|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Go
|
New
|
Find
|
Notify
|
Tools
|
Reply
|
|
|
New Member |
i will be going on westpac deployment and i would like to know what to expect. i have not been assigned to a ship, this will be my first (i am an IT2). i'd like to know what to expect for shipboard life, what should i bring with me, and what ports are typical for a westpac deployment.
thanks. |
||
|
Member |
I'll let the others talk about the shipboard stuff.
Words of advice: What happens on the other side of the Dateline STAYS THERE unless you want domestic problems with the spouse, etc., later. I've seen more than one relationship fall apart because someone went over, had fun, and shot their mouth off back in San Diego. Have fun. R/ Chief |
|||
|
New Member |
Extra white tees, so when you sweat through one and stretch it all to heck you can just toss it and pull out a fresh one. I had my fam send me a 5 pack with each care package.
Actually, just bring extra of everything you will wear. It's a good idea to have a watch standing set of whites since the heat has a habit of instantly dirtying then. They are usually brown by the end. (Best not pull into Hawaii manning the rails in your brown whites...don't be THAT guy.) Hopefully your deploy won't be your first underway, so use the time during workups to see what you need. If not, you can always stock up in Hawaii. |
|||
|
|
New Member |
thanks for the input chief.
hookedup, yes, the deployment will be my first underway time. actually, i will be meeting it while it is into its deployment (not sure where i will meet it though). i will definitely stock up on white tees and make sure i'll have an extra set of whites. |
|||
|
|
Member |
A wise man once told me: "There are no cameras in 7th Fleet." The sign on the entrance to the strip club in Saipan said "No cameras allowed." Now will someone tell me how exactly it is that there is a picture of me down to my underwear floating about?!?!??! Best advice: don't do anything that you couldn't take back across the dateline with you. |
|||
|
Member |
This is just as true today as it was in the 50s. Cavite city, Manila, Saigon, Hong Kong are places to enjoy, have fun, stay as moral as you can and come home safe. end |
|||
|
|
Navy Forums Moderator and Keeper of the Cane GerryRM3@yahoo.com  |
Do yourself a favor and take as many pictures as you can. Your grandkids will have to believe your story's when you show em the proof.
USS Liberty, Never Forget. I believe in Murrays Law, he thought Murphy was an optimist. |
|||
|
Member |
Great advice Gerry. I missed a lot of great photo ops by thinking, I'll take pictures on the next cruise. The one time I really took a lot of good pics was during a Suez transit in 1975. To the OP, I can only echo what Gerry said. |
|||
|
|
MODERATOR Military Life, Spouses & Community If you want something said ask a Man; but if you want something done, ask a Woman! Margaret Thatcher  |
As a spouse I can tell that we can and do find out things that have happened before you will pull into port or come back home. It goes the same both ways.
Take pictures of things you see because 1) you might never go there again and 2) things change so if you do go back it might not be there If you are married make sure you have an account of your own to use as spending money while in port. Often what you see on the ATM as your balance is before the money has been paid to the bills back home that are still there. Dh always had his own account, I could add more to it. This way he had his own play money and I didn't know what he was spending it on (gifts for me an the kids  ) if you aren't married still save some money. Never know when an emergency could pop up. Have access to your account through an ATM card or a Debit card. This way if one gets lost or stolen you are not stuck with nothing (happened to dh before we got married). Go on tours if they are offered, they can be really interested and give you history or information you didn't know about. Buy decent souvenirs, because you never know. Suits in Thailand are cheap that are tailor made. China in Hong Kong is cheap (mil has a China set bought for $40 US and each piece is $150). If you send packages home, insure them (mil had 2 pieces of that china set broken). Do volunteer work if there is an opportunity. |
|||
|
|
Member |
Not trying to hijack your comments - just adding on based on what I remember plus from talking to some that went over after my time. |
|||
|
|
New Member |
thanks for the input everyone. i do appreciate it.
