Rota Spain

Hi everyone! I haven't been on NFM since my sailor completed Boot. She is now going to SPAIN now that she's completed 2 CSchools in San Antonio. I'm freaking out. I'm trying hard to keep my composure and am trying to be very positive. I've just secured a global phone on loan thru Verizon so that she can use it over there for a couple of weeks until she gets a phone over there. I'm very relieved to read the posts and to know that it's a great place to be. If she gets wi-fii over there right away, we should be able to commuicate thru face-time or Skype right? Any comments or advise would be much appreciated!

wlbradford: Glad to hear you had a great time in Spain, we are planning on going next year if possible. We will meet our Sailor in Germany at my mom's house for Christmas this year and we are all looking forward to that.

Juggirl80: According to my son and people he talked to, Rota must be on of the best places to be stationed at. An yes, if your daughter has wifi in her dorm you can skype. My son just has a cell phone he got in Spain and I can call him on that anytime, we also communicate via facebook a lot, you can do the video chat on there as well. Your daughter will be just fine over there, it's a small base and everyone must be pretty relaxed and nice. Good luck!!!

Stephen bought a spanish cell phone and the calls are cheap and yes get WiFi

and you can skpe.

Thank you guys! It helps more than you know.

Good for you Carol  have fun.  Seville is near the base wonderful city.  Also Morocco is a ferry ride away, and don't forget Gibraltar

Got any tips on  what to send with my daughter when she travels to Spain? Thanks!

My daughter is preparing to go to Rota. She is coming home from Texas to Ohio for 2 weeks leave before leaving at the end of August. She's worried about the cost to change her ticket. She was told by her sponsor she will probably travel Military flight -- not Commercial. Is this a similar scenario to any of you and your sailors?

Stephen was on  leave also before he left for Rota.  He paid for his flight from Orlando to Norfolk and then left on a military flight from the Naval Base.  Hope that helps.  

I just joined this group to familiarize before my son deploys to Spain but I don't even know where in Spain.  Is there more than one base that Seabees are deployed to in Spain?  What does our Navy do there?  I'm new to Navy life.  It's our second year.  First year being bootcamp and A school and our second year has been through a deployment in Afghanistan so I'm hoping this is alot nicer than that.  From just reading two pages of your posts it sounds nice. 

Thank you Janieflorida.  I might sound ignorant saying this but does "plum assignment" another term for something?  Or is it saying this is a deployment everyone wishes for?

Hi my name is Kelly I'm pretty new to the Navy Family my sons pir was Nov 9th and is currently deployed in Rota Spain.

Welcome Kelly. I haven't been on in quite a while, but my daughter is stationed in Rota and absolutely LOVES it. Mainly because there is so much for people their age to see and do when they're not working. I'm sure no matter what job your son has, he's going to love it over there! We went to visit my daughter last June and had the absolute BEST time!!

I can't wait to visit in October.  Stephen says there is so much to see

Hello all!  My son is heading to Rota sometime this month...I have tons of questions!!!  First off, can anyone tell me the best cell phone plan or option for my sailor?

Hi thankfurl45.My son is there since last year February and he really likes it there. He got a cell phone in Spain and I call him on that phone from our land line which works pretty good. Mostly we stay in contact via facebook (chat and video).

Some with iphones keep them and do the facetime etc. but my son just put his US cell phone plan on hold.

It's a small base and most likely your sailor will find out much more details when getting there. Don't worry too much, this is probably one of the nicest places to be stationed.

Stephen has a Spanish phone also. His US plan is on hold as well.  Your sailor will have a couple of weeks of talks on getting to know local area, customs etc.

It is a beautiful base, your sailor will find out all the pertinant info.

What is PSD?

Personnel Support Detachment...My son is a PS.

We are also in the early stages of planning a big family vacation to visit him there next summer...I would welcome ANY and all comments and suggestions!

Hello! My husband is just getting started at boot camp and then will go to Meridian in June for A-School for PS. Rota is where we want to get stationed. Part of the reason for joining the Navy was to "see the world", he's a native Spanish speaker, and I can speak at intermediate level (and still learning).

