re:Son going to Bahrain - I have so many questions!!!!

[julie(Shane's Mom)]

My MA is fixing to go to Bahrain within about the next month. Will he be able to take and use his laptop and cell phone? Also, the post at the top of the group page says they have to use prepay phones and that some carriers CANNOT receive from these phones.....did you mean that Verizon (my carrier and my son's) will not except these calls and texts? Can he get a prepay phone to use there before he leaves?And does he need a civilian passport to be able to leave base? Will he be able to use his debit card at the stores on base and what about off base? What about leave? My son hasn't been home since June 2009 and he has about 30+ days on the books right now. There was some confusion/he was mis informed when he was getting his travel packet ready to leave Norfolk and go to Mississippi and California for pre-Bahrain training. He thought that he would be able to take leave before going to Bahrain, but when he turned his travel packet in he was told he was supposed to request leave before he left his duty station(Norfolk) to go to Mississippi. Does the Navy grant leave for the sailors before they are scheduled to leave the country so they can spend time with their families? I believe he is going mobile security and that he is scheduled to be there for a year. He said he probably will not get any kind of leave before he goes but says he MIGHT be able to get leave from over there around x-mas(not going to hold my breath for that one!) or shorlty after! Any info anyone can give me about this deployment(right word?) would be helpful. Also if anyone has an MA going over soon (mine is June) drop me a line! I'm new at this and any info would be very helpful and appreciated!

[Theresa]

Julie, my son took his laptop and we were able to use Skyp to see and talk to eachother. Best investment you could make is getting a webcam. My son bought the prepaid phone once he was there but we used Skyp, as it was free, as much as we could. Biggest problem was the time difference. We usually only hooked up on the weekends. Not sure about the leave prior to him leaving. Hope this helps

[julie(Shane's Mom)]

Thanks Theresa for getting back to me ! Hope everything goes well for your son and that he comes back to you safely!

Julie(Shane's Mom)

[Stevesmom ( Donna )]

Julie,
My son is an MA also has only been in Bahrain 2 weeks. I will try to answer and questions you might have. I know how you feel right now as I was just at that point. Your Verizon will NOT work ( we have that too ) Your son will be able to get a prepaid phone once he gets there. My son calls us all the time from his prepaid phone.It is about .10 a minute and Verizon is $2.68 a minutes and that is only after you " unlock" the phone and buy a sim card. Way to much in the long run. The prepaid phone is cheapest way for the to call other than SKYPE. My son his not big on the whole SKYPE thing as it is kind of an invasion of privacy as you have to talk out in the open on your labtop and there are limited places where they can get internet. Once he gets there he will go through a 3 week indoc. class ( all the new guys do ) and then they will take all the new guys on a tour of Bahrain off base. My son said that was pretty cool. They are 7 hours ahead of us ( East coast , not sure where you are ) . His flight over will be a long one, about 26 hours so tell him to talk things to keep busy and he can sleep on the plane also.
They do fly military aircraft into Bahrain. Please let me know is you have any other questions. I had someone help me through this part and it really makes a difference. So please dont hesitate to ask anything.
Navy Mom hugs to you :) ~ Donna

[julie(Shane's Mom)]

Hi Stevesmom(Donna)! Thanks for the info and I'm sure i"ll be asking you alot more questions as time goes on. Like now....You talked about the cell phones...even if we both have blackberry contracted phones( his is international enabled I think he just has to change something with his Verizon plan to enable international use , i beleive he already has sim card, and if we add international calling is it still easier for him to get a prepaid? But can he still text my blackberry ?

[Doreen]

My son is an MA and is in Mobile Security = he has been in Bahrain since March of 2009 and has not been home since November of 2008!!!! He tried for leave in July but was turned down -- so now is going to try for August - if not - maybe Christmas. He did not get leave before he was deployed - but we did go down to California for a long weekend to see him before he left. He has missed my father's funeral and will miss his sister's graduation - and our relatives have increased quite a bit since he left. He is doing really well and seems to like what he is doing - but would like to come home on leave. He is stationed there for two years.
He bought a prepaid phone over there and has to buy minutes -- if he is on base - we take turn calling. Otherwise it is cheaper and sometimes easier to catch him on facebook. It is easier - cause then you have time to think what to say and on the phone the time goes by fast. It costs us about 73 cents a minute to call him - but it is worth it!!!

[erics mom]

Your son will love Bahrain!

[Riasito]

He can buy a prepaid phone there at the NEX. He can bring his laptop. He does not need a civilian passport. Yes he can use his debit card as long as he calls his bank and informs them that he will be leaving the country. My son was supposed to get leave before leaving the country, but was not able to either. I had to fly out to California to see him. He recently came home from Bahrain for his 30 day leave. OMG it was so good to see him. He loves the Navy. He will be in Bahrain for another 10 mos. He is also mobile security. Have your son look him up when he gets there! My son is Jim Wydra. Take care and good luck.
Maria Rohloff

[Donnanavymom/Ship 12 Div. 378]

Hi, my son went to Bahrain last year on Christmas Eve and got back this past April. He took his laptop and got a cell phone when he got to Bahrain.  He can use his debit card and get a nex card for use while he is over there.  My son had his wallet stolen while he was over there and I had a hard time getting things cancelled for him.  I would get a power of attorney so you can conduct business for him while is is gone.  

 

My son came home before he deployed, but came on harp duty (recruiting duty) for 2 weeks..that will not burn up any of his leave days.  My son's ship is forward deployed, so he flies to Bahrain.  He will go back in October.  I program Google alerts for Bahrain on my computer to keep up with the news from there. 

[Marie L. Logue]

My Son is also an MA an has received orders to Bahrain. Thank you so much for all this helpful info.

[Marie L. Logue]

My Son to is an MA3 now and just got orders for Bahrain. He will be going to the schools you mentioned as well. I believe he is going sometime around June too. This site has been so helpful. The Girls on here are so supportive and sweet. The N4M site has gotten me all the thru bc and now I will rely on the support of all the Moms once again to help get me through the deployment. 

Thank you so very much for being here! God Bless you all! (Big N4M Hug)

Fair winds and Following Seas

[Shelly S Proud Navy Mom]

Thank you all for all the valuable info on Bahrain. My son is getting ready to venture there this coming June with training in Mississipi and California first. Right now he is an MA in Norfolk VA and currently doesn't have his 30 day leave scheduled. I am not sure if he knows he has to look into this ahead of time but I will have to mention it to him. Sometimes I think the younger Sailors don't want to ask too many ?s and rely on being guided on what to do and sadly sometimes that just doesn't happen. Same with the passport issues....am I understanding correctly that this will be taken care of also for them before they leave? Or do they have to inquire and get all this processed them self? So many questions.......thank goodness for all my Navy for Moms friends. If any of you have any other important info for a very worried mom please message me back. Thanks so much and Happy New Year to all.

[Davids grama]

My Grandson just left for Bahrain job is MA. Will he be able to call from his cell when he gets there. Of course wish he was stateside.