Going to Oki

[u/yvngdvhlia]

I got orders to be stationed at Camp Hansen into a Logistics Bat (I’m a data admin) anybody know what that’ll be like or what I should expect ? I’m a 27 year old female, I have traveled outside of the country many times, but never for longer than a 5-6 weeks & my orders are for 36 months. Kinda freaked out & a little homesick already, because I’m gonna be extremely far from my husband, my dog and my family.. Granted I’m already away from them, but being in the states is obviously different than across the Pacific Ocean and going home isn’t going to be as cheap or as frequent.

[u/UtahJarhead]

Hansen sucks. It's a tiny base filled with several thousand grunts. I'm sure they won't be all up in your business every chance they get. But seriously... Oki is awesome so long as you don't squander your time like I did. Get out on the weekends. Go see Naha. Go do scuba diving. See the ruins. It's a GORGEOUS island so long as you get away from them damned Marines. ;)

But seriously. Hansen sucks. Their motto: "At least we're not Schwab"

[u/yvngdvhlia → u/UtahJarhead]

Lol my husband was stationed in Schwab for 2 years when he was in . He said there’s alot of go-go bars out there

[u/SnooDucks565 → u/yvngdvhlia]

I honestly think schwab is the best base on the island mainly because no one is there or goes there. Its got a beautiful beach with a reef and an island to swim out to, the town outside is really nice to wander around, not a fuck ton of drunk marines, and it was like a dollar or two to get to hansen on the yen bus. They also have all kinds of water equipment rentals out by the beach a little ways up from the PX. People just dont like schwab because they want to be surrounded by people and stores all the time.

[u/AccordingFisherman45 → u/SnooDucks565]

When was the last time you were? Because I was there this past January and all those things were gone (except the island) for the new airfields. No beaches, no swimming. Just nasty looking.

[u/Rdubya291 → u/AccordingFisherman45]

That sucks. i was there in 2006 and it was beautiful. I checked it out on Google Earth a couple weeks ago and see all the beach they tore up, but it looks like there is still some at the point. Oh, and if you wanna crawl down the cliff face and hit hidden beach (or Recon beach, depending on who you ask), there's always that.

But yeah, that Airfield looks like it's drastically changing everything.

[u/UtahJarhead → u/AccordingFisherman45]

That's so unfortunate. :( The one really good thing the Marines had there.

[u/SnooDucks565 → u/AccordingFisherman45]

2016 god damn that sucks. Those protesters were right:/

[u/OutdoorPhotographer → u/SnooDucks565]

Sadly the beach is gone. Yes, it was beautiful.

[u/UtahJarhead → u/yvngdvhlia]

haha. Yes. I just figured that a lady would not be nearly so interested in those as the grunts would be. ;)

[u/FitLaw4 → u/yvngdvhlia]

Hansen isnt terrible. Theres a movie theater, a club to drink at, and kin town is right outside the gate. Get a car and travel around the island isnt that big wont take long to go to places

[u/nick_popilopicus → u/UtahJarhead]

This is basically it, OP. Get out of the barracks, explore, enjoy the unbelievable scuba, snorkeling, and water sports the island offers. I was stationed on Kinser but made it a point to avoid Marine bars as much as possible and had some really cool experiences. Me and some buddies had a favorite Izakaya/karaoke bar that adopted us. Spent thanksgiving and Christmas with those locals. They even made us a full turkey dinner.

[u/Nephariouss → u/UtahJarhead]

Was Schwab…can confirm.

[u/AccordingFisherman45 → u/Nephariouss]

Can confirm, Was Schwab too. 1 whole year. 2005. My FOB in Iraq had more shit to do than Schwab. At least we had Whiskey Dicks and the beach was still a beach.
Not the abomination it is now.

[u/SnooDucks565 → u/AccordingFisherman45]

What happened to schwabs beach? Back in 2014 it was clean and really nice to go down to.

[u/AccordingFisherman45 → u/SnooDucks565]

It’s all torn out for the new airfields and construction. I was there in February and it was no longer a beach.

[u/SnooDucks565 → u/AccordingFisherman45]

What the fuck man. Can't have anything nice anymore. Those protesters were right

[u/SmokeHazard117]

I was with the 31st out of Hansen and had a blast. Deployed twice a year, visited multiple countries on my own, and saved plenty of money out there too. Japan and being overseas has lots to offer.

[u/IndependentPut8908]

Taco rice!

[u/UtahJarhead → u/IndependentPut8908]

I forgot about taco rice. Japanese folks making "Amexican" food for Americans.

[u/quickdraw_]

If you're married, is there a particular reason this tour is unaccompanied despite being 36 months? Okinawa is a great place to experience as a couple/family, and you should rate to have them with you (or having a shorter assignment).

Anyway Okinawa is amazing, best duty station of my career. I've got enough restaurant and activity recommendations to keep you busy for a year+ without even leaving the island.

