On my way to Okinawa

[cme_red]

I just recieved my orders as of now they just say Torrii Station. But from the communications I have had with different people it sounds like I will be in 10th SG. Can anyone give me information on this unit. I thought I would be going to 58th SIG BN as I am a 25B but I am not sure if where I am going has been put in stone yet either. Information about either of those would be great.

Also another question. I am PCSing with dependents, how is it finding housing there? I hear that there can be quite a wait for on post housing. How is the off post housing? Any kind of information anyone would have that would be helpful would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[uriel]

personally, I wouldn't even wait for on post housing. if you don't leave everything on all the time, you will make a little extra money. if you are like some people I know and leave the ac on in the summer even when you aren't home, don't turn off lights, etc... then just live on base. but, base housing here isn't anything to brag about. when you get here, you go to the housing office. you ask them to give your info to the housing agents, and within hours you will have agencies vying for your business. and don't listen to the people who say that they houses are tiny and everything is so small. even the houses that are a little smaller, it isn't like living in a cardboard box.

as far as your unit goes, I can't help you on that one. i'm not army. hope you get some info on that though.

[My Monster]

another vote for living out in town...

[uriel]

forgot to mention the drama that goes on in base housing...

[My Monster]

uriel...that's every base and every service I've ever been around...

[uriel]

yes, but who's to say that the OP lives on base in the states?

[badstreetusa]

forgot to mention the drama that goes on in base housing...

Can you elaborate about the "drama"?

[uriel]

loud neighbors, fights, parents who couldn't care less what their kids are doing while they're running around acting the fool, domestic disputes, slobbish neighbors...

[badstreetusa]

loud neighbors, fights, parents who couldn't care less what their kids are doing while they're running around acting the fool, domestic disputes, slobbish neighbors...

u pretty much covered it all! If you can't get a single house on base I say stay away...U is right...don't take the chance of getting stuck beside some sorry ass family that doesn't have an ounce of respect for anyone in the same unit/neighborhood.

[uriel]

judging by even the single houses here, don't bother even if you do. living off base isn't that hard. there's plenty of people here that can help you out if you find yourself in a situation you don't know how to deal with.

[trissytrissy47]

People leaving their dog's poop on your lawn! >:O

We don't own a dog. HOW is there poop in MY yard??!!!?!

[uriel]

it's magic poop.

[badstreetusa]

People leaving their dog's poop on your lawn! >:O

We don't own a dog. HOW is there poop in MY yard??!!!?!

u got some sorry ass neighbors...

[P_chan]

Just live off base. You don't even have to wait for off base agencies to call you. The base housing office will give you a list and a map of all the housing agencies off base. You can use the map and call them for directions and you'll find them no problem. Most of them are close to base anyways.

Two agencies I recommend are Sunny's (our landlord was slow a few times but Sunny's was good) and Tokuzato.

[cme_red]

Another question as far as the housing. How long does it take to get moved in to off post housing once we decide on a place? Just wondering how long I would have to stay in lodging as that sounds like it gets pretty expensive.

[OtisPMerriweather]

Takes a minute. Do a thread search in the PCS section. I'm sure most of your questions will be answered there, as well as some things you may not have thought to ask.

For the record, off-base housing has most of the same drama as on-base housing because most of the houses/apartments that are open to military folks are grouped together with, you guessed it, other military folks. You move down to Sunabe, Hamby, or some parts of Okinawa city, you might as well be living on base. Unless of course, you can get a actual house. If you aren't at least an E5, I wouldn't suggest off bsae housing.

[Old Timer]

I just recieved my orders as of now they just say Torrii Station. But from the communications I have had with different people it sounds like I will be in 10th SG. Can anyone give me information on this unit. I thought I would be going to 58th SIG BN as I am a 25B but I am not sure if where I am going has been put in stone yet either. Information about either of those would be great.

Also another question. I am PCSing with dependents, how is it finding housing there? I hear that there can be quite a wait for on post housing. How is the off post housing? Any kind of information anyone would have that would be helpful would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

:mir31: We have a current war on terrorism. That should be your 1st and foremost concern. In any event your living condition will payed for by the government on or off base. Submit, and apply yourself in the war to perserve our union. :mir31:

[uriel]

For the record, off-base housing has most of the same drama as on-base housing because most of the houses/apartments that are open to military folks are grouped together with, you guessed it, other military folks. You move down to Sunabe, Hamby, or some parts of Okinawa city, you might as well be living on base. Unless of course, you can get a actual house. If you aren't at least an E5, I wouldn't suggest off bsae housing.

yeah, if you live in the american ghetto sections. and honestly, i live in chatan, and the only drama i get is from the okinawan boso running up and down the street. maybe I'm just lucky that my neighbors aren't jerks.

gonna go ahead and disagree with you OPM on the E5 thing. the housing allowances aren't that incredibly different, not to mention if you aren't a complete moron with a budget, you will be fine.

