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Comment by Kim on June 28, 2009 at 8:24pm

Robyn. Tokyo's airport is called Narita. Here is a map: http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/guide/map/index.html. If for any reason a sponsor is not there to meet him, tell him to ask for the "D-O-D". There is a small counter at the airport. There is always someone there and they will direct him to the bus to base. He should have a backup plan even if a sponsor is supposed to greet him. I think the buses run 3 times a day to base.

Comment by Anti M on June 28, 2009 at 3:46pm

A sponsor is another sailor, usually senior, who helps the new guy settle in.

As for spending time with families, what happens is once you get to your new command, you start making friends, often with the people you work with. The married sailors tend to invite the single guys over for meals and cookouts and such. There wasn't a weekend when one of us who lived offbase didn't have someone over for something; I once had the entire workshop, including spouses, show up at my apartment for a Saturday breakfast brunch. The various churches do so in their own way too. But unless it is new in Yokosuka, there isn't an adopt a Sailor program, because well, the families doing the adopting would be sailors too.

Comment by T-Lynn on June 28, 2009 at 12:29pm

Good Morning Everyone !!!!
Please keep us posted when your sailors arrive safely to their stations. ANd I hope you can sit with them while waiting to depart. Kim, that was a loving story and a memory that should be kept. Have you written it down in a journal for your son? That's what I'm trying to do. All the fun - crazy - even frustrating moments. It's therapy for me, but someday will be a sharing memory with his family. And I agree with you - it shows - that others care and support our troops. Hey ! Received an email from my son this morning. He was so pleased that one of the three packages arrived. His gifts to his father and brother. His father will open the present this evening - it a birthday gift. Alex even wrapped it - beautiful brown paper with duct tape and the words: "Dad's Bday. The other gifts wa wrapped in news paper with a plastic tie - it said: "To Twit" That's is what he calls his brother. Now that present was opened - a blow gun from Bali. I now have holes in the pillows. And my mother ( 88 years old, a REcycled Teenager) was the one who encourage him to try it out! Makes me know wonder what Alex will send his Gram for her birthday! I'll share later what the gift was to my husband. Still watching out for two packages - one with gifts and the other the broken computer. About the fourth? Just going to sit back - be home - cook out with friends - do some scrap booking - model making and pig out! Thanks for listening and please do keep us posted about your sailors flights and espeically arriving safely. Hugs everyone T-Lynn Isn't this site a comfort? 1

Comment by Kim on June 28, 2009 at 8:35am

My son didn't have instructions from his sponsor on how to get to the base. We where at JFK and asked for the USO. They didn't have one. He was flying AA. The counter person was not going to let me go with him (not a policy at JFK) until I told her that Philadelphia let me when he flew to back to Chicago and he begged that he wouldn't be home for a long time. She let me in and put him on standby for business class. She sent us to the Admirals Club. We didn't realize at first that it was the first class lounge. When we told them the situation, they brought out someone who worked there and was Japanese. She explained both airports in Japan to him. They invited us to stay and looked after his luggage while he went to exchange money for yen. When it was time to board the woman from the admirals club was at the gate to check on him. He had been upgraded to business class. When he went through the gate I started crying. I went over to thank the three woman at the counter and they where all crying. I even saw a passenger with a tear in her eye. He told me they gave him champagne on the flight.

Comment by Kim on June 27, 2009 at 6:13pm

My son had a carry-on garment bag with most of his uniforms. The airline did not mind that it was oversized when he told them what it was for. They even hung it up for him.

Comment by Anti M on June 27, 2009 at 5:37pm

The military charter flights require uniforms, most civilian flights they should not wear their uniform. But do carry a full set in the carry-on, and while it seems to make sense to put all the uniforms in one bag, and civilian clothes in another... but if they a bag, you're stuck. Split things up.

And as I've said, every set of PCS orders comes with a free Navy packout, and yes, you can pack out a small amount. Off-season civilian clothing comes to mind. Sure that takes a bit of paperwork, and preplanning, but then you don't have to hassle with weight limits and trying to haul all your crap all at once.

Comment by Anti M on June 27, 2009 at 5:35pm

The Nay Exchange always runs out of long johns in Yokosuka.

Comment by MarianneKT's Mom on June 27, 2009 at 5:28pm

You're right! I forgot about the stuffed garment bag and the best way to pack her covers, since she traveled in 'navy approved' civilian clothes.

That certainly would be awful to arrive at your new duty station w/o your uniforms!

Comment by Kim on June 27, 2009 at 4:03pm

Kathleen, if you think of the name of the airlines let us know. A few kind letters or phone calls from us will probably change their policy. They don't want to be known as the airline who doesn't support their military when they are being deployed.

Comment by MarianneKT's Mom on June 27, 2009 at 4:02pm

You are right Kathleen - NWA was very liberal with the military - Delta may not be, now that they are in charge. The reservationist read that their seabag could be 100# - The guy reading it was a former sailor and remarked 'if my seabag weighed that much, I'd throw it overboard.

Good suggestion - I've had to take things out to get down to the weight at the counter - it is embarrassing when there's a long line.

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