Tips for being stationed in Yokosuka
My son survived boot camp (at the end he said it was easy) and A-School. He's currently on his way to Yokosuka for service aboard the USS George Washington as I write this. He's going to be doing Launch and Recovery (which makes him a little nervous since it's a dangerous job). I told him just concentrate on his job and not to be careless. I really couldn't think of anything else to tell him to ease his mind. He told me that once the Washington returns to base, he'll be living aboard the ship. Since he won't have the comfy setup he had in Pensacola (dorm-style rooms) and space is limited, obviously, there's not much he can have there. He has 4 boxes of civilian clothes sitting in my basement which I'll probably have until he gets stationed stateside. :)
I've been doing some research regarding phones and it looks like his best option is wifi using Skype (on his phone) and KIK (wifi messaging from his phone). Softbank is supposed to be a decent carrier over there for regular mobile service? Any other suggestions regarding communication with family?
The trickier thing is I'm going to get him a laptop (assuming he's cleared to have one...I heard it isn't an issue). What is an issue is that I've read elsewhere that laptops are stolen from locked lockers on all of the ships. Since I planned on getting him a good gaming laptop AND I'm a computer geek for a living...I can lock this thing down. The problem is that I've read there's only wireless access in the common areas which will limit the effectiveness of any tracking software. Other than installing a physical lock, a STOP sticker (theft-prevention sticker), CMOS password (the password when the system first boots up), and tracking software (LoJack for laptops is one I'm researching)...is there anything else I can do to reduce the odds of it being stolen? Part of me thinks a physical lock will be most effective since even if they pick the lock, they'd have to break the lock off the laptop. Of course, that assumes that there's a place he can loop it around in his locker. Any ideas?
Finally...and something where the information I've received is spotty. I'm having the laptop shipped to me so I can prep it and load it with Skype, movies, MS-Office (for college classes he plans on taking) and a few games. What is the best way to ship things to Yokosuka?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on
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you need to touch base with our Japan group...track down Brad as his son was a rescue swimmer as well http://www.navydads.com/group/japandads
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Permalink Reply by john taylor on
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my son has been stationed in Yokosuka for almost 2 years he in an MA seems the best way to talk to him is with his cell plan that he has unlimited data on his end and he has I phone 5 which enables him to face time to his moms ipad or i phone and uses no data or i use voxer to talk to him internet over there is very expensive and he has a dorm style room doesn't spend much time there has 12 hr shifts does everything through phone even uses it as hot spot for his lap top hope this helps hard with them being 8000 miles away but can't help being proud of what there doing.
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Permalink Reply by Richard Scherman on
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My son was aboard the GW for a couple of years and is now back here in SD getting set up on a new platform - he is an AW (AO?) and was attached to the Chargers who were sent back home to Coronado. When he go there the best thing that I had to keep in touch with him was facebook...
The time difference is 15-16 hours...there is a fb group for the GW as well. Great fun was had at looking at the updates that were put up, looking for his pictures...He will get used to it quickly...they integrate fast over there. Does he drink? They can turn into fish as well.......
If he is with and adventurous group, they can (and will) travel through the Island - all sorts of things to see there...
hopefully fukushima does not let anymore crap out - when it did the GW took off and the Chargers were left behind helping the people in that area. All had to wear rad suits...
face to face talking via skype is also a good thing - remember the time difference though.
Hope that this helped you a bit. Kinda rushed for time
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