Just live off base. You don't even have to wait for off base agencies to call you. The base housing office will give you a list and a map of all the housing agencies off base. You can use the map and call them for directions and you'll find them no problem. Most of them are close to base anyways.

Two agencies I recommend are Sunny's (our landlord was slow a few times but Sunny's was good) and Tokuzato.

you can do it this way, but you will find that it will take you longer. wait for them to call you. it will take a matter of a few hours and they will be calling. not to mention that if you don't have a vehicle and license yet, which you most likely won't unless you are married to a japanese national, you will have a hard time getting around. i also suggest that you do it that way because of supply and demand. if you walk in to someplace, i would imagine that they would feel less urgency to place you than if they have to actually go out and hustle. not to mention that these 2 specific housing agencies may or may not have something in your price range and preferred location.

[uriel]

for every person who says you will save money out in town i can show you 3 that either moved back on base or are trying because they are losing money due to utilities...

and i can show you 3 people that don't know their butt from a hole in the ground when it comes to not living completely wastefully.


also keep in mind the Yen Rate... you can very likely find yourself pissed off because your rent and utility prices keep fluctuating...

worn out argument. also keep in mind that the rent and utilities monies you get also go up and down with the yen rate. it hits the following pay period.



BTW there is NOT a long wait for housing right now.. the wait is DAYS...

yeah, mostly because less and less people want to llive in the dumps that are the towers.

[hjcpmeek]

If you decide to move on base... you have to live there 1yr and then you can move off base BUT you pay to move off base.
If you move off base and get a lease for 3,6 months and a house that you like opens up, the military will pay to move you on base! Or if you like it offbase stay and enjoy it

[DougP]

I live off base and there is absolutely no drama in my neighborhood :first:

[uriel]

actually you are wrong on all 3 counts... have you even been in the newer towers.. have you seen the amount of new housing that has been going up.. are you aware of the amount of new construction in the works....

yeah, but try getting into them. if you are on kinser, not gonna happen. you get offered 2 different houses/tower living spaces. if they suck, too bad. they don't give you the option to wait.


there is a big difference between living comfortably and living wastefully.. i am not gonna waste unnecessarily but i am not going to walk from the oven outside into an oven inside..

call it what you will, but if the a/c is on, and you ain't home, that's being wasteful. if you use the dehum setting on your a/c unit, it will cool it down to a comfortable level without making the electric bill crazy high. it takes all of maybe 5 minutes to cool down a room with your a/c.


as far as the yen rate... the same people who rave about living off base are the same ones complaining about the yen rate.. i bet if one was to do a search they would find a few posts from you complaining about it...

come on now, that's what we do here. we complain about stuff. heck, i might like the sunny hot weather one day, and then curse it the next. gives me something to do...

[uriel]

new construction? all i've seen recently is renovation, and that ain't new.

[badstreetusa]

new construction? all i've seen recently is renovation, and that ain't new.

You obviously haven't visited nor driven by Camp Foster or Kadena AB, you're blind or better yet just trying to solidify your argument with pure ignorance. Both of those bases have seen hundreds of BRAND NEW housing units go up. You don't even have to get on to Foster you can see it just by passing by. They've been putting up new houses every where (on Foster and Kadena) for the past 3-4 years.

[uriel]

you do realize everyone is not the same... what is comfortable to you may not be comfortable to me.. i like to keep my house at a constant comfortable temperature... regardless of what country i live in... in colorado.. you damn right i had the heat on during the day.. I am not coming home to freeze my ass off.. when its 9 below zero i want my house to be warm...

over here.. it is ungodly hot... and humid.. i use my AC and the dehumidifier to keep my house comfortable and free of mold... that is not being wasteful my friend... stop putting your standards or preferences on other people..

as far as kinser goes.. oh well.. i know on foster and kadena there is plenty of newer housing available..

difference between here and the states is insulation in the house. whatever dude. call it whatever you want, but there are ways to help keep mold down without having stuff running 24/7. he/she wanted opinions, invited them, and i'm going to give them. if you, or someone doesn't like that fact that i give invited opinions, well, i guess that's just something we're all going to have to live with.

what i was saying about the housing offices is that they will offer you what they want based on where you work. if you don't work on foster or kadena, good luck getting newer housing.

