Man, you brought back some memories for me with all the places you stayed at in Okinawa. Did you have easy times making reservations for all those lodging on the bases? (Kadena, White Beach, Okuma, etc). 😊 thanks for sharing. 👏
@@Famvestor oh, gotcha. Yea, back in the day Okuma was virtually impossible to book, even Shogun Inn at times. Also, liked your EML flight from mainland to Oki too. The only things available back in 1992 were C-141s or C-5s for intra-theater. Those nice civil planes were for stateside flights only. Glad they've made lots of things more available for use now. thanks again and thanks for your service! 😀😀
Yes I am a DoD civilian and that video should explain the process: Wanted to share with this group my first experience as a DoD Civilian using Space-Available (Free Military Flights) out of Yokota AF Base to take my Family on a Cheap Tropical Vacation to Okuma Beach Military Resort in Okinawa. On 2 December, my wife and I and our 4 kids flew out of Yokota AF Base on the Patriot Express (Very Similar to Commercial Aircraft, with stewardesses, lunch, etc.) to Kadena AF Base in Okinawa. The Plane did make a stop in Iwakuni Japan first to let off/on some passengers. We flew back to Mainland Japan on 11 December also on the patriot express, I was hoping to catch a smaller military aircraft for the experience, but there were no missions with space-available going out the week we were there. I needed three signed forms in order to use Space-A as a DoD Civilian working overseas. My Orders (TCS/PCS), EML (Environmental and Morale Leave) Form, and OPM 71 (Request for Leave form). Once arrived at the passenger terminals of the AF Base, I had to show these three forms, as well as my wife and I`s CAC card, and all 6 of our official passports. Space-A is a privilege and not guaranteed, we didn't get confirmed boarding tickets until 2 hours before the flight took off. On the way out there was 119 seats available, 8 of which were taken. On our flight home there was 44 Seats available, 9 of which were taken. Space-A Passengers are prioritized by your category level, there are 6 levels, and we were a very high category II because we had the signed EML form (Active Duty don't typically need EML form signed and won't unless they know they are going to need to compete for seats (Christmas Time/Peak Seasons), but Active Duty can usually only use EML twice a year. DoD Civilians always have to fly EML). After Category level, they widdle down who gets to go on the remaining seats based on the time they signed up for that particular terminal for the Space-A program. You Sign up by emailing the terminal as soon as your approved leave begins (You cannot sign up before your leave begins, unless you are retired military then you can sign up anytime you want, but within 60-days of flight). Luckily we were traveling off-peak season so there were many seats available. You can find flights by searching for your nearest Passenger terminal at [www.amc.af.mil/AMC-Travel-Site/AMC-Space-Available-Travel-Page/](www.amc.af.mil/AMC-Travel-Site/AMC-Space-Available-Travel-Page/) . And then looking at their 30-day, and detailed 72-hour schedule. You can see historically if flights have been full by looking at their roll call reports. We paid $0 for the flights, even the sandwiches they fed us and drinks they provided were complimentary. We were allowed up to two checked bags per person. AF Base Terminals had long term parking for cars available. And all the bases we went to had Hotels/Inns on the base we could stay at, we stayed at the Shogun Inn ($144/night for a 2-bedroom) at Kadena when we arrived and the day before we departed. Also while at Okinawa we stayed at MWR OKUMA Beach Resort (Military Only Resort) with relatively cheap accommodations ($85/night for a 6-person suite) and lots of activities like Jet Skiing ($35 for 2 ppl/20min), Wakeboarding ($35 for 4ppm/20min), Snorkeling ($6/Day Rental Gear), Golf Cart Rental ($45/day), Go-Kart ($6/5min), etc. We ended up renting a minivan through BC Used Car Garage (¥27,900/week) which is a 8-minute taxi ride (¥700) from Gate 2 in Kadena, it was about a third of the price of On-Base Times and other nearby Rental Companies were charging. Next, maybe February I want to see if my wife will be able to fly-back on her own to Seattle without me as a dependent to visit with her family for a few days, I think she should be able to under Category IV. Anyway hope this information can help someone... as a civilian I had never heard of Space-A and it was a little difficult to piece together all the information around the entire process... I did end up making a video of the trip and the Space-A process if anyone is interested: th-cam.com/video/0HTpjRYDCk0/w-d-xo.html
Omg! I miss Okinawa so much!! ❤ thank you for sharing 😊
Man, you brought back some memories for me with all the places you stayed at in Okinawa. Did you have easy times making reservations for all those lodging on the bases? (Kadena, White Beach, Okuma, etc). 😊 thanks for sharing. 👏
Yes we did, no issues, but we did go early December so definitely not peak season. I think we were the only guests at white beach strangely enough.
@@Famvestor oh, gotcha. Yea, back in the day Okuma was virtually impossible to book, even Shogun Inn at times. Also, liked your EML flight from mainland to Oki too. The only things available back in 1992 were C-141s or C-5s for intra-theater. Those nice civil planes were for stateside flights only. Glad they've made lots of things more available for use now. thanks again and thanks for your service! 😀😀
Thanks for the video. I am also here at Yokota and trying to take a trip with the wife in July. (No Kids) 😂
Much easier with no kids. Enjoy!
