Tsunami SCUBA is promoting safe diving practices with FREE Open Water SCUBA classes for children (age 10 & over) when both parents sign up at regular price.
Just bring your family, purchase learning materials from any MCCS Tsunami SCUBA facility, and attend all classes together.
For complete requirements and details visit www.mccsokinawa.com, or call 645—4206.
May 24, 3-10 p.m. May 25, 1-10 p.m.
When the air feels warmer and wetter, it means only one thing—summer is on the way. What’s the best way to cool off from this summer while doing something both exciting and challenging? Join the Okinawa Dolphins Swim Team!
"The Okinawa Dolphins strive to provide a competitive swimming program in which all swimmers can develop to the maximum of their abilities,” says Mathew Luebbers, Okinawa Dolphins Head Coach. “If they are a novice, they get the appropriate level of instruction. If they are a swimmer above that, we offer challenged to help them get there.” Swimmers have the opportunity to compete in local Japanese meets as well as other swimming competitions.
Tryouts for the Okinawa Dolphins will be held on May 19, 20, and 21 from 3 to 5:15 p.m. at the Foster 50-Meter Pool. To make the team, swimmers must be at least 7 years old and complete a minimum of 2x25 meter non-stop, legal swims using two of the four competitive styles (front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, or butterfly) with no outside assistance. Coaches will be looking for technique, not speed. Once the tryout is over, a coach will meet with the swimmer and parent(s) to discuss the results.
Spring and summer swim seasons run May 27 to July 22. Spring after-school practices will run from May 27 to June 12, with specific practice times assigned to each skill level group after tryouts. Summer practices will run 8 to 10:30 am, from June 16 to July 22.
Need a whiplashing good time?
Latin Comedy Show & Super Latina Night
Saturday, 17 May • Show starts at 9 pm
Tickets on sale at the Rocker NCO Club
$15 • Members
$20 • Nonmembers
Adults only.
Super Latina Night right after the show!
How can you resist?
Pet Adoption Day
17 May • 11am – 2 pm
Kadena BX garden area
50% off adoptions • Call 632-4970
Work it…work it!
Eclectic Style Fashion & Talent Show
Saturday, 17 May • Banyan Tree Club • 634-0644
Doors open at 5 pm • Show starts at 6 pm
Bring the entire family out for a good time.
$5 • Members
$10 • Nonmembers
All you feens hit the greens
Memorial Day Family Scramble
26 May • 7 am – 4 pm
Open to families (two – six people)
$20 per family plus green and rental fees
Winners will be announced on 27 May
Army MWR Events
Navy MWR Events
It’s recognized the world over that there’s really no way to fully thank our mothers for the lifetime of love, support, and guidance they provide. And it’s just as impossible to conceive of all the things for which they deserve to be thanked. However, treating your mom to a special Mother’s Day brunch at an MCCS club on May 11 is one very pleasant way to express the thanks that often go unspoken for both small deeds and large.
At the Butler Officers’ Club your mom can enjoy a scrumptious brunch of breakfast fare, fresh fruit, baked ham, roast turkey, and superb house-made desserts. Adults eat for $15.50 and children for $7.75. At Kinser Surfside a similarly delicious meal will be served for $13.50 for adults and $5.50 for children.
At the Awase Meadows Restaurant adults can dine for $12.95 and children for $6.95. Special Mother’s Day cuisine will be available, including made-to- order eggs and omelets, a platter of bacon, ham, and sausage, country potatoes with homemade gravy, biscuits, grits, pancakes, breads, oatmeal, and fresh fruit.
At Thirsty’s Enlisted Club a lavish spread will include chicken, beef, and fish entrees. Eggs Benedict and omelets will also be available. Tasty desserts will include crepes, Danish pastries, and cakes. Adults can enjoy this brunch for $10.94 and children for $5.50.
Brunches are open to all ranks and services. Marine Corps ID card holders can receive $3 off adult and $1 off children’s brunch prices.
