This base is SMALL! We have been on smaller bases, but given the fact that this is the only bastion of American-ness for many-a-long-hour, this place doesn't have much (though it is improving daily)! But there are a few high points.
The main gym: Sometimes called the "new gym", by those who had been
here longer than we had, this place was a real sanity-saver for me during our tour.
There is a weight-room & a fitness room; this is the largest and best
equipped gym I have ever seen on a Marine base. One excellent
piece of equipment is a Tread Wall, which is an indoor rock-climbing
apparatus, and which my son just loved! There is a huge indoor
gymnasium, for basketball, volleyball, etc. There is an indoor, Olympic
sized pool (great for winter), and saunas in the locker rooms. They offer
kids' swimming lessons and water aerobics classes, among other activities.
There are 4 of the most beautiful indoor racquetball courts I've ever seen.
Aerobics classes, karate classes, etc. are held in the aerobics rooms,
appropriately enough! There was even a snack & juice bar, and a lovely
atrium area to eat in, which I hope is still there!
In the same building with all this great stuff is the MCCS's Outdoor Recreation and Gear Issue. Gear Issue has camping equipment (from tents to cookstoves), canoes, ski & snowboard equipment, etc., etc. You can check this stuff out for 2 days (basically, for the weekend) for FREE!! Outdoor Rec is the place to go to sign up for the great low priced trips the offer, such as sledding and skiing, rafting and hiking. Other programs run from this building are the Scuba Locker, Youth Sports, Health Promotions, Fitness, Athletics & Intramural Sports, and Semper Fit programs. Arts and Crafts, which was here when we were at Iwakuni, has now apparently moved to the Crossroads Mall.
One service offered there is the Base Library, which I am told takes up the entire 3rd floor of the new building! I haven't seen the new building, but this was a fairly large library with a variety of items, which I'm sure were all moved. Besides books,
there are CD's, tapes, newspapers, magazines, etc. There is a nice, though
small, Children's section. There are also computers, which are available for a fee. Sounds like there are even some new services available in the new space. The new Iwakuni Library website is awesome! From there, you can search the card catalog of the local library, and also find out if the book you need is available at another library! You can check out 4 books, per person in your
family, at one time. There were 4 colleges offerring extension courses on
base, located in Building 411, also:
(Central Texas College,
University of Maryland,
Troy State University, and a fairly new addition as we were about to leave in '99... Mississippi State... I'm not sure that one worked out- I haven't found any info on it.).
The
Family Service Center (FSC; I think the name has now changed though, but it is in Bldg. 411) has a Lending Locker, for those (command-sponsored, only) who
haven't received their household goods, and need items such as dishes,
microwaves, even furniture (the really ugly old barracks-room style stuff, fondly known as Flintstone Furniture...
but hey, beggers can't be TOO choosey). You can also get information, here,
on local places of interest, and programs offered on base. One class
offered for free, which is very worthwhile to take, is a Japanese Language
Survival Course. We also took a class called Effective Parenting of Teens, which is free there and pricey back here in the States... very worthwhile!
CROSSROADS MALL, the relatively new food and services mall, is a
great improvement, especially aesthetically.
Many of the station's
services moved here, so not that much is actually new, but the
facilities are very nice, and AIR CONDITIONED :-) In the
summer heat and humidity, that is important!
Navy Federal Credit Union
moved their branch here, and moved the northside ATM to the new auto
mini-mart. They now offer online banking, once you register at their website! There is also a toll-free, 24-hour Touch Tone Teller number for
mainland Japan, which is available: 241-NFCU (6328). It seems to use
all the same codes as the stateside Touch Tone Teller service. Community
Bank (formerly Nation's Bank), was also moved here. The Bookmark
bookstore moved here, and now there is room to actually SEE the books
they have! The Treasure Trunk and the EWC's Thrift/Consignment
Store both moved here, and are now located on the 2nd floor. The Treasure
Trunk, which sells furniture, china, dolls, etc. from the far east, is now run by the MCCS monolith, and I don't know how that's going. The Photo Shop also moved, from across the street
in the main exchange. There is a portrait studio, by appointment only,
though I never used it. I guess the biggest thing is
the Food Court area; it looks great- several fast food places to choose
from, and one big room full of tables to sit at. Of course, we ate there many times; we tried all the food, I believe, and it was all pretty good. Now in the Food Court: Moxie Java Coffee Cart (expresso), Baskin Robbins (ice cream), Franks Franks (hot dogs), Pepe's (mexican food), Robin Hood (subs), Papa Joe's (pizza & they do have delivery), and ... Burger King!!! Yes, it finally arrived (AFTER we left). My son checked out the new Teen Center facilities while we were there, and said
it's much nicer than the old one. They also moved the Marine Lounge here (upstairs).
