PCSing in to Okinawa

[heather]

Why is PCSing into Okinawa such a difficult thing. There are so many oppions when you arrive. I guess the main thing is that you need to have a good sponsor to help you with the new ropes.

[P_chan]

A good sponsor is a must. Hehe I was suprised mine were even there once I showed up.

[blacktulip]

What does PCS stands for?

[DoctorP]

Post Coital Syndrome...it is for guys who can't snuggle after sex!

[DoctorP]

Nah...seriously it means Permanent Change of Station...means you are moving from one base to another for a lengthy assignment.

[blacktulip]

Post Coital Syndrome...it is for guys who can't snuggle after sex!

LOL :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

[socalheart]

A good sponsor can be very helpful when moving here. My husband's sponsor dropped him off at TLF with a six pack of beer and paperwork. Everyone assumed I, the civilian, knew what to do with him. Ha! :D

[Tempestuous]

Why is PCSing into Okinawa such a difficult thing. There are so many oppions when you arrive. I guess the main thing is that you need to have a good sponsor to help you with the new ropes.

It's unanimous! You gotta have a good sponsor!
Dude, the NCO didn't read the paperwork, told a guy to go pic up this new troop coming in. He & his brother came expecting to pick up a single guy...luckily they brought a van so they could fit the hubby, me a toddler and a 1mth old infant and our luggage. Plus the single guy his brother was picking up & his luggage. (turns out the sponsor we were corresponding with, got sent TDY and we just got left hanging)

Because of the mix up, they didn't have billeting for us, we go to TLF, they give us a room, luckily the guys went up to check on it....IT WAS OCCUPIED!!! They walked in on a family sleeping!!!!

So it's late, we were tired and we had no where to stay.... the dude's brother (not even in our squadron) offers us to stay at his house! His family luckily was in mainland visiting fam, so he put us in one of the kids rooms, brought in a playpen for the baby and an extra mattress for the toddler.

Someone with a family volunteered to take care of us after the first couple days and they really turned out to be very helpful. After the shocking welcome it did turn out pretty good.

We sponsored in a handful of people ourselves, some where rather interesting to say the least, but two became extended members of our fam, so that was fun.

A helpful sponsor definitely helps with the transition!

[P_chan]

LOL one of my co workers had to take a cab from the airport at 9pm at night! No one was there to get him. Then the cab took him to courtney and not kadena even though he told them kadena. The cab ride cost something like 80 bucks all together.
LOL it happened to him again! He went home for christmas and once he came back there wasn't anybody there to pick him up so he called me at like 10pm and I had to run and get him before his cerfew went into effect. But that was his fault that time for not having a plan.

[coldnoodles]

Our sponsor never contacted us, I was posting ads in JU looking for info, someone here responded to me and told me her friend was in the same sqdrn as my husband and she had him email me. Our so called sponsor never did show up when we got here, but the guy who emailed me said he would be our sponsor, he showed up along with some other guys from the sqdrn. Our so called sponsor did show up drunk/hungover once we were leaving. My husband said we better go with him, since he was our sponsor, turned out our sponsor didn't know we had kids or my husband was married all he talked about was gate 2 and all the mamasans that lives with him, then he would speak Tagalog so I couldn't understand what they were talking about. It was my daughter's 1st b-day the day we arrived and wanted to take her to chili's since that was the only place we knew at the time. Our so called sponsor wanted to go to the sqdrn party, he wouldn't drop us off at chili's. He took us to chili's, but didn't want to wait until someone worked there to get free drinks. He told my husband he will take us to lodging. Lodging didn't have our name or anything. Waited over 2hrs for them to figure out life. Finally we got a room. The guys was suppose to come back so we could get some food, but he never came back. He never answered his cell. The so called drunk sponsor never came around so my husband can in-process, he was suppose to go to work the following monday and no one showed up. Turned out the so called sponsor was out processing for Iraq and left us hanging. The other guy who said he would be our sponsor he showed my husband where he would be working and picked him up for work, took him car looking. We got cars and never heard from anyone since!!

I knew some stuff about Okinawa since my daughter's modeling manager is Okinawan, so we always heard about Okinawa and seen pics.

[IndyGal]

You know it really is a shame that this type of experience happens so often. I see it happen too many times where they just assign whoever to a family. These people have no clue how to sponsor a family and just assume that at most they have to just pick them up at the airport and drop them off at lodging. Never mind they never thought they had to make the family reservations. I can't tell you how many times my husband and I have had to step into one of these disasters and help a family out. They should not assign anyone to be a sponsor until they have at least been to one of the sponsorship classes so they will have a clue. There is so much you need to arrange for a family in advance. Also knowing what their specific needs are such as having a pet that needs a kennel reservation. I have also found email contact way before they come is also a great tool. You can set someone at ease who has never been overseas before.

