Tag Archives: Okinawa

Okinawa Journey – Part 2

In case you missed my post about the decision we had to make you can read it here.

Roy has at times been very clear that he is retiring from the Marine Corps at 20 years. He is ready to start a new chapter of his life – one that does not include putting on his uniform every day – or shaving every day! But then there have been other times when he considers the reality of the job market currently, the fact that we have 5 children at home still (2 of them not even school-aged yet!), and the benefits of the military life, he changes his mind. Or rather he doubts his decision to retire. Once I expressed my full support of moving to Okinawa, he decided to test the waters. He figured it didn’t hurt to see if he could get orders, and if so, then God will clearly have shown the path! But if the door is closed, then we’ll know our path (stay in 29 Palms and then retire).

I spent much time praying and searching the net. I wanted to give Roy my full support. But I wanted to do it with contentment and joy in my heart! It didn’t take long. I grew excited about the possibilities for us – for the explorations, the journey, the language, the people.

I don’t want to get into all the details of what Roy did to find out if there was a position for him. That would be his story to tell. Needless to say, after 2 months of waiting, I had resigned myself to the fact that we were not going to Okinawa. I figured it was a closed door. Part of me was okay with that, part of me was sad. There was one more avenue that Roy was waiting for word on but I didn’t expect good news.

One day last week, after 3 hours of sleep, I got up to take Kayla to the train station early (VERY EARLY 3:30 a.m.! – she had been here for part of her spring break). I checked my email quickly while I was waiting for my friend to arrive who was staying here with the other kids. (Thanks, Carla!) There was an email from Roy in which he forwarded to me a long series of emails from a Mastery Gunnery Sergeant in Okinawa. The final email said something like, “Just got off the phone with your monitor. You have orders to 7th Comm on or after October 1st.”

I was shocked! It was really happening! I sent him a quick email confirming I had gotten the news. Then I had to leave. All the way to Palm Springs and back I just pondered this over and over. Okinawa. What a change for us. I like the convenience of living in the states, even if I do live in what a lot of people would consider the boonies!

So back to the net I went. Maps. Forums. Friends who live there now. Housing sites. Marine Corps sites. and on and on it went for several days. I’m excited again. Very excited. I can’t wait to get there and begin this new chapter of our lives. In the meantime, we have a lot of paperwork to do!

Decisions, Decisions

February 18, 2011

About a week ago Roy and I had a good discussion about his future in the Marine Corps. Retirement, new duty station, stay here? Several options, but it’s always hard to know what to do.

Option 1

Return from deployment in June, stay with 3rd LAR, retire May 2012. (Note: Retirement really just means “now find a job that is not in the Marine Corps which you have done for the last 20+ years”.)

Option 2

After deployment, PCA (permanent change of address) to MCCES (Marine Corps Communications Electronic School – 29 Palms still), extend current contract, retire May 2013.

Option 3

Germany for 3 years – retire approx Oct 2014

Option 4

Okinawa for 3 years – retire approx Oct 2014

Course all that is said knowing that Roy could choose to continue in the Marine Corps after those dates, but we were looking at those as the earliest he would retire with the options given.

Germany has always been a dream for Roy, which in turn has become a dream for me. I won’t even go into the amount of hours I spent researching that one, but after a few phone calls that option was closed for Roy.

Now what? Stay in 29 Palms or go to Okinawa.

I have never. I mean NEVER. Wanted to go to Okinawa. However, I thought about the possibilities of going overseas, going to a different country, what that could mean for the children. So I started researching, reading, thinking, praying.

The result? The Lord really changed my heart. I am EXCITED about the thought of moving to Okinawa. Very excited. I know about the humidity and heat. I do. I will hate that part. Seriously hate it. Oh and the rain. Ick. I hate rain. But … Okinawa! Really. It’s exciting. If this doesn’t work out I think I’ll actually be super disappointed.