[uriel]

You obviously haven't visited nor driven by Camp Foster or Kadena AB, you're blind or better yet just trying to solidify your argument with pure ignorance. Both of those bases have seen hundreds of BRAND NEW housing units go up. You don't even have to get on to Foster you can see it just by passing by. They've been putting up new houses every where (on Foster and Kadena) for the past 3-4 years.

i said it's what i've seen. where are the "hundreds" of new houses? i haven't been here for 3-4 years, so what was new to you 4 years ago will not be considered new by me.

[badstreetusa]

i said it's what i've seen. where are the "hundreds" of new houses? i haven't been here for 3-4 years, so what was new to you 4 years ago will not be considered new by me.

Have you seen the units near Foster's PX? Or the ones that were built behind Popeye's and where the old gas station used to be? What about the all the new units on Kadena by the NCO club? All brand new construction. Some still haven't been occupied because they are so new.

[hankypanky]

i said it's what i've seen. where are the "hundreds" of new houses? i haven't been here for 3-4 years, so what was new to you 4 years ago will not be considered new by me.

New Chatan housing behind foster px, built last year , now moving families in. 2-4 bedroom homes. reallly nice too.

Behind Kadena NCo club, new housing also.

Between the two housing groups, there are probably 100 new homes with no one living in them.

[DoctorP]

Have you seen the units near Foster's PX? Or the ones that were built behind Popeye's and where the old gas station used to be? What about the all the new units on Kadena by the NCO club? All brand new construction. Some still haven't been occupied because they are so new.

Not exactly true here....they haven't been occupied because the contractor made mistakes with the units and the HVAC systems.

[DougP]

iirc, wasn't the intent of the new housing construction to eventual move more service members from off base housing to on base?

[badstreetusa]

Not exactly true here....they haven't been occupied because the contractor made mistakes with the units and the HVAC systems.

No, problem corrected, now some sit empty waiting to be filled...

[DoctorP]

iirc, wasn't the intent of the new housing construction to eventual move more service members from off base housing to on base?

That and to replace obviously outdated, poorly maintained (by maintenance and tenants) housing units.

As far as off base housing...go into Yomitan, near Maeda point, up near Kin, Onna village, you'll find large homes with nice yards or huge apartments with outstanding views!

[DoctorP]

No, problem corrected, now some sit empty waiting to be filled...

not all...not completely

*edit* and let's just say a band aid won't always stop the bleeding.

[uriel]

and i gave my invited opinion...

an unbiased opinion based on the circumstances of the OP... kids wife etc...

its all well and good that YOU love living off base.. but everyone elses family situation is not that of yours...

did you ever think that some families that move here might actually like living on base in surroundings they are comfortable with as far as kids and spouses...

not everyone comes here and adapts and adopts all things okinawan..

you gave no such unbiased opinion. we are all biased in our opinions of living on vs off base to some degree. i don't remember the OP saying anything about wife and kids and where they would rather live. it's all well and good that YOU would like to live on base, but not everyone would. not all people adapt to and adopt all things "base".

[badstreetusa]

not all...not completely

Ok, I didn't realize you worked for CE...thanks for setting me straight.

[DoctorP]

you gave no such unbiased opinion. we are all biased in our opinions of living on vs off base to some degree. i don't remember the OP saying anything about wife and kids and where they would rather live. it's all well and good that YOU would like to live on base, but not everyone would. not all people adapt to and adopt all things "base".

...but PJ is right that many spouses need the comfort zone of living on base. I know several families that have moved back on base because hubby is leaving constantly and the wife was uncomfortable with paying the rent and other bills off base.

Not all spouses are Japanese, for that matter not all spouses are American, many are from the PI, Mexican, Russian, Aussie, you name it, we probably have it.

Each persons situation will be different, all we can do is offer opinions (none are wrong) so the OP can decide what he wants to do.

[hankypanky]

not all...not completely

*edit* and let's just say a band aid won't always stop the bleeding.

but they are still alowing families to move into them. I had many customers on foster who were told they had to move or could wait. The wait was for cable and internet to be installed. If they couldn't do without, they could wait in there old unit until it was finalized. Air conditioning is finished.

think i would want my family in a new home vice a 30 year old dump that has ants, roaches and an occasional rat........regardless if the kids can't watch nick or mtv 24/7:cursing:

[DoctorP]

think i would want my family in a new home vice a 30 year old dump that has ants, roaches and an occasional rat........regardless if the kids can't watch nick or mtv 24/7:cursing:

ants, roaches and rats will come in new homes too...that is housekeeping, not construction.

[uriel]

...but PJ is right that many spouses need the comfort zone of living on base. I know several families that have moved back on base because hubby is leaving constantly and the wife was uncomfortable with paying the rent and other bills off base.