Anyway, I could go on and on.

[heather]

I am glad to here that almost all of you had good experiances with PCSing in here

[L Boogie]

We had a great sponsor...he stayed around at the Terminal even though our plane came in late, borrowed his friends' Surf so we'd have enough room for everything, had our lodging booked like 2 months in advance, had our mailbox squared away, took us out to eat in Mihama Village, took us to the Shoppette for beer (even though we were way too jet lagged to drink any before passing out...36 consecutive hours traveling from St. Louis to Chicago to Seattle to Yakota to Kadena). We don't really talk to our sponsor much, but he proved to be pretty helpful.

[arielm4]

HI all new here on forums..
My family and i are returning to Oki once again.When we arrived the first time back in 2000 it was just my husband and i thank goodness we still didnt have a sponsor needless to say ..we arrived got our luggage then stood there with our fingers in our noses..haha but luckily some of the other families that we flew in with we all got together and got cabs to camp lester the old lodging..and stayed in that lodge for a month in a half..his commanding officer took us to foster to the px and left ..so we didnt know where the lodge was..haha we were very lost tooks cabs all over the place then finally got housing on kinser and turns out the family who sat behind us and was at the lodge with us were our neighbors in the towers and now our best friends...funny how things work out..
Hopefull this time around it'll all work out too we now have two kids 6yrs and 1yr..so its gonna be hell

[Cathleen_38]

lol doctor p!!

[ja_Patriot]

Post Coital Syndrome... LMAO! When I saw the question, I thought, uh, uhhh, it's coming..

[a_bjyrd]

Our sponsor never contacted us, I was posting ads in JU looking for info, someone here responded to me and told me her friend was in the same sqdrn as my husband and she had him email me. Our so called sponsor never did show up when we got here, but the guy who emailed me said he would be our sponsor, he showed up along with some other guys from the sqdrn. Our so called sponsor did show up drunk/hungover once we were leaving. My husband said we better go with him, since he was our sponsor, turned out our sponsor didn't know we had kids or my husband was married all he talked about was gate 2 and all the mamasans that lives with him, then he would speak Tagalog so I couldn't understand what they were talking about. It was my daughter's 1st b-day the day we arrived and wanted to take her to chili's since that was the only place we knew at the time. Our so called sponsor wanted to go to the sqdrn party, he wouldn't drop us off at chili's. He took us to chili's, but didn't want to wait until someone worked there to get free drinks. He told my husband he will take us to lodging. Lodging didn't have our name or anything. Waited over 2hrs for them to figure out life. Finally we got a room. The guys was suppose to come back so we could get some food, but he never came back. He never answered his cell. The so called drunk sponsor never came around so my husband can in-process, he was suppose to go to work the following monday and no one showed up. Turned out the so called sponsor was out processing for Iraq and left us hanging. The other guy who said he would be our sponsor he showed my husband where he would be working and picked him up for work, took him car looking. We got cars and never heard from anyone since!!

I knew some stuff about Okinawa since my daughter's modeling manager is Okinawan, so we always heard about Okinawa and seen pics.



Just wondering if you know how I can get my daughter into Modeling. I Think if would be great for her. Please let me know

[coldnoodles]

Well, we signed up here awhile back with a local company. My daughter was a model in the states for several year until we moved here. My daughter's modeling agent is Okinawan and lives in the States, she is the one who told me about this place. Here I called weekly to this place but no one ever returned my calls. I emailed many times still nothing. Until one day I got lucky and she answered the phone!! She speaks English really good!!

The modeling agency here took pics of her and said when they have something matching her - they will call us. They also said they always have stuff for little kids as well, so they took pics of my 2 little one's. But I have never heard anything from them.

A friend of mine has lived here for 5 yrs and has only been called one time by this company.

Their # is in the phone book. I can't find her card right now, but I think this is it:

2-1-2 Mashiki Ginowan (she moved tho)
TEL: 098-898-4101
FAX: 098-898-4102

Directions to get there: going out foster to Naha. when 58 comes to a Y go to the right like going to convention center, pass the tropical beach sign, on left side you will see a pink building go left. you will come to the stop sign go straight in the housing area. It will be on your right side, sorry I can't remember what it says off hand! Go in, and they will ask you some info, take pics of your kids, and give you their card, and they will call you when they have something for you. But you do need to know what size clothes and shoes your kids are in Japanese sizes, also height and weight in kilograms. She will ask you for email address, phone #, cell phone, work #, what base you live on or off base. Also ask the info on the kids, nationality, etc.

