Bahrain Moms

Hi Kayla's Mom,  My daughter is an  E5 too but in Intelligence.  I don't know exactly what she does, but she has been in Bahrain since Sept and will be there till Oct 2017.  It was a difficult adjustment but now she is very happy there.  She had to get an apt. off base and get used to the work and long hours, but she loves it now.  Believe me, that does my heart good to know she is happy.  As far as safety, she says the base is full of military police and the security is high - but of course our girls have to live off base because of their rank.  She lives about a 5 min walk from base.  The worst thing for me is that she has to live in an apt with 95% Muslim native population - they say it is for safety, so that the building does not become an American terrorist target.  But so far she says all has gone well there.  She said it was worse staying in a local hotel while she looked for a place.  But the other kids are all so nice and I guess they have a sense of community there, being stationed together so far from home.  Believe me, I know how worried you are.  But if my daughter can adjust and be happy, I know yours can too.

Hi Kayla's Mom, I have a Kayla that has been in Bahrain since Feb 2014 she is a E4. It was scary at first. she has adjusted and during well. I am sure your daughter will too.This site is  really helpful. all we can do is support one another through the Navy journey

Hi Kayla's Mom, no my daughter said they are told to wear clothes that are looser and more modest than what people are used to in the west.  Things like peasant blouses, but no super tight jeans.  No shorts or tank tops.  She says the only place you have to cover your head is if you go to visit or tour a mosque.

Hi Courageous, it depends on what kind of communications your son has available.  Our daughter got an app for her phone called VIBER so she can text us from overseas, so she let us know where she was and when she arrived.  But then it was very busy for her as they did an orientation and trained her for her new position over there.  During orientation she had time to email us a few times, but once she started working we don't hear from her more than once a week.  I know lots of moms say they Skype with their kids but my daughter doesn't have that on her computer.  Thing is, they work 10 - 12 hr shifts and then there is a big time difference - 8 hrs. for me.  So it would not be the easiest thing to coordinate Skype times anyway.  But what really matters is what kind of communication he has.  Some kids get phones that allow them to call overseas so he could call anytime.  

Hi Robin,

My son left for Bahrain on 11/10.  His plane left Norfolk at 10pm that Tuesday night.  We heard from him again on Thursday night 11/12 when he got to the hotel.

Hi Sylvia, I think it has more to do with what phone she has, not yours.  They have to get a phone that can call from overseas.  But anyway, most people Skype for free rather than try to call.  Our daughter texts us on VIBER, an app you can get on a smart phone.  She also e-mails a lot.  Hope this helps.

Sylvia, we used an app called "whatsapp" you can text for free and even make calls. You have to have a very strong wifi signal for the calls to work.

I read on another site that there is no chow hall is this true? 

From what my daughter says, they have something like a mall food court instead!  I don't know how they pay for it or if it is included in their compensation, but the kids say the food is really good!

My son seems to be doing fine with meals so far (been there since early Dec.)-he has a nice breakfast at the hotel where he and his shipmates are housed temporarily, seems to have his 2nd meal usually at "American Alley" on or close to base, and then brings some food back from the Nex for "supper". I believe they can order delivery food from places around the hotel also. He even mentioned seeing a Chik-Fil-A listed online in his area.

My son left today for Norfolk. A few tears were shed. He will be there for a week and then to Ft. Bliss for additional training. He told me that there are a lot of reservists going to Bahrain at the same time as he is. Just one from his reserve group but more than 100 nationwide. As soon as he settles in there, he wants a care package sent with clothes. What meals are available at the IS air base? He thinks there is just a chow hall vs the food court at the main navy base

My daughter is on base in Manama.  I just heard from her last night that all is well there.  I was so glad to hear that the 10 sailors were released.  

Yes, my daughter is in IS so I know she is a desk person, but I was sure praying for those 10 sailors and their families!

Thanks ladies. We are not alone. I am comforted by the feedback.  Prayers for all our boys and girls in all the military.

I know.  No matter what our kids are doing in Bahrain, they are all right between Saudi Arabia and Iran.  So they all  need prayers for safety.

I'm thankful also that the events of this past week had a peaceful outcome. Thanks also to you moms who were praying-I'm a praying mom as well, and right now also praying for the marines who were involved in the accident near Hawaii. Also for their families and first responders...

