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Thread: A few questions about Okinawa
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08-02-11, 02:55 PM #1
A few questions about Okinawa
Good afternoon everyone.
I am hoping to be stationed at Okinawa, and have a few questions about life there. I have heard some cool things about Okinawa, as well as some potentially negative things. The problem with the information that I have already gathered is that it comes from a very select group because I don't know many Marines yet, so I figured what better place to ask then here.
How does being in the field as an infantry Marine compare to stateside bases?
How does libo compare to stateside bases?
I've heard that they are very strict there because of trying to keep a good Japanese opinion of Marines, but what specificaly does this mean?
What is there to do off base?
I'm thinking outdoor activities. Heard about some awesome scuba diving and such but what else is out there?
And last, but probably most importantly...what are my chances of acturaly being stationed there if I ask to be stationed overseas durring SOI as opposed to west or east coast? I don't hear about many other places you can be stationed overseas but I'm sure they're out there right?
Thanks for your time.
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08-02-11, 03:41 PM #2
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08-02-11, 09:33 PM #3
Go gather a few bucks and meet the "Koe" sisters.
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08-02-11, 11:11 PM #4
Watch out for habu snakes.
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08-03-11, 11:15 AM #5
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08-03-11, 12:19 PM #6
Thanks for all the great info MOS4429.
And Lava Dog, the jungle warefare course is exactly the kind of thing that I would love to be able to experience. I'm just worried about putting overseas on my wishlist and getting stationed somewhere other than Oki. Well I guess all I can do is make the best out of whatever happens.
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08-03-11, 01:03 PM #7
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08-03-11, 01:07 PM #8
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08-03-11, 01:46 PM #9
Remember, you will go where the Marine Corps needs you, or more specifically, needs warm, breathing bodies.
Out of initial training, they were kind and they gave us three choices: East, West, or Over there.
Not all 03xx go to Okinawa on the "over there" option. There are other places, too, like right now I think we may have a few Marines in the middle east, if you know what I mean. You can also be 03xx and not be assigned to an infantry unit. You might go to 8th & I, Washington, DC, embassy duty in multiple places around the world.
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08-03-11, 01:49 PM #10
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08-03-11, 02:24 PM #11
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08-04-11, 12:14 AM #12
The only way that this is possible is if you are going to a unit that is heading over there. However, I do believe there was something saying that you have to be in your unit for 7 months before they can send you into combat. That way they aren't sending someone right out of SOI/ITB, into combat without unit training. Don't quote me on that. I do know that they can't send you straight there if you pick "overseas."
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08-04-11, 12:37 AM #13
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08-04-11, 10:36 PM #14
Gotcha. Thanks what I figured. Thanks for the info everyone.
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08-13-11, 08:07 AM #15
This is in case you do wind up at Okinwana.
I was at Camp Hansen/31st MEU and found Okinawa a lot of fun.
Here is a few points...
-Get used to the humidity. It gets old real fast and I would rather go back to Iraq in 130 degree weather than Okinawa. Your performance will suffer and expect a slower run time in the 3 mile. Just PT hard and you will become a stud.
-EXPLORE. A lot of Marines will just sit in the barracks and drink. They never actually experience the island and get out of their comfort zone. Go snorkeling, experience new places or historical landmarks....just force yourself to do different things. No one ever comes back from a deployment/foreign port and says "Man, I wish that I stayed on ship longer" or "Too bad I didn't spend more time drinking in the barracks." Sometimes it's difficult to get out of your comfort zone but down the road you're going to cherish those memories.
-Definitely check out the WW2 tours and the huge aquarium (forget the name...it has a movie theater sized tank with a bunch of whale sharks).
-If you can, get scuba certified. It's much cheaper on Oki and there is tons of places to go scuba/snorkeling.
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