Any other questions let me know...

[Cathleen_38]

if you have a MCCS job lined up do they automatically give you a sponsor or do you have to know someone to help you get to okinawa very smoothly?

[Cathleen_38]

it doesn't matter anyway, I didn't get the job. no sponsor, no sofa status.

[htran804]

A knowledgeable sponsor is a must. I ended up living off base the day I got off the plane because I was never booked a room at billeting. It has ended up being a blessing, but at the time it sucked. Having to pay over $120/night for 21 days was a bit stressful because I knew nothing about reimbursements and how long it would take.

Also my sponsor and I communicated very little and I had to walk EVERYWHERE until I got a car a month later. I could have had a car at the very beginning but my sponsor didn't bother to find out when I had to go get my driver's license. I didn't even know anything about housing and had to find out by accidentally walking into the Housing Office one day to ask for directions to the Marshall chow hall (on day 18 of my 20 day TLA limit. Ended up having to get a 1day extension). Overall it was a crappy experience, but I did learn alot when I got lost around Kadena AB. Maybe that was a good thing :83:

- htran804's husband

[keera4]

We landed on Okinawa at 9pm and our sponsor never showed up. Another guy who was there to pick up a fellow marine, and happened to be in the same unit as my husband took us up and gave us a ride to the lodge, when we got there it was closed. So we had no room. The guy and his wife took us in and called our sponsor who was mad because appearantly he was asleep and didnt care. The next day we got a room at the lodge and that nice couple took us around. No word from the sponsor still.

[DoctorP]

We landed on Okinawa at 9pm and our sponsor never showed up. Another guy who was there to pick up a fellow marine, and happened to be in the same unit as my husband took us up and gave us a ride to the lodge, when we got there it was closed. So we had no room. The guy and his wife took us in and called our sponsor who was mad because appearantly he was asleep and didnt care. The next day we got a room at the lodge and that nice couple took us around. No word from the sponsor still.

Sounds like you guys weren't in good contact with your sponsor before flying out...if you were, sorry.

Either way, his conduct needs to be mentioned to the COC so that they can deal with him correctly! This idiot has no reason sponsoring people in.:cursing:

[P_chan]

We landed on Okinawa at 9pm and our sponsor never showed up. Another guy who was there to pick up a fellow marine, and happened to be in the same unit as my husband took us up and gave us a ride to the lodge, when we got there it was closed. So we had no room. The guy and his wife took us in and called our sponsor who was mad because appearantly he was asleep and didnt care. The next day we got a room at the lodge and that nice couple took us around. No word from the sponsor still.

funny story! I know sucked for you, but it cracks me up once I hear these crappy sponsor stories. Mine was bad, but not that bad. No one would have been there to pick me up if another guy in my shop didn't arrive at the same time and on the same flight. My originally sponsor pawned me off on another guy who wasn't too great. He liked to take me places to visit is friends and leave me in the car:thumbdown:

But, I got to know another guy who was cool who took me around. Then about a week later we got another guy in and he was cool and we became best friends. Too bad he's leaving on saturday:(

[Fonze]

Ya our sponsor didn't show up, but some really nice older guy that had his friend come in and he offered to take us to lester. Guy had a brownish Pajero and i Think retired.

[DocTurtle]

I remember one time me and my buddy PCS'd to the same place and I had a sponsor and he didn't so mine just adopted him too. Worked out nicely.

[keera4]

Sounds like you guys weren't in good contact with your sponsor before flying out...if you were, sorry.

Either way, his conduct needs to be mentioned to the COC so that they can deal with him correctly! This idiot has no reason sponsoring people in.:cursing:

We were in contact with him before we got there. My husband was so mad because I was about 37wks pregnant when we got here, but he didnt want to complain since he was the new guy. As it turned out, I was talking to one of my neighbours about 3 weeks later while moving into our house, her husband happened to be one of their higher ups. My husband calls home later that day and says your neighbour told her husband and he got in trouble anway.:thumbup:

[Rhardemon]

Why is PCSing into Okinawa such a difficult thing. There are so many oppions when you arrive. I guess the main thing is that you need to have a good sponsor to help you with the new ropes.