The Naval Officers Spouses Club is holding an art auction May 10 at the Camp Butler Officers Club. The auction will feature contemporary and traditional Japanese artwork and authentic oriental rugs.
For more information, call 646-8287.
May 10 - 3 p.m.
May 10 • 3p.m. FEE: $20*
THIS YEAR, MAKE YOUR OWN FLOWER ARRANGEMENT FOR MOM. KIDS 12 YEARS AND OLDER CAN SIGN UP. YOUNGER CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT TO PARTICIPATE. SEATING IS LIMITED. SO SIGN UP BY SUNDAY, MAY 4.
*PRICE INCLUDES FLOWERS, EQUIPMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.
Do you need new golf gear? Have you thought about playing, but don’t have the right equipment to take to the course? Now is the time to stock up on all those golf necessities at the Awase Meadows Golf Course Pro Shop Spring One-Day Sale on Saturday, May 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. “It’s the best time of the year to get the latest top-of-the-line golf equipment at a discounted price,” Pro Shop Manager, Steve Nakashima says. “Everything is on sale.”
Don’t let weekend chores keep you from taking advantage of these great savings. This is the perfect opportunity to get that new golf apparel you’ve been looking at, or to buy the shoes, clubs, golf bag, or how-to book you’ve been wanting. Savings include great deals on the latest items from Ping, Callaway, Nike, and more. Everything in the store will be at least 10 percent off, with additional discounts on select merchandise. Not only will you save money, but you can enjoy FREE hot dogs, chips, and soda throughout the day. What could make this day better? Shoppers can enter a drawing for a round-trip ticket to one of five US destinations courtesy of United Airlines and Omega Travel, as well as other great prizes.
Marines, sailors propel dragons in 8th year of boat-race tradition
Lance Cpl. Andrew S. Avitt
OKINAWA MARINE STAFF
Two roughly 30-member crews of Marines and sailors competed in Naha’s 34th Annual Dragon Boat Festival at Tomari Port May 5.
The two all-Marine-and-sailor teams represented the Marine Corps Community Services Single Marine Program for the eighth year in a row at the races.
SMP had one all-female team and one all-male team, which never raced against each other in the field of 52 teams, which included all-Japanese crews, crews comprised exclusively of U.S. soldiers and also Japan Ground Self Defense Force crews.
Each heat matched up three boat crews, which propelled their colorful dragon boats forward, paddles digging in unison into the water with each beat of the caller’s drum.
Hundreds watched as SMP’s all-male team bested the U.S. Army crew in their first heat, finishing first with a time of 5 minutes and 25 seconds for the 600-meter course. They received a trophy and advanced.
“It’s all about the rhythm,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Tudo Ricardo. an SMP team member. “Once we got the momentum going with that rhythm, it wasn't hard.”
But rhythm only carried the SMP males so far against the two Japanese crews they met in the second race. The Japanese showed prowess in the 500-year-old Chinese tradition, eliminating the Americans after handing them a 3rd place finish in the heat.
The SMP males said beating the Army in a healthy rivalry was enough to call it a successful day.
The SMP females raced against two locally renowned teams, rowing the 600 meters in 6:47, but the team’s finishing time was short of what was needed to advance. Despite not advancing. the SMP ladies walked away smiling.
“Dragon boat racing was a great opportunity to build camaraderie with our neighbors,” said Cpl. Jeannene Burns, a member of the SMP female team. “What really made this great was coming out here, meeting new people and experiencing the culture.”
MCCS representative and team coach Sergio Morales said SMP will continue the tradition for years to come.
Summer term college registration begins May 19
Lance Cpl. Joseph A. Cabrera
OKINAWA MARINE STAFF
CAMP FOSTER — As registration for summer college classes approaches. Marine Corps Community Services Lifelong Learning Center officials are encouraging people to take advantage of the wide variety of courses available on Okinawa.
Registration for classes is May 19 through May 30, and classes for the summer term begin June 2 and end July 26.
Classes are generally two nights a week for eight weeks. Lunchtime and weekend classes are also available, according to Bob Stenard, the supervisory guidance counselor with the Lifelong Learning Center on Camp Foster.
