Trransition

[Lonely_Sailor]

I'm currently dealing with my first transition from one duty station to the next. It's rough for me because I had a life established back at my old command. I knew everybody there, I was pretty much the best at what I did and I loved going to work every day. I had civilian friends out in town and even had my own apartment and car.

Now I've transitioned to Japan. I don't have my own place, driving here is a nightmare. Making friends out in town is a challenge at the best of times and worst of all, I've gone from being an expert at what I did to hardly knowing anything about the job that I am doing.

Changing duty stations is rough for a single sailor. Can anybody relate? I know a lot of the Military spouses probably can. Anybody have advice?

On a positive note: This whole situation has put me in better touch with God. I am drawling on him for strength every day as I struggle to adjust.

 

[BobW188]

I'm also guessing that for the first time you're in a place where you can't understand the language and can't read the street and store signs. My guess is that, as the days go on, you'll not only meet people in your unit but, through them and on your own, some of the indigenous DN employees. Don't worry, give it a few weeks and months and you'll feel very much at home.
Actually, you're probably dealing with a bigger problem than the spouses, since there's usually a wive's network or club as part of the officer, NCO or EM club.

You'll gain experience more quickly than you think. It goes faster than it feels. I went from post/camp/station MP duty at Fort Ord to the primary duty of supply officer of the MP company at Camp Humphreys, ROK, then a backwater. I felt - and probably was - useless for the first month or so; but when I left 13 months later I'd had two promotions and was company commander and provost marshal! In fact, it was my subsequent Stateside post that decided me to leave the Army, the overseas year was by far the best of the three.