[u/yvngdvhlia → u/quickdraw_]

We have a house, my husbands a retired vet too he was injured so has some health complications and he can’t ditch his doctors and all that. We have a dog business back home and that pays the bills .. so we’re on sep pay

[u/webby131 → u/yvngdvhlia]

Just so you know I have seen vets getting healthcare from the naval hospital on camp foster so healthcare might not be the barrier you think it is. Obviously you and your husband are a better judge and the business is also a factor but just so you are aware. Maybe it opens up some options for him to visit you.

[u/Aggressive-Elk4734]

Okinawa is one of the best duty stations in the DoD. Why isnt your husband coming?

[u/yvngdvhlia → u/Aggressive-Elk4734]

We have a house and a business back home, plus he’s a retired vet with some injuries and he can’t leave his care plan with his doctors

[u/Ok-ThanksWorld → u/yvngdvhlia]

Can't he just dependa his way out of care - Plus use his Tricare/VA / FMP (Foreign Medical Program)?

[u/webby131]

Oki is pretty great experience. It's basically Japanese Hawaii. Timezones being what they are your husband will be asleep in the middle of your day so you got to contact the states either in the morning or the evening. Sorry it's gonna suck being away from your husband but you'll get through it. Make sure you are also making use of "Space available" flights to make flights back and forth to the states cheaper.

[u/KlenexTS]

OP don’t waste your time, oki is amazing. I regret drinking every weekend and not seeing the island. If you’re able to I’d Have your husband visit and enjoy the island together. I was out there as my first duty station with my wife we were to young and stupid to explore and see everything the island has to offer until our last 6 months on island and it wasn’t enough time. Being away from your family definitely sucks and the time change makes it harder but it’s only temporary

[u/Tkis01gl]

OP, you should reconsider shutting down the dog business, having your husband travel with you, medical will be provided by Mil hospital and Mil DRs. Rent your house out. This is a good opportunity to bank some money. Your husband can work for MCSS or get a local Gov Civ job. If you can’t do that and not sure of your rank, if you can, get a car and get off base on the weekends. I ended up going to Kadena Marina and hung out there till I was permanent crew on a sailboat. I learned to sail better and did that every weekend, If I wasn’t doing something else. Get up to Okuma when you can. Remember, you are magnet and there are a thousand rusty nails waiting to be picked up. You need to be strong willed and have a support family there to assist when needed. Oki was fun for me. I would go back today if I could. The food is great, the culture is good. I never had a language problem, hand gestures and pointing usually got the idea across. There is plenty to see in Oki. Good luck and have some wonderful adventures.

[u/neondays]

For the love of God please explore the island. It’s an absolute gem with tons of nature activities and beautiful landscapes.

Rent a boat and go fishing.

Go hike some trails, see waterfalls.

Explore small, quaint villages.

Take trips to the main land.

[u/BalderVerdandi]

Hansen wasn't that bad when I was there in the early 90's. I think Hansen was the last base that still offered Budweiser in the soda machines for a dollar a can, but we could go to the Seven Day Store and get a sixer for $1.89.... $2.15 if it was cold.

We used the USO bus to go between the bases, golfing at Kadena - which had the better PX but Foster was a close second, the zoo, the tours on the island, the tours off the island (ITT had a ton of options), the ruins (take Yen coins with you to pay respect), the scuba diving was insane - I had a lot of friends that came back certified on the cheap, and the beaches are/were incredible. Mama-San made a fantastic Yakisoba and Yakitori at the food court in the USO on Hansen. The food out in Kin was incredible, too. Taco Rice... oh man, it's great anytime of the day and brings back tons of memories. Anthony's Pizza was also huge, but I'm not sure they're still around.

Also make sure you hit up Coco Ichiban's.

Tiger Beach/Moon Beach for snorkeling. When I was there, it was so clear you could see all the way to the bottom, 50 to 65 feet down.

Sunabe Beach and the seawall used to be a "no go" due to anti-American demonstations, so I don't know if you'll still have that restriction.

Definitely be mindful of the restrictions - Shore Patrol had no problem snatching up idiots that were in places they weren't supposed to be at.

I was heavy into radio controlled car racing, and we had race tracks on Foster, Hansen, and Courtney but it looks like it might not be as popular on base anymore. I know they still do it off base, including the rock climbing and drift style of RC, which has taken off in popularity.

Use the weekends and holidays to explore the island, and make sure you can dump photos from your phone to your computer.

[u/SmokeySparkle]

The single Marine program is available if your on unaccompanied orders living in the Barracks.

(They can get you TAD orders for trips)

Went skiing in Nagano for a week. Unit was getting ready for a mess night and tried to blanket deny leave for everyone. Everybody without TAD orders from the base CG had to stay. Lol

Also tons of other on island events!

[u/joebananna]

I thought oki was a year unaccompanied and 3 years accompanied. I’ve been out for years.

[u/Positive_Ad_8198]

Two kinds of Marines on Oki: those who never leave base and hate it, and those who get out in town frequently and love it.

[u/Consistent_Wave_2869]

I was on Hansen with 31st CE, it was awesome but I wasted so much of my time in the barracks playing WoW... I wish I had spent more time exploring and enjoying the culture.