beaches in the world (and I know because I am a beach expert). There are lakes and ponds for fishing, bike trails, national seashores for hiking and snow skiing within 120 minutes away. All the things he likes to do.

He did have a great time in Destin, FL for the year he spent there. He knows, of course, that he will go wherever the USAF needs/wants him but hey, he pulled the long straw, good for him

 

[Longsx3]

You have gotten some great advice from DISers, we have been stationed overseas for 6yrs in Europe and Okinawa. We preferred Europe but I think mainland japan would have been better and we still really enjoyed our time in Okinawa.
A PP mentioned bank accounts, honestly we never really used our local account overseas other than for paying a local bill. I would suggest becomming a USAA member, we have been members DH's enitre career, almost 17yrs, they have an awesome bank and you can even scan a check and deposit it online.

 

[PatsGirl]

Longsx3 ~ thanks for the heads up. He is currently with BoA but can certainly change if necessary. Being a single "manboy" he has no bills with the exception of his cell phone which I pay by deducting from his account by debit card and sending out the payment for him. I'm not sure if he will get a car while there, depends entirely upon the public transit system which I hear is fantastic? Do I read correctly that cell phones are not allowed and that there is NO high speed internet at the base? Will he be able to get spending $$ from an ATM on base? Thanks, Brenda

 

[lovemygoofy]

Longsx3 ~ thanks for the heads up. He is currently with BoA but can certainly change if necessary. Being a single "manboy" he has no bills with the exception of his cell phone which I pay by deducting from his account by debit card and sending out the payment for him. I'm not sure if he will get a car while there, depends entirely upon the public transit system which I hear is fantastic? Do I read correctly that cell phones are not allowed and that there is NO high speed internet at the base? Will he be able to get spending $$ from an ATM on base? Thanks, Brenda

I have to second your son getting USAA. Even if your son doesn't have many needs right now, USAA has great services with car insurance and credit cards and property insurance. I have some very nice policies with them and can't beat the price and when your son does a PCS move or deploys, USAA will freeze the interest rates at 4% for a year.

I don't know anything about Japan but did want to tell you they have a super nice MWR hotel there that would be awesome to see from what I hear. Congrats on your son's orders.

 

[PatsGirl]

Thanks Tina~ I just emailed him about switching to USAA. What is MWR?

 

[lovemygoofy]

Thanks Tina~ I just emailed him about switching to USAA. What is MWR?

MWR is morale, welfare and recreation. Anything to do with fun or activities falls under MWR. There are MWR hotels all around the world including Shades of Green in WDW, the hotel in Germany(gorgeous!) and one in Hawaii.

 

[PatsGirl]

Thanks again, I have seen the Hale Koa in HW and of course know about SoG at WDW ~ I'll have to look into the Japan hotel as well. Brenda

 

[Grandmax3]

Buying a car is not what a lot of lower rank enlisted do because of the expense.A car is valued by the amt of JCI [Japanese Compulsory Insurance] also you must have insurance similiar to what we have here in the states. We bought a car for $25 dollars but to get the JCI we had to have it inspected and paid over $400 for JCI plus base reguired insurance. Enjoy it is a great place to be stationed.

 

[Briarmom]

I don't know anything about Japan but did want to tell you they have a super nice MWR hotel there that would be awesome to see from what I hear. Congrats on your son's orders.

Do you mean The New Sanno in Tokyo? We stayed there and it was very nice (think Shades of Green, not like beautiful Edelweiss in Germany). Close walking to the subway. Clean and cozy.

 

[Christine]

Do you mean The New Sanno in Tokyo? We stayed there and it was very nice (think Shades of Green, not like beautiful Edelweiss in Germany). Close walking to the subway. Clean and cozy.

Yep, the New Sanno was great.

When we were at Misawa, everyone had a car. There wasn't much in the way of public transit. There was the base shuttle bus but not much for going off base.

 

[natenapril]

Yep, the New Sanno was great.

When we were at Misawa, everyone had a car. There wasn't much in the way of public transit. There was the base shuttle bus but not much for going off base.

Same as us at Kadena. Everyone had a car. My Dh was an E2 when we arrived and we bought a car. Cars are much cheaper there. And my Dh always did the JCI himself and saved a ton
Also we were given free cars twice due to people PCSing.