Also in the Crossroads Mall: Appliance Rental & Repair, Bike Rental and Repair, Key Making & Engraving/Watch & Jewlery Repair/Photocopy & Federal Express Service, Pack & Wrap, and Arts and Crafts.
In April 1999, the ITT (Information, Tickets and Tours) office moved to the Crossroads! It is a much more convenient location... right in front, where the Message Center was (but is no more).
It is now known as the Travel Center, and includes Academy Travel. ITT enjoyed our business
quite often while we were there! They offer tours all the time, some to nearby activities, some
as far away as Tokyo. They had monthly $2 bus tours, to various places
including Toys-R-Us in Hiroshima, and nearby museums.
This is quite a deal, when you consider that the gas alone would cost you
more than that; on top of that, if you take the toll road, it'll cost you
about $30 to go to Hiroshima and return! We went on a couple sledding trips
as a family. Mominoki Forest Park is almost 2 hours away; the bus took us
there and back, there was no admission charge, and sleds were provided by
the MWR, all for $10/each. In August 1997, we went on a river rafting trip on the Nishiki River (everything provided but your lunch!), for the same cost! There is one snag, at least for families; the more
expensive trips are subsidized for the active duty member, but family members
could have to pay several times more. As an example, a trip to Beppu Hot
Springs, which was offered in Feb. '97 cost $34 for active duty, $172 for
adults (dependents & civilians over 12), and $66 for children. This trip
would have cost our family of four $444!!! This seemed a little steep to
soak in hot water, and needless to say, we didn't go!
It's a large, single theater,
with balcony seating upstairs (my favorite place to sit).
Occasionally,
they have live shows here, too. While we were there, Sinbad did a show, and also the Hazies (alternative rock band). More recently, they had a Jazz fusion concert. And of course, the
locals get together for talent shows, theater-group productions and even
school plays. The theater is closed on Thursday. Movie line phone # is 253-5291; office ph# is 253-4003.
Links to other sites on the Web
Marine Moms Online Message Forum, on which I happen to be a moderator ;-)
Sgt. Mom's Awesome military family page!
MilitaryCity.Com Home of the Marine Corps Times, as well as sister service Times
Americans in Japan Commercial site; looks to me as if they have taken off all reference to MCAS Iwakuni, and have very little that even refers to the USMC. But
there is info here; check out the Japan Links page, and perhaps the Discussion Forum :-)
National Military Family Assc. Advocate Group for military family issues
The Military Officers Association of America Used to be The Retired Officers Association; Another military issue advocate group
Operation Home Front
Interesting site, offering many services to US Armed Forces & families.
Registration is no longer required, but heck- it's free, and doesn't obligate you to anything.
Military Network This former Marine Corps Gunny has an extensive site with tons of links. It's framed (and I hate frames), but it's worth the hassle, in this case!
TheFew.com This site has a guestbook, and a couple message boards, and gets hundreds of hits a day. A search of the message boards for "Iwakuni" just might turn up some interesting (?) memory-joggers for active duty types, formerly stationed here!
USO We don't have a USO office here at Iwakuni, though they're all over Japan, Okinawa & Korea! "Why not?", you ask. Good question!
You will probably need insurance while over here, if you have a vehicle, or personal belongings.
Not a recommendation, but here's a couple places I know offer insurance over here:
Geico Overseas Insurance Offers insurance to the military community overseas
USAA Thanks Jack, for sending me this URL... have to register to use it, of course!
NOTE: We have renters insurance with USAA; As of 1/1/98, USAA no longer provides overseas vehicle insurance. For questions, you may call USAA toll free from Japan at 0031-11-3517 or within the US at 1-800-531-8189. USAA has arranged for CIGNA to provide auto insurance for USAA members in Japan. This does NOT apply to renters policies. Sorry, but I haven't found the web or e-mail address for CIGNA.
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Thanks to "Larah" for sending me the photo of the sunset over Crossroads Mall, to use on my page! You should be able to right-click on it (using Netscape), to see the full-size image.
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