Lifelong Learning Centers are located on all Marine Corps installations and are open to everyone with base access.
Centers have various resources available to help students choose the right education program. whether it be classroom instruction or online courses.
“It can be easier to get into a school here rather than waiting until you get out of the military because there are so many education opportunities available.” said Keena Morris, an education services specialist with the Camp Foster center.
Stenard said education counselors help students set goals that match their careers, and getting an education here gives service members an advantage if they plan on continuing their education when they leave the military.
“Plan ahead.” Stenard said. “You’re in the driver’s seat, if you want to be.”
Many colleges accept the College Level Examination Program. Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support Subject Standardized Tests and Excelsior College Examinations, which allow individuals to earn college credits through testing without having to take the course.
Acceptance of the CLEP, DANTES and ECE credits varies from college to college.
“Servicemember Opportunity Colleges are more familiar with these exams and how they relate to their degree programs.” said Morris.
Stenard added that another benefit of being in the military is the Tuition Assistance program, which allows service members to attend courses while the military pays up to $250 per credit hour of tuition.
Tuition assistance covers up to $4.500 a year of tuition for undergraduate and graduate programs. Students are responsible for the cost of books, applicable enrollment fees and must repay tuition assistance for courses failed, said Morris.
Officers and enlisted personnel receive the same dollar amount of tuition assistance; however, an officer must complete the last class with two years of commissioned military service remaining on their contract, or reimburse tuition.
Prospective students wanting to use the TA program, must contact the Lifelong Learning Center to schedule the College 101 Tuition Assistance brief.
Service members also have the Montgomery GI Bill college fund available to them.
“GI Bill questions are about 15 percent of what we handle,” said Stenard. “A lot of people come in with misunderstandings about what the GI Bill is about and how to use it.”
Military spouses also have an advantage with scholarship and grant options available from the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Navy Officers’ Spouses Club and Marine Corps Offices’ Spouses Club, Stenard said.
For more information about continuing education, scholarships. grants and tuition assistance. contact any Lifelong Learning Center.
Lance Cpl. Joseph A. Cabrera
OKINAWA MARINE STAFF
CAMP FOSTER — Marine Corps Community Services Semper Fit Aquatics recently began free monthly lifeguard certification classes on Camp Hansen and Camp Foster to help meet the approaching summer demand for lifeguards.
The courses are scheduled to take place Friday through Sunday for two consecutive weeks. The current course began May 2 and is scheduled to end May 11.
Many students currently in the course said they plan to apply for jobs at one of the 12 MCCS pool facilities on Okinawa once they get certified.
Students in the program will receive a lifeguard and first aid certification from the American Red Cross, valid for three years. Students will also receive American Red Cross certifications for CPR, use of the automated external defibrillator and blood borne pathogen prevention, valid for one year.
The course covers injury prevention, patron surveillance, emergency preparation, rescue skills and respiratory and cardiac emergency treatment. The course also covers first aid for muscle, bone, joint, head, neck and back injuries.
“Lifeguards are professionals trained to save lives.” said Scott Burton, head lifeguard instructor and Camp Hansen pool manger. The most important part of the course is learning rescue skills, he said. “If the lifeguard can react sooner, there is less of a need for CPR.”
The course also covers the legal issues of consent, Good Samaritan laws, negligence and how those topics affect decision making poolside, said Ashley Leeper, lifeguard instructor and Camp Courtney pool manager.
“Not a lot of people realize what a lifeguard actually does,” said Leeper
To create a safe environment for pool patrons, lifeguards are also responsible for checking safety and rescue equipment, pump rooms. floor tiles, and anything that could jeopardize patron safety in and around the pool area.
Burton said the skills the students learn in this course are not Okinawa specific and can be used at MCCS swimming facilities worldwide.
Also, students in the course may be preparing for other occupations that require a background as a lifeguard, such as swim coaches and camp counselors. Burton said. Some people may use life guarding as a stepping stone to become an emergency medical technician.