I know we don't get to pick where we get stationed.. Is there anything he can do to increase / improve his chances of getting stationed there? Any way to find out if there are / will be open PS jobs there? Are overseas moves on hold with all the Fed budget cutbacks going on?

Thanks!

It doesn't appear that overseas orders would change any because of cutbacks...those slots will still need to be filled as long as we have bases there.  I'd say the chances of him getting a specific station are slim to none unfortunately...unless he knows the detailer or has connections up the chain?  But ANYTHING is possible!  There were at least 4 being sent over with my son today....We actually are on the way to the airport now to pick him up because they had a last minute re-route of his orders and now he gets a months leave here before shipping out!  woohoo!!!

Thanks for the info, thankful45!

Interesting that you mention knowing the detailer or having connections...

Last week at the gym I met a recently retired Navy Counselor and he offered to help in any way he could. Would it be bad form to ask him to make a connection for my husband so we could get Rota if there are jobs available there?

And is there any way for us to see the open jobs before he finishes school? I know that once he's in the fleet, at some point he can log in the "jobs database" (I don't know the Navy name for it yet) to see where there are openings. Do you know when that access comes?

Thanks!! SO hoping for Spain!!!

3 months to go before we leave for Rota. Getting excited.  I think the Naval Ball will be taking place when we are there.  Navy anniversary is October 13. I'm hoping.

Hi CJ's mom  I think it's okay to say, He is one of the chiefs of guards.  Harbor patrol.  He has housing off base and we shall stay with him.  why don't we stay in touch via email.  I'm excited about the trip never been to Spain.  Good for you sailor he re-enlisted.  the job market is so tough now.  By the way Rota is a beautiful place.

One month to go before we leave. Yeah for us the Naval Ball will take place while we are there. I'm excited

We leave on Wednesday and will be in Rota on Friday.  We are staying at Steves apartment.  Yeah

new to this site.  my son goes in the spring after his last class.  looking for info as far as cell phones and computers.  how do we get to keep in touch with them

thanks audrey

welcome addy. You can skype and call your son in Rota.  He will get an  orientation upon arrival and all will be explained.  Stephen has a Spanish cell phone with international calling.  Rota is a beautiful place with lots of historical places to see. Not far from Seville.  Plan a trip to visit.  What a great excuse to go to Europe.  Rota itself is quite a large town with lots of history, a beach and many restuarants.

Zakeroni - my son is also a corpsman, but his 2 years in Rota are up and hes leaving for CA at the end of the month. He really enjoyed his stay there very much, made some really great friends and traveled all over Spain/Europe. He liked his work at the hospital (labor and delivery, taking care of the newborn babies) and learned a lot. All in all a very good experience for him.

He also had a Spanish cell  phone, internet etc. and we mostly stayed in touch via facebook. He bought a car from someone else whose time was up and sold it again to the next new one, that's how they do it there. Your son will get lots of information and will find out more from others stationed there, he;s going to be fine. It's a pretty base and not too big.  Best wishes!!!

Cars can be purchased and shipped to us by companies over in Spain.  there are two dealers right outside the base.  He will have an orientation and meet lots of people.  Beautiful area.  My sailor will be there until July when he goes to Norfolk. He too has traveled all over Europe and learned so much, speaks a bit of Spanish as well now.  He will enjoy it and go visit if you can.

Welcome Zakenroni. My son got there at the start of January. He is an IT. He found a way to get internet, and he also calls me sometimes. When I miss him, I have fun converting the time to what time it is in Rota.

Thanks for the tips, Wanda and Janie. I'll have to let my son know how the car thing works, if he hasn't found out yet.

What did we do before facebook. I can't imagine communicating in years gone by. we are very lucky.  

Rota Spain Moms,

Have you heard about Magic Jack? My son calls me a lot now. I get so sad when he calls me at work, because I'd just love nothing better than to drop everything and talk as long as wanted to talk. Strangely, he seems to accept it better than I do. He told me though, that If I got a Magic Jack, that I would be able to call him, too. I don't know if you had heard about it yet, just in case--I had to share!

I don't know about Magic Jack either.  Stephen has a SKPE account as well and the same thing.  I email or facebook him and he calls when he can.  Sometimes the 6 hour time difference is a pain

Hello all!  My son will be going to Spain around June he is undesignated.  any info?