My Marine and his family are moving - to the other side of the world.
They will be there for three long years. At some point I'm sure I will get there for a visit. When talking walking long beautiful beaches with three amazing grandchildren, I'm on it!
The island of Okinawa is very small, 67 miles long and 2-17 miles wide. Don’t let that fool you, it can take hours to get places. Even though the distance between some of the bases is quite short, traffic can be heavy, the speed is slow, and the roads are very curvy which results in traffic jams and longer commutes.There are seven USMC camps on Okinawa. Courtney, Foster, Lester, and Kinser are for Marines and families to live. Hansen, Schwab, and Futenma are for Marines to live. Military Move Guide.
WeatherThe move to Okinawa is not considered a deployment, it is a permanent duty station (PDS). Deployment refers to locations the United States is conducting combat operations and there are no combat operations in Okinawa.
We have a very humid climate here because we are surrounded by the water and live in a sub-tropical place. The summer is HOT HOT HOT; more hot than Oklahoma and Vegas but if you are from Texas you’ll do fine! Be prepared to feel moisture and heat when you step outside. The fall is very nice for it is very warm. The winter is mild usually in the 60′s. Spring 60′s and 70′s. People say May-June is rainy season but in my opinion it’s always the rainy season. Typhoon season is from June-Nov. Typhoons cause for a lot of wind and rain and the base will usually shut down. Everything here is built to typhoon standards, so when a warning is issued, everyone goes home. Some typhoons cause more damage than others, but with renters insurance, you will be covered. Military Move Guide.
Base living conditions in Okinawa are comparable to those in the US and families have access to most things they would at home like Internet, shopping and exploring the area.
Capt. Ray Howard, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit embark officer, and his 5-year-old son Kelton sprint toward the finish line during a 3-legged race held at the MEU's Family Day celebration June 6, 2009. The Air Force manages more than 8,300 family housing units on Okinawa for all four services.
The Basics:
Okinawa, Japan - Eastern Asia
Capital - Naha
Bordered by – Island surrounded by Pacific Ocean and East China Sea
Language - Japanese
Climate - Subtropical summer 72.3F, winter 60.8F
National Disasters - Typhoons and monsoons
Religion - Shinto, Buddhism, Taoism, and Christian
Population - 127.63 million (2008)
Government - Constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government (May 3, 1947)
Prime Minister Head of Government- Taro Aso
Sovereignty, previously embodied in the emperor, is vested in the Japanese people, and the Emperor is defined as the symbol of the state. Japan's Government is a parliamentary democracy, with a House of Representatives (also known as the Lower House) and a House of Councilors (sometimes called the Upper House). Executive power is vested in a cabinet composed of a prime minister and ministers of state, all of whom must be civilians. The prime minister must be a member of the Diet and is designated by his colleagues. The prime minister has the power to appoint and remove ministers, a majority of whom must be Diet members.
Natural resources - Fish and few mineral resources
Agriculture - Products--rice, vegetables, fruit, milk, meat, silk, fish
Currency - Yen Marine Parents blog