Hi Vicki, What job will your son be doing in Bahrain?  My daughter is in IS.

Hi PLC, See if your son and you can load SKYPE onto your computers so that you can talk.  My daughter also got an app for her phone called VIBER that lets her text us for free, but you have to have it on your phone too to receive his texts.  Has he been able to connect with anyone from his future work group?  That can be helpful - just to talk to someone who is there already and can tell him what to expect.

Sorry - just to correct - I see that you are PCL.  Also, you asked about advice for moms - pray a lot!!  I also passed out my daughter's address to all family and friends and asked them to write her, and she has been so encouraged by all the letters she has received.

This came across FB today. Thought I'd share...

CryptoMom had no trouble recognizing American Alley.

I have a son going there in April for a year.  He was there earlier in the year on a ship.  I just don't know what to think.

Hi.  I want to send my son gift certificates for restaurants in the area.  I've been looking online, but can't find a specific list of chains.  Does anyone know where to find a list.

Hi Karen,  My daughter told me that US gift cards don't work at the Navy restaurants.  She had Chick fil A and Starbucks gift cards and they told her they don't apply in Bahrain.  So though it is a great idea, it doesn't translate over there. :(

To Jamalsmom: You were wondering if you could go to Bahrain to visit at Christmas...by all means GO! I just came back last month from a 3.5 week stay with my son. It is a beautiful place and worth the trip. My son has a 2 bedroom apartment close to the base where I was able to stay with him. Most everyone spoke english and all signs were printed in english as well. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. It was expensive though...and I recommend renting a car by the day or week to see Manama and down to the Tree of Life. Tourist visas are granted for a 2 week stay but can easily be extended when you are there. I hope you will be able to visit as it will mean so much to your son and good for you to see where he is. 

To Navymom14: Thank you, I am really nervous. I really would like to know the procedures.  I can only stay about 7 days is that possible.  

To Jamalsmom: You can stay 7 days but will need to purchase a 14 day tourist visa for approx $66 and that can be purchased on line or when you arrive in Bahrain thru customs. It was a 22.5 hr trip from Atlanta and remember the 8 hr ahead (from Atlanta) time difference when setting your trip up. Also the work schedule of your sailor. I booked my flight thru Priceline and purchased my visa upon arrival. Make sure your passport is up to date and there are no required vaccinations to enter the country. The one issue is jet lag..but seeing your child is well worth it. 

To Jamalsmom: My son is in Bahrain, has been for almost 2 years. My Husband, daughter and myself went to Dubai last year and we flew over to visit my son  for a day because he was doing some special training that week so it did not make sense for us to stay. Even though it was such a short visit, we totally enjoyed it. The place is beautiful, we got to go on base and look around, then went out to dinner.

One thing that my son told us and you have to be diligent with is being covered up. Their society is very strict on women covering up. Even though you will be a tourist they expect you to be respectful of their customs so keep that in mind.

It will be awesome. Go visit your baby and enjoy every moment of it.

To NavyMAMom: Thank you.  I need to find out his schedule before I plan.  You all have been so helpful. I love this site!

To all:  Is there a particular hotel that is better than others?

I apologize if this has been discussed before, but do they need tourist passports in order to travel around (tours, etc..)

Hi Nic, Yes he can bring his civilian clothes with him. They can get almost anything they need over there, between the base stores and Amazon.  Amazon will mail anything to them.  In fact, the only thing my daughter is missing is Bath and Bodyworks soaps! So those are our gifts to her :)  The big thing is to get his communications worked out - getting some kind of Ap on his phone to send texts internationally (we use VIBER but there are others) and loading Skype onto his computer and yours (if you don't already have it).  My daughter doesn't have a phone that calls internationally, but some of the kids do - she borrows from them to call home now and then.

My kiddo is telling me that he will get 21 days off to come home and get his affairs in order. Is that normal? I also wondered if I should push him to renew his tourist passport. I've heard that traveling around the are with a military passport just isn't safe.

Nic, we bought our sonone of these below that goes around your neck and he really appreciated it. It gets a tad warm in Bahrain.

http://aboloxsafety.com/warm-weather-gear/cooling-towels/ergodyne-c...