Most state parks and beaches accept the American Red Cross certification, depending on the type of waterfront, he said.
For more information about upcoming lifeguard courses and locations, visit the MCCS Okinawa Web site at http://www.mccsokinawa.com.
Uncle Sam’s Attic is open to ALL Services!
HOURS: TUES, WED, FRI 0900-1400, THUR 1100-1900 (CLOSED SAT & MON) PHONE: 633-0436 EMAIL: kadenathriftstore@yahoo.com Manager - Jolene Jashurek
Donation Policy (IMPORTANT!):
We can take good condition items and prefer donations to be dropped off during normal business hours. For large items, please call ahead of dropping off. Do not leave any items outside of the donation bins due to base beautification and weather conditions. Do not drop off trash or HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTAL WASTE (i.e. batteries, tires, propane tanks, kerosene, lawn motors, etc.). Contact the store for our complete donation policy.
Purchase Policy:
Only SOFA status can make purchases. Items purchased cannot be resold, provided or given to others outside of your home here on Okinawa. Violators will be reported. 100% MILITARY ID CHECK Active duty military and ROTC are entitled to free uniforms that are in stock with a valid ID check.
IACE TRAVEL NETWORK
www.iace.co.jp/english
IACE TRAVEL
USA SPECIAL (West Coast)
Roundtrip
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle
$916 incl tax 5/9-29 departure
1 days advance purchase required
USA SPECIAL (East Coast)
Roundtrip
New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Denver
$1183 incl. tax 5/9-29 weekday departure
3 days advance purchase required
USA to OKINAWA roundtrip
many East Coast cities. please ask agent
$999 incl. tax 5/13, 20, 27 departure
* based on rate Yen 102
We also do this...
• Discounted air tickets to anywhere!
U.S.A. Airfares - We always offer the best prices!
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle
5/10-7/12 $934 (Yen 93,450) (Tax Included)
New York
5/10-7/12 $1084 (Yen 108,450) (Tax included)
Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Chicago, etc
5/12-5/29 $1,230 (Yen 122,990) (Tax included)
purchase 3 days prior to departure date.
We also have one way fares and other options. Please call us for further details.
From U.S.A. to Okinawa
My guns are bigger than yours
Bench Press Competition
10 May • 10 am
Risner Fitness Center • 634-5128
How much can you bench? Compete with other
men and women for trophies and bragging rights.
Get your tickets now - right now - right now
Latin Comedy Show & Super Latina Night
17 May • Show starts at 9 pm
Rocker NCO Club • 634-0470
Featuring the hottest Latin comedians and party at Super
Latina Night right after the show.
$15 Members · $20 Nonmembers
WOWMOM
Mother’s Day Happenings
Don’t know what to do for Mom on her special day?
Click here
Take Mom to Cloud Nine
Get a Mother's Day Balloon Bouquet at Crafty Things.
Balloon bouquets starting as low as $8
Click here to see our selection
Look fit and fabulous
Risner Sports Pro Shop Sale
Now – 11 May · 9 am – 6 pm
It’s your last chance to take advantage of 20% off
brand name apparel and more!
Army MWR Events
Navy MWR Events
May 8 • 5:30—9 p.m.
I’ve been hearing about how they have dragon boat races here on Okinawa. Can you tell me a little bit about them? Are they the same as the ones in Hong Kong?
New Style Okinawa Noodle
GUSUKU
Tuesday. 11 a.m. & 6 p.m.
Gususku means "castle” or “fortress” in the Okinawan language and on this small island there are two standing gusukus and almost one dozen gusuku ruins to visit. Some of them are so important to the culture and history of the Ryukyu Islands that UNESCO has listed them as World Heritage Sites. In this episode of Okinawa Guide find out why these cultural treasures are being preserved.
Supporting our Warfighters and their families.
Great job opportunities with MCCS.