If you had the choice of being stationed at Kadena or Yokoto witch one would you choose
How would you get on these type of planes for someone in a wheelchair or mobility scooter. It looks like a flight of stairs to get onto the airplane.
Do you know the process for Space-A for Civilians?
Currently at Zama.
Yes I am a DoD civilian and that video should explain the process:
Wanted to share with this group my first experience as a DoD Civilian using Space-Available (Free Military Flights) out of Yokota AF Base to take my Family on a Cheap Tropical Vacation to Okuma Beach Military Resort in Okinawa.
On 2 December, my wife and I and our 4 kids flew out of Yokota AF Base on the Patriot Express (Very Similar to Commercial Aircraft, with stewardesses, lunch, etc.) to Kadena AF Base in Okinawa. The Plane did make a stop in Iwakuni Japan first to let off/on some passengers. We flew back to Mainland Japan on 11 December also on the patriot express, I was hoping to catch a smaller military aircraft for the experience, but there were no missions with space-available going out the week we were there.
I needed three signed forms in order to use Space-A as a DoD Civilian working overseas. My Orders (TCS/PCS), EML (Environmental and Morale Leave) Form, and OPM 71 (Request for Leave form).
Once arrived at the passenger terminals of the AF Base, I had to show these three forms, as well as my wife and I`s CAC card, and all 6 of our official passports.
Space-A is a privilege and not guaranteed, we didn't get confirmed boarding tickets until 2 hours before the flight took off. On the way out there was 119 seats available, 8 of which were taken. On our flight home there was 44 Seats available, 9 of which were taken.
Space-A Passengers are prioritized by your category level, there are 6 levels, and we were a very high category II because we had the signed EML form (Active Duty don't typically need EML form signed and won't unless they know they are going to need to compete for seats (Christmas Time/Peak Seasons), but Active Duty can usually only use EML twice a year. DoD Civilians always have to fly EML). After Category level, they widdle down who gets to go on the remaining seats based on the time they signed up for that particular terminal for the Space-A program. You Sign up by emailing the terminal as soon as your approved leave begins (You cannot sign up before your leave begins, unless you are retired military then you can sign up anytime you want, but within 60-days of flight). Luckily we were traveling off-peak season so there were many seats available.
You can find flights by searching for your nearest Passenger terminal at [www.amc.af.mil/AMC-Travel-Site/AMC-Space-Available-Travel-Page/](www.amc.af.mil/AMC-Travel-Site/AMC-Space-Available-Travel-Page/) . And then looking at their 30-day, and detailed 72-hour schedule. You can see historically if flights have been full by looking at their roll call reports.
We paid $0 for the flights, even the sandwiches they fed us and drinks they provided were complimentary. We were allowed up to two checked bags per person. AF Base Terminals had long term parking for cars available. And all the bases we went to had Hotels/Inns on the base we could stay at, we stayed at the Shogun Inn ($144/night for a 2-bedroom) at Kadena when we arrived and the day before we departed. Also while at Okinawa we stayed at MWR OKUMA Beach Resort (Military Only Resort) with relatively cheap accommodations ($85/night for a 6-person suite) and lots of activities like Jet Skiing ($35 for 2 ppl/20min), Wakeboarding ($35 for 4ppm/20min), Snorkeling ($6/Day Rental Gear), Golf Cart Rental ($45/day), Go-Kart ($6/5min), etc. We ended up renting a minivan through BC Used Car Garage (¥27,900/week) which is a 8-minute taxi ride (¥700) from Gate 2 in Kadena, it was about a third of the price of On-Base Times and other nearby Rental Companies were charging.
Next, maybe February I want to see if my wife will be able to fly-back on her own to Seattle without me as a dependent to visit with her family for a few days, I think she should be able to under Category IV.
Anyway hope this information can help someone... as a civilian I had never heard of Space-A and it was a little difficult to piece together all the information around the entire process... I did end up making a video of the trip and the Space-A process if anyone is interested: th-cam.com/video/0HTpjRYDCk0/w-d-xo.html
Do you think this is possible without orders?
If you are retired military sure.
I want to travel back to okinawa. We are in Norfolk now. Would love to travel to Oki. Was the process to fly with AMC flight hard?
No it was our first time but I thought it was very easy and went really well. We plan to take Space A to Korea next month too.
Bro I had acl surgery before 4days.. Hoping recovery.... ❤️
Thanks
How old was your baby at this time? We want to do this but I worry about the baby on these type of planes.
Just over a year old. I think 14 months.
How much was the car rental at B.C a day?
It’s hard for me to remember but so want to say it was like $80/day for the minivan.
Those wonderful parks exist because the Okinawa people are probably not sue happy like people in other countries are.
Yeah, if you can get those flights….