We are pcsing to okinawa next October 2008 and I am concerned about that JEV vaccinne, Do we have to have it or can we not take it as with all the side effects they have with the vaccinne. Is there a wide spread of that virus in Okinawa, please respond. Rezana

[socalheart]

That's one of those questions for the docs at your next duty station. Try going to the website for the base you'll be stationed at and contact the medical group there. The docs here will know about JEV issues here more than docs stateside. Personally, I'm struggling with whether or not to get the flu shot, because I'm pregnant.

[Cathleen_38]

that sucks. You want to have someone who'll take the time to show you around and get familiar with the place luckily the first time I came to Okinawa, the military had my back. we stayed at a barracks facility before ever venturing to our respective bases. We stayed in the barracks for about a
week. but when you're a civilian things tend to be a little more difficult. I'm a veteran and still can't find a decent job. Okinawa or otherwise, it sucks. i would love to come back to Okinawa, If I had my way it would happen.

[Cathleen_38]

it helps to know people but if you're a newbee it's hard for the first time because you're not familiar with the surroundings of the area. I understand that. Luckily, I was with a bunch of Marines the first time around and didn't have go through that ordeal. Civilians is probably different I imagine. You have to land a job first, have enough money to get there, and then get your visa and sponsor, and then find a place to stay. First priority is enough money to suffice all your needs.

Look at the costs:
Plane ticket: $1200.00
moving:$2,000 estimated?
sponsor/visa- depends on the job you take.
Housing:$1700.00 unless you rent.

$1200.00
$2000.00
+ $1700.00
-------------
$ 4,900.00 just to live okinawa starting off.

[Cathleen_38]

what is JEV?

[Asshat]

what is JEV?

Japanese Encephalitis Virus

[Tony Stacks]

I think the reason a lot of sponsors suck is not because they don't have a clue but they have the "Semper I" mentality and see sponsorship as a burden and don't try to help out their fellow service member.

[Sandchedrick]

Lots of great info. We have already sent information in for our sponsor appx. a month or longer ago. Do they just contact us out of the blue when they feel the "time is right"? Well... look how lucky you guys are that they have not contacted us otherwise I wouldn't get to ask you guys all these fun, exciting questions.HA!!

Is there a list of 1-2-3 steps that we can have to be sure things like mailbox's, lodging, etc. is all taken care of prior to us arriving?

[socalheart]

USMC - MCCS Newcomers Packet (http://www.mccsokinawa.com/welcomeaboard/index.html?page=2) - Newcomers' Information Booklet (http://www.mccsokinawa.com/welcomeaboard/pdf/butlerinfobooklet.pdf)


USAF - KADENA Newcomers Info (http://www.kadena.af.mil/library/newcomers/index.asp)

Good luck!
:D

[htran804's slave]

Lots of great info. We have already sent information in for our sponsor appx. a month or longer ago. Do they just contact us out of the blue when they feel the "time is right"? Well... look how lucky you guys are that they have not contacted us otherwise I wouldn't get to ask you guys all these fun, exciting questions.HA!!

Is there a list of 1-2-3 steps that we can have to be sure things like mailbox's, lodging, etc. is all taken care of prior to us arriving?

If your sponsor is good (which doesn't happen often) they should be in constant contact with you via email at the very least. I had a super-crappy sponsor when I arrived and I told myself I'd never do that to anyone again. To date I've sponsored 2 people in, and I did my best to give them all of the information before they hopped onto the jet.

The mailbox is something your sponsor is supposed to set up prior to you arriving. He/She will need your orders to open up a box for you.

Lodging is also supposed to be done prior to your arrival, but it can also be done the night you arrive. When I got here my sponsor had procrastinated so badly that there were no rooms in the on-base hotel (Shogunn Inn) so I ended up living off-base for 21 days. Its not a big deal initially, but you will have to put up about $2000 up front for the off-base hotel until the Housing Office and Finances gets you the reimbursement. Also you MUST have a letter from the Shogunn Inn stating that they don't have any room for you, and they are authorizing you to stay off-base. If you don't get that letter then you won't get your money back.

There is no real "list" of things to do. Your sponsor should already know what needs to be done, because they were once new to the island as well. It is unfortunate that so many people who are chosen to be sponsors completely suck at it. Here are a few things you'll want to remember to do:

1) get your SOFA driver's license. The test is given every Tuesday at 0900, but you might be able to get it earlier if your newcomer's briefing is on Monday. If your sponsor is any good he/she will know when your briefing is. Nothing sucks more when you can't drive, because Kadena AB is definitely not walking friendly.

