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My son is headed for Sasebo in July 2010, any advice?
Hello,
My name is Lori and my son has been waiting for a sponsor to reply to him before he is shipped out. He told me if he does not get a sponsor he will basically be a chicken with no head...lost. This scares me...Any advice will be much appreciated,
Thank you in advance!
Views: 116
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by MarianneKT's Mom on
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Lori - Welcome! My daughter had a male sponsor. When she was sent to Japan, the Essex was out to sea, so Katie was on her own! She was home for 2 weeks before flying from Detroit ->Chicago->Tokyo-> Fukuoka and then a bus ride to Sasebo. Katie did fine and ran into some other sailors going to Sasebo.
Your son's paperwork will be clear and will have a complete itinerary and directions of where he needs to go to get the bus after his flights.
After being on base a few days, they flew Katie to a Phillippine port to meet the Essex and then she was headed to Okinawa and then back to base. Your son will be fine! I'm sure he will hear from his sponsor before he heads over. -
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Permalink Reply by POMOM575 on
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I am not sure how to do this...do I reply to all comment after each one or at the end? I want to say
Thank You to you all! -
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Permalink Reply by Tam, Jenny's mom on
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Lori---My daughter, Jenny,(she is on the GW) didn't hear from her sponsor for a long time----they were deployed and they can only communicate through their ship email address. She finally heard from her, but they were not going to be back (Yokosuka) till Nov. and Jenny was leaving to go there in Oct. I have to say she did pretty good leaving St Louis, but when she got to Seatac she got over whelmed----called home crying----talked to her dad----he told her to go to the USO there and that they would help her----needless to say the next call we got she was just fine-----Seatac has a wonderful USO, they are open 24/7. To my knowledge all of the USOs in the airports are helpful. There were so many sailors, marines & army going over on the same flight. She flew into Tokyo and then a bus to the base. I just know your son will run into other sailors going where he going. The Japanese are very nice and helpful. I know how you feel though----I told a friend if I could have I would have flown with her to Japan and flown back the next day :-). The unknown is always scary-----I hope your son will hear from his sponsor soon & please stay in touch with N4M's. We are here for one another.
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That was exactly what I was thinking of doing. My husband said "You are crazy, let that boy grow up. The Navy won't just leave him hanging." He just does not understand the bond, especially since he is my firstborn.
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Permalink Reply by T-Lynn on
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HI Lori,
I'm pretty sure he will receive a sponsor. Someone from his ship usually meets the new guy. Only times I have heard this did not happen - is the ship could not spare someone to go to the airport to greet the new comer. But phone numbers are given and if he knows his sponsor is not there - ask anyone where is the D.O.D. in the Japanese Airprot. He will be directed to that spot easily and he will receive directions Can you share his ships name? My son is on the USS Patriot. But please do not share your son's actaul departure date. Safety first. Like you stated earlier - sometime in July Chim up friend and keep sharing - we listen :) TLynn -
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Thank you for your advise. I am not sure of his ship yet, but I will ask him. He keeps saying he doesn't know anything yet... once I know I will share =~)
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yes Lori everyone here is right. There will be a sponsor. But if not he can contact the ship he is assigned to and request one. My son just flew over there. Left Sunday to report back to base and flew from SD>SF>Tokyo> Fukuoka. Arrived late at night and his sponsor was there waiting for him.
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Thank you sooo much Moms! You all have lifted a great weight off of my chest. I am so happy there is a site like this ... I wish I would have signed up sooner! =~)
At this time I do not know his ship, but I will ask him. I am really happy, he will be coming home for a visit in a couple of weeks . It will be the 1st time I get to see him since his BC Grad in January.
I truly am thankful for your words of support! Thank you for your replies!
I will definitely keep sharing.
I will keep you all in my thoughts and Your Sailors too! -
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It's a bit overwhelming when you first arrive in Tokyo. First, find out if his tickets are cut so that he arrives and leaves out of the same airport in Tokyo. By the time I hit Tokyo, I had a huge headache, then they said that I had to take a 2 hour bus ride to the other airport. Thank goodness they took pity on us and said that they had a flight leaving out of Narita and we were able to get on it. As for a sponsor, there should be someone at the airport to pick your son up. The base is really small and he can walk everywhere. He will have to go to an indoc class and if the class is still the same, it will last about a week. After class, if your son is 20 or older, they will let him get his license. Tell him to drive around and get used to being on the wrong side of the road! The test is easy. Don't fret about Sasebo. It is an amazing place to live. You can walk into town from base. The MWR there is great. I know it all seems overwhelming when you first arrive in a new place, especially when the language is not English. He will find that most people do speak a little English.
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Louise thank you for all the good advice! Well the license it out, my son Ernesto is only 18 1/2. He has not mentioned the indoc class, I will be sure to discuss it with him. Thanks again!
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Permalink Reply by Anti M on
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Narita in Tokyo is the international airport, the "other" airport is the domestic one, Haneda in Yokohama.
There are couple types of indoc classes for sailors new to the country. One is held by the ship to show the sailor how the vessel protocols and safety work. Shore commands tend to train one on one in their new work center. It varies, but basically it is training the new guy.
There is also an introduction to Japan, the culture, basic language, how the trains and buses work, food, etiquette. It is called Area Indoctrination Orientation Brief and the Inter-Cultural Relations Class held by the Fleet and Family Service Center. Two days of classroom, one day "field trip". In Yokosuka, that was a walking tour of the town, I used to be a volunteer helper for that.
Anything introducing a sailor to a new environment, or a new way of doing things will be called "indoc". You begin to expect indoc automatically when you transfer to a new area, ship or command. -
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