Not all spouses are Japanese, for that matter not all spouses are American, many are from the PI, Mexican, Russian, Aussie, you name it, we probably have it.

Each persons situation will be different, all we can do is offer opinions (none are wrong) so the OP can decide what he wants to do.

i know, i've seen. i was just giving an opinion. i love giving opinions as do others here.

[hjcpmeek]

I have 2 kids in school and I live off base... the bus stop isn't but a few minutes walk. The ocean and the park is extremely close. Everything on the island is close, get here and contact agents. They will pick you up, show you some places, and wait till you get to the housing inprocessing brief. You will have to go to a SOFA driving course too.

[Blues]

All depends on your preference, I've spent 85% of my enlistment in the dorms. And when I finally got to live off base for 1 year (5 months deployed) I lived a good 20+ miles away from the base.

Yes it was a pain in the butt when I left something at the house. But I did enjoy not having any more inspection, ciggarette butts, beer cans, music blasting at late hours, dirty kitchens, & busted laundry rooms.

In general: If the house is decent and have more than 2 dependents, go on base. The money saved on utilities is worth the penny saved.

[uriel]

in general, i'd say it depends on the budget. i had a SSgt tell me that because his kids got good grades he couldn't tell them to not leave everything on, a/c, computer, lights, and tv when they left. so, it depends on the situation more than how many in your family. gotta remember you et cola based also on how many dependents you have.

[cme_red]

Wow, thanks for all the advise! I think I will honestly just have to wait till I get there and go with whatever feels right. So still no army folks out there that can tell me about 10th SG? Just double checkin ;-)

[P_chan]

i will take the concenience of living on base and having plenty of parking as opposed to having to sweat my ass off while at home to pay fluctuating utilities and be inconvenienced anytime i want to do anything outside of my home... having to fight with ridiculous traffic at the weirdest times...I lived off base and I didn't sweat my ass off (nor did I keep my AC on all day). I had a problem with my parking space but there was plenty of places to park. The only difference in my utilities was the electric bill in the summer. It was around 75 bucks in the winter and never any higher than 180 in the summer. Kinda high but I got an allowance for that and my AC cooled the house off real quick like when I got home from work (it helped that my wife would just use a fan all day while I was at work:D). The only time I had to have the AC on all the time was when I was sleeping, I refuse to sweat while I sleep. As far as traffic goes, that depends on where you live and the time. When I was in Ginowan City the commute was about 25 minutes and sometimes the traffic was kinda bad. But if I left ten minutes early for work I didn't catch any traffic at all. So basically what I'm saying is the situation is different for everyone. If you want to live on base thats fine but your scenarios do not apply to everyone who lives off base.

:edit: Don't get me wrong there are headaches with living off base. But you'll get those same headaches with living on base. Rude neighbors is the only thing that really bothers me. I had a couple when I was living off base in Sunabe but they eventually moved out and it was better. But when I was in Ginowan the only noise from my neighbors I ever heard was some lovin' coming from the apartment above me. But you'll always have noise whenever you live in a town house or apartment, on or off base.

:2nd edit:D: I just noticed that DocP pretty much summed up what I was trying to say. Each person will be different and each situation will be different. But I still recommend living off base just because you can get moved on base for free if you don't like it after six months. That way you can at least try to live out in town and then go back if you change your mind.

[OtisPMerriweather]

It all depends on where you move off base to. Me personally, I don't see the advantage of living off base if you're going to move into an apartment that has all military residents, or that neighborhood of townhouses down in Sunabe that all looks alike. The main reasons I wanted to move off base was so that if I so desired, I could sort of get away from military life on my off time, and also, I didn't want to worry about some broad on the neighborhood committee or some "tower senior" in my damn business and writing me dumb ass tickets. Also, it's been my experience that for some reason, people in on-base housing tend to call the MP's way quicker for dumb reasons than people would call the normal police, especially when they feel they can do so anonymously.

Unless you stay somewhere out of the way, most of the housing you're going to find off base is nowhere near the size you get on base. Unless you stay in the cookie-cutter apartments specifically designed for Americans, you may not get a full size washer/dryer or a full size oven. There are exceptions, but that is the general rule. If you're going to be deployed a lot and your spouse is not Japanese, on base housing may be the best bet for you because it can be a pain in the ass to get a couple grand from the bank, get it changed over to yen, then take it to the housing agency/Family Mart or where ever to get the bills paid.

The beach proximity thing is over rated IMO, as anywhere on Okinawa is only five minutes away from the beach. That's the good thing about living on an island. I live two blocks from the beach and I hardly ever go. In Hawaii there's two nice beaches on base, and I never went to those that much either, but then again, in the Marines, everywhere you get stationed is close to the beach! :D