|
|||
|
|
New Member |
plenty of dramimen.was there in 72 really miss P.I. subic.manila.cebu,helped build a catholic missionary school there,loved the people.camp buckner on okinawa.lived in naha for awhile singapore & hongkong.really had a lot of fun without going fur hunting.plenty of scuba,from what i understand both singapore and hongkong have changed.while sitting in the channell in hongkong the bonkaboats would come up to the fantail and do trade the going thing back then was anything that was made out of brass.people were stealing the fire equipment,the hydrants and such.one night the ships m.a. was on watch to keep things from disaperaing and sure enough here com a bonka chief offerd a trade and when the guy sent up his stuff cheif tetley[we called him pops]droped an inert 3 inch shell thru the bottom of his boat needless to say the midnight visits came to an end had lots of fun when i was in westpac hope it hasent changed much good luck and have fun and be careful
|
|||
|
|
New Member |
nother thing if memory serves me right,i cant remember wich but victoria peak ether in hongkong OR singapore is the most beautiful sight you will ever see while you are there just hope you get ether one for a liberty port of call
|
|||
|
New Member |
Hong Kong
|
|||
|
New Member |
Stocking up on some other supplies like toilet paper and cold cereal wouldn't hurt either. I also remember that the taste of some things like soda and milk is different over there(we would sometimes get goats milk too).
-Dave |
|||
|
|
New Member |
Look at the MWR tours that are offered. They can be amazing, not to mention a great time to take good pictures. Try not to bar hop a lot. That's where sailors tend to get in the most trouble. If you do drink, just be careful and don't take your eyes off your drink.
|
|||
|
|
New Member |
You can expect to have the time of your life while at the same time being bored and overworked. You will have days that will make you want to reenlist right then and there and then you will have other days that will make you glad you didn't.
Depending on how your command is, you will get a lot of work done; Stand a lot of watches. You will also have a lot of down time. Expect to go to GQ quite a bit while you are out to sea in-between ports. When you get to ports pay attention to the briefing you should get regarding local customs and the like. I would suspect that you will see Hawaii (Oahu), Thailand, Maybe PI, Hong Kong, Singapore, possibly Bahrain, and if you are worthy enough and your C.O is NOT a Chicken S*** Wog like mine was you may be lucky enough to cross the equator and become a Shellback. What you should take with you? Well for starters i would suggest plenty of extra underwear and extra socks, and T-Shirts. Your ship will probably have an ATM Machine so don't forget the card. (ATM's on board were brand new to ships when i was in) Have some cash for the ships store to buy those Cup o noodles you will inevitably be eating at some point. If you are a smoker don't bother buying them before hand, they will be much cheaper once you are in int'l water. I paid 4 bucks a carton back during Desert Storm. I would also bring some extra pens to write home with. Don't forget your Camera. If it is digital, go out and get yourself the biggest capacity memory card you can afford and then buy 2 or 3 of them. Take pictures of Everything, Especially your friends on board and of the ship itself. You may never see it or them again when you return. Lastly, Like it has been stated in other posts here, What happens across the Dateline STAYS Across the Dateline. You can count on being called a "Cherry Boy" when you get to P.I. cherrish it. LOL Now when it's all said and Done and you are pulling back in to port in San Diego or where ever your homeport is, it will dawn on you why so many of us PS Sailors wish we could get back in. You're in for a hellofa ride Enjoy it to its fullest extent. |
|||
|
|
Member |
________________________________________________ The last 3 paragraphs say it all!!!!! Amen and Amen.  that beer toast would of course be a "San Magoo" |
|||
|
|
New Member |
Newer ships have a system called Navy Cash. It's similar to a debit card and is linked to your own account. It can be used at an ATM out in town or at stores. It replaces the standard cash ATMs on older ships. |
|||
|
Live and learn..or you won't live long. |
No one has mentioned civvies for port calls yet, so I'll toss my 2 Yen in the hat... Both 7th and 5th Fleets are fairly specific with regards to liberty attire. Dockers and polo shirts are NEVER against the regs, so a couple pairs of slacks and 3-4 shirts will go a long way. Also bring a good pair of non-ripped/frayed jeans as well; and maybe a pair or 2 of good shorts. The fact that you are meeting the ship mid-deployment makes the problem harder as you will be limited in what to bring due to luggage constraints. As for ports, in 5th fleet, Bahrain and Dubai are still the biggest places people go. Fairly westernized destinations, but we still are sensitive to the local cutural rules. In the 7th Fleet AOR, Austrailia (too many places to mention specifically), Hong Kong, Singapore are the norms. I've seen ships hit Phuket Thailand, Bali, Manilla PI (Subic Bay), Guam, Saipan, Japan (too many to mention), South Korea, India... Enjoy and have fun. |
|||
|
| Powered by Eve Community |
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
