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Link to Navy Speak - Navy Terms & Acronyms: Navy Speak

All Hands Magazine's full length documentary "Making a Sailor": This video follows four recruits through Boot Camp in the spring of 2018 who were assigned to DIV 229, an integrated division, which had PIR on 05/25/2018. 

Boot Camp: Making a Sailor (Full Length Documentary - 2018)

Boot Camp: Behind the Scenes at RTC

...and visit Navy.com - America's Navy and Navy.mil also Navy Live - The Official Blog of the Navy to learn more.

OPSEC - Navy Operations Security

Always keep Navy Operations Security in mind.  In the Navy, it's essential to remember that "loose lips sink ships."  OPSEC is everyone's responsibility. 

DON'T post critical information including future destinations or ports of call; future operations, exercises or missions; deployment or homecoming dates.  

DO be smart, use your head, always think OPSEC when using texts, email, phone, and social media, and watch this video: "Importance of Navy OPSEC."

Follow this link for OPSEC Guidelines:

OPSEC GUIDELINES

Events

**UPDATE as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.

FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:

RTC Graduation

RESUMING LIVE PIR - 8/13/2021

Please note! Changes to this guide happened in October 2017. Tickets are now issued for all guests, and all guests must have a ticket to enter base. A separate parking pass is no longer needed to drive on to base for parking.

Please see changes to attending PIR in the PAGES column. The PAGES are located under the member icons on the right side.

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Navy.com Para Familias

Visite esta página para explorar en su idioma las oportunidades de educación y carreras para sus hijos en el Navy. Navy.com

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Information

USS TORTUGA

This group is for anyone with a sailor on the USS TORTUGA in Saesbo, Japan.

Location: Saesbo, Japan
Members: 47
Latest Activity: Aug 25, 2014

About the USS TORTUGA

USS TORTUGA is the sixth Dock Landing Ship in the WHIDBEY ISLAND class and the third ship in that class built by Avondale in New Orleans. In April 2006, the TORTUGA replaced the USS FORT McHENRY (LSD 43) as a forward deployed naval unit in Sasebo, Japan. The hull swap was part of the Navy's long-range plan to routinely replace older ships assigned to the Navy's Forward Deployed Naval Force with newer or more capable ships. The TORTUGA was previously homeported in Little Creek, Va.

General Characteristics: Keel laid: March 23, 1987
Christened: November 19, 1988
Commissioned: September 7, 1990
Builder: Avondale Shipyards, New Orleans, La.
Propulsion system: four Colt Industries 16 Cylinder Diesels
Propellers: two
Length: 610 feet (186 meters)
Beam: 84 feet (25.6 meters)
Draft: 21 feet (6.4 meters)
Displacement: approx. 16,000 tons full load
Speed: 22 knots
Well deck capacity: four LCAC or 21 LCM-6 (on deck: one LCM-6, two LCPL and one LCVP)
Aircraft: none, but two landing spots allow for operation of aircraft as large as the CH-53E
Crew: Ship: 20 Officers, 25 Chief Petty Officers, 302 Enlisted
Crew: Marine Detachment: approx. 400 + approx. 100 surge
Armament: two 20mm Phalanx CIWS, two 25mm Mk-38 guns, six .50-calibre Machine guns, two Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) systems
Cost: $153 million
Homeport: Sasebo, Japan

Discussion Forum

Mailing a letter to our Sailor

Started by number1fanofmyson. Last reply by number1fanofmyson Feb 27, 2013. 10 Replies

Comment Wall

Comment

You need to be a member of USS TORTUGA to add comments!

Comment by lisa1025 on April 27, 2011 at 9:45am
She did get a 30 day leave before going to Sasebo, but she ended up working at the recruiting office one week of her leave. She took a few things but not many because they end up shopping and things like that so I would not take many I believe it was 2 sea bags and one carry on. We ended up giving the rest of her things to goodwill.  I hope I am answering your questions correctly. 
Comment by lisa1025 on April 26, 2011 at 9:01pm
My daughter does have notebook so we are able tp skype she also has has a cell and has set up a account with skype for international calling so she calls me we also text each other and email.
Comment by lisa1025 on April 26, 2011 at 8:56pm
Yes they are back. Sasebo is located in the Southern end of Japan thethad no damage from the Tsunami. When does he leave for Sasebo? From what I understand they did not leave the ship.I
Comment by lisa1025 on April 26, 2011 at 7:11pm
Hi Lady Bug! My daughter is on the Tortuga she is an OS also. She has bwen on the Tortuga since November. So far so good no problems this far don't worry it is a good experience for them has helped her mature.
Comment by FirstSailor on March 10, 2011 at 3:17am

Hi Beatriz,

 

Does your daughter use iPhone or iTouch with the application to send text?  Do you have a chance to the get application name?

 

My son came home last night.  He received a lot of free stuff at the airport and on the plance since he was in uniform.  He almost could have a first class seat but the passanger show up.

 

Thanks,

 

Michelle

 

Comment by beatrizm (Ship04 Div192) on March 4, 2011 at 11:17am

Michelle,

They did  short mission to some other places in Japan in January.  That's been the only mission since she's been there.  Check out the Facebook page for the USS Tortuga.  THey post pictures of some of their events.

 

Beatriz

Comment by FirstSailor on March 4, 2011 at 10:19am

Hi Beatriz, 

 

What other places have your daughter visited with the ship since she joined in Dec?

 

Michelle

 

Comment by beatrizm (Ship04 Div192) on March 3, 2011 at 3:32pm

Michelle, 

My daughter and I started out using Skype, but eventually she got cell phone service through a Japanese company which is less expensive.  She has an iPhone and she got an app for the iPhone that sets up a phone number here in the states and that way we can text at no additional charge.

The ship does have free WiFi, though not when they are underway. My understanding is that when they are underway they can only communicate via email.

She is adapting well, though she did say they keep it pretty cold on board.  And the stairwells took some getting used to, climbing up and down all the time.

She is 18 also, about to turn 19 in April.  She joined right out of high school and spent her 18th birthday at boot camp.

 

Beatriz

Comment by FirstSailor on March 3, 2011 at 2:17am

Hi Beatrizm, how does your daughter call home?  Does she get a phone service in Japan?  or use Skype to call?  Does the ship offer free WiFi also while it is underway?  How does your daughter like the ship?  How old is your daughter?

My son is just 18.

 

Michelle

 

Comment by beatrizm (Ship04 Div192) on February 28, 2011 at 3:22pm
Michelle, I haven't been there yet; she jut arrived there in December a bout a week before Christmas and I figured it would be a good idea to let her get settled and figure out what's what before I make plans.  I don't know much about the area, but I'll ask her and see what she's learned.
 

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