2) Make sure you schedule yourselves into the Housing Office for the housing briefings. You'll want to know what your options are for on-base or off-base housing. Your initial 20 days of TLA (either at the Shogunn Inn/off-base hotel) is supposed to be used to settle in and find a place to live.

3) If you choose to live off-base know that you will be required to put up a 1month security deposit, first month of rent, and pay for the agency fee (finder's fee) which is normally 1/2 of the first month's rent. For me that was $3500 out of my pocket. I with through my chain of command and applied for an advance in pay. I got the money I needed, and the Finance Office will pull out monthly payments out of your check for 12 months. It can be extended to 24 months, but you'll have to go through your chain of command and explain why they should do it for you.

4) Understand how much you want to budget for your vehicles. On average you'll find a car for $1500-$2000 each. If you don't have a plan before landing on the island you may end up off-base with an overpriced car because of desperation. Sure Johnny's used cars will allow you to make 18 months of payments interest free...but their final sales prices are sometimes 3 times higher than what you'd find in the Kadena Lemon Lot.

5) Understand that your TMO things may not be here for up to 2 months. I wouldn't send things through TMO if I knew I needed it asap (like uniforms and PT gear).

If you've got any questions, or need any help with anything don't hesitate to PM me or ask publicly. If you can't get in contact with anyone I can forward it to your husband's office if need be. I had to do the same when I couldn't get in contact with my sponsor. I guess you can assume that I get irritated when sponsors don't do their job.


NOTE: Not too long ago I was picking up some friends as they were coming home from leave. As I waited there I was approached by an airman and was asked if I was there to pick him up. I told him no, and he walked back to his wife and infant boy. Luckily I had my cellphone on me so I went ahead and asked him if he had his sponsor's number. I got the sponsor's shop number, and called. Found out that they forgot he was coming in and sent someone 'asap'. After waiting 45 minutes they finally were able to go to the Shogunn Inn. That is definitely not the way you want to start off your 4year tour in a country you know nothing about.

[Sandchedrick]

We are pcsing to okinawa next October 2008 and I am concerned about that JEV vaccinne, Do we have to have it or can we not take it as with all the side effects they have with the vaccinne. Is there a wide spread of that virus in Okinawa, please respond. Rezana

OMG!! What the hell is this? Why haven't I heard of this? Is this needed? I have not seen ANYTHING regarding this ANYWHERE. Is this for real or are you guys just kidding? We are not coming from a military community or are we near one in St. Louis so who makes sure all of this stuff is all taken care of with needed overseas immunizations?

[retributionnk]

The AF does not require this vaccine at this time, I'm not sure about the other branches. It does not seem to be a serious threat here on the island, from what I've heard.

[InFaMoUs]

The AF does not require this vaccine at this time, I'm not sure about the other branches. It does not seem to be a serious threat here on the island, from what I've heard.

The Army is pushing it really hard. I had to get it but they dont require families to get it.

[InFaMoUs]

Heres some more info on Japanese encephalitis:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Encephalitis

[Sandchedrick]

After reading about the vaccine and doing a small bit of research it seems to be a wise option to at least look at the need for the safety of yourself and your family due to the fact that it is a possibility for exposure. I found the link below if anyone is interested on reading up on it. Thanks!

http://www.chop.edu/consumer/jsp/division/generic.jsp?id=75741

[Tempestuous]

according to the CDC:
Fewer than 1 case/year is reported in U.S. civilians and military personnel traveling to and living in Asia.
CDC JAV FAQ (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/jencephalitis/qa.htm)

[socalheart]

just don't get sick... heh. I got the flu shot in December and just caught a cold this week. :rolleyes:

[Old Timer]

Sponsors generally suck. You need a friends help.

[AFuel567]

This has been interestig reading, I had good sponsors, (coming over active duty USMC and as a civilian) and tried to be a good sponsor, even as a single guy getting families situated. You get orders to be a sponsor, are reqiuired to go to sponsorship training. Its not that hard to just treat people like you would want to be treated and have the right size vehicle. I'm curious if most of these bad experiences were on the USAF side or are some USMC/USN as well.

[socalheart]

Sometimes, I think folks see being a sponsor much like being on jury duty. You don't mind it so much, because it's part of your duty and such, but you really don't want to have to do it. heh. :p

[AFuel567]

Sometimes, I think folks see being a sponsor much like being on jury duty. You don't mind it so much, because it's part of your duty and such, but you really don't want to have to do it. heh. :p

I actually enjoyed being a sponsor its fun to show folks new things and help them get situated.