Japan Dads

Comment

Comment by Ric Frost on July 10, 2014 at 1:00pm

Thank you for this update Paul. It is greatly appreciated.

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on July 10, 2014 at 12:53pm

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on July 3, 2014 at 7:22pm

Comment by Jim on June 14, 2014 at 10:51pm

Hello Japan Navy Dads.  My son is an ABH on the GW and has been there since early June 2013.  He has requested that I go on the upcoming Tiger Cruise.  We filled out the paperwork and got approval for me to participate.  The hurdle that we have to cross is my getting to Japan.  Since he went over a year ago, I have checked air fares every few weeks just dreaming of getting a chance to go.  Up until a couple of months ago, air fare from here (JAX) to Tokyo, Japan ran ~$1500.  It went up a couple of months ago to ~$2100-$2300 round-trip.  But, the Tiger cruise picks up its guests in Sasebo and completes the Tiger Cruise in Yokosuka.  that means that I will have to get to Sasebo.  Meaning that I will need to fly from here (JAX) to Nagasaki.  Those tickets are running ~$2500 rt.  This is enough to prevent the trip with other expenses figured in and my family's current financial state.  

Does anyone here know of any other options or help for a Dad to go see his son in Japan?  I believe that this 'Tiger Cruise' would be an experience that we would both cherish forever.  I am not retired military, so I don't qualify for any 'Space A' travel.  Any suggestions will be considered and greatly appreciated.  

Comment by fishdad on March 11, 2014 at 8:22am

Riddick, if he can't get out into Tokyo Harbor to fish, he can fish right there on the base. He may be able to rent equipment at the fleet rec center, it's across the street from the machine shops there on base. I know that they rent out snowboards, skis and such, so they may also have fishing tackle available. There's also a bait and tackle shop out on Blue Street, all the way to the end on the left , under the bridge to the mall by the train station. They sell and may also rent tackle. Also, if he's looking into online classes, Liberty University had an excellent online program and they are very military friendly. They have a Center for Military Excellence on their base in Virginia, which is headed up by Retired General Dees. I've taken his courses and have been impressed. In the meantime, I'll be praying for your son. Our son went through the earthquake/tsunami/radiation as well as an extreme medical emergency while stationed there. We still have friends stationed there, so if you'd like someone to connect with him, please don't hesitate to contact me and I'll have someone touch base with him. Best of luck to you and your son. 

Comment by Riddick on March 9, 2014 at 12:59am

My son has now been on the GW since he left home after A-School.  He's not happy with his current rating as an AO (he went in unrated)...mostly because he has nothing to do but busy work (apparently they're not dropping any ordnance while at sea so no bombs to build).   He works out constantly (5-6 days a week) and he's gotten huge (19" biceps!?!?!) and added a few tattoos...but he really hates his job and he's not really fond of being stationed in Japan.  In any case, he's been a bit down about the job and I suspect he's a bit homesick.  He's going to start taking some college classes in April/May.  Any other advice I can give him?

Last month he took some leave and stayed in a hotel by himself for a couple nights (something one of the chiefs said he does once a year to sleep in a normal bed by himself, take a bath and just get away from everyone to decompress).  He seemed to be in good spirits after that.  This past weekend, he went camping with 5 other guys and they had a good time.

He enjoys the camaraderie and is making friends...but the job thing along with being so far from home is not making him very happy.  He can apply for a change in September but that's also dependent upon open slots.  Is there anything he can do to facilitate a switch or make sure he switches to something he'll enjoy more?  Is there a way he can find out what ratings may be available and maybe talk to people doing those jobs?

Also, he loves to fish and I've read that the fishing for sea bass is pretty awesome there.  Is there anywhere he can rent equipment?  There's obviously no room to store it in his locker.  Any ideas?  If he could fish once a week before they head back out, he'd probably be thrilled.  Just trying to keep his spirits up.

Any advice on any of these things would be appreciated.  I'm a bit worried that he's beginning to think he's going to hate it for the next 3 years...which is kind of a miserable way to think about it.

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on February 27, 2014 at 8:00pm

translates to Enlisted Sailor of the Quarter

Comment by Victor Minutole on February 27, 2014 at 7:56pm

My son Dominick has been stationed in Yokosuka since the end of September.  It has been a rollercoaster of emotions since he left for bootcamp and later A school and finally Japan.  He has enjoyed his experiences so far and was just awarded the Blue Jacket of the Quarter,  can anyone tell me what this is?

Comment by fishdad on January 12, 2014 at 8:12pm

Richard Scherman, I wasn't quite sure what to make of it all when the reports first started coming out. This week, we had one of our Sailors, from our church, under our military ministry, who was stationed in Japan during the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear meltdown, who served on the GW, sent to Walter Reed. He has cancer. Young man, 26 years old, no family history of cancer. Our son was serving there as well. Yes, I'm concerned. 

Comment by NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary on January 9, 2014 at 11:12pm

Frozen Food Contamination, Japan...

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10
• …
• 107
• Next ›
• Page