* Kayak Blowout *
IACE TRAVEL NETWORK
www.iace.co.jp/english
IACE TRAVEL
USA SPECIAL (West Coast)
Roundtrip
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle
$916 incl tax 5/4-29 departure
1 days advance purchase required
USA SPECIAL (East Coast)
Roundtrip
New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Denver
$1183 incl. tax 5/4-29 weekday departure
3 days advance purchase required
USA to OKINAWA roundtrip
many East Coast cities. please ask agent
$999 incl. tax 5/6, 13, 20, 27 departure
* based on rate Yen 102
We also do this...
• Discounted air tickets to anywhere!
U.S.A. Airfares - We always offer the best prices!
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle etc.
5/4-7/12 $934 (Yen 93,450) (Tax Included)
New York
5/4-7/12 $1084 (Yen 108,450) (Tax included)
Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Chicago
5/4-5/29 $1,230 (Yen 122,990) (Tax included)
purchase 3 days prior to departure date.
We also have one way fares and other options. Please call us for further details.
From U.S.A. to Okinawa
Lance Cpl. Andrew S. Avitt
okinawa marine staff
CAMP FOSTER — Lacrosse is a sport that originated among Native Americans in the 15th century and continues today, among other places, amidst the warrior culture of Marines.
The Eastern Cherokee called the sport da-nah-wah’uwsdi for “little war” a fitting name since the sport was used to settle tribal disputes and train young warriors for battle. The first lacrosse players competed as armies of competitors, anywhere from 100 to 1,000, on vast playing fields that sometimes stretched for miles.
The game has changed much over the years but the spirit and camaraderie of those original warriors lives on in Lacrosse clubs and leagues world-wide.
Since 2001, the Okinawa Lacrosse Club has strived to bring people together through the full contact sport and provide the opportunity to enjoy the game.
The club is open to all service members, and includes several Japanese members as well. This creates a diverse group and a sense of camaraderie between local citizens and their military neighbors, said Jim Peterson, the club’s manager.
In recent years, the lacrosse club has traveled to mainland Japan, Spain and Hawaii to play in international tournaments, where many team members discovered that the warrior spirit transcends all cultural boundaries.
“It doesn’t matter where you’re from, what language you speak or how old you are,” said Thomas R. Mango, a three year veteran of the team. “When you pick up that stick, it’s all the same language. That’s why I love this game.”
Lacrosse, also known as the “Fastest game on two feet,” is a sport that attracts a unique breed of athlete, Peterson said, one that is dedicated and not afraid to take a beating.
“When you leave the lacrosse field after a good game, you’re exhausted and a little bruised, usually just enough that you remember that game for awhile,” Peterson said.
The Okinawa Lacrosse Club meets weekly on Camp Foster and twice a week at Ryukyu University.
Those interested in learning more about the club can visit http://www.eteamz.active.com/okilaxclub.
** NOTE: The captions for the photos in this article incorrectly identify the false killer whale (pseudorca crassidens) in the Okichan Theatre performance (NOT a pilot whale) & the fossil jaws of the megalodon shark (NOT of a great white).
Lance Cpl. Richard Blumenstein
okinawa marine staff
Averaging 25 feet in length, weighing up to 15 tons, with huge mouths that can open up to 4-feet wide, whale sharks are the largest fish on earth.
They are also a key attraction at Okinawa’s Ocean Expo Park, and the giant fish made a lasting impression on a group of people who visited the park during a trip to the park hosted by Marine Corps Community Services April 11.
Cpl. Matthew J. Vasquez and his wife Wilikinia both said the giant fish were the park’s most awe-inspiring attractions, and most in the group echoed their sentiment.
Ocean Expo Park, located on the western edge of Okinawa’s Motobu peninsula, is a major tourist attraction on Okinawa and is home to several subsections, including the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.
One of the aquarium’s main displays, the Kuroshio (Black Current) Sea tank, is massive. It is 10 meters deep (about 33 feet), 35 meters wide (about 115 feet) and 27 meters long (about 89 feet). Aside from the whale sharks, the tank contains a number of aquatic animals native to the Kuroshio (the warm undersea ocean current that supports the Okinawa underwater ecosystem) depth region including manta rays, sea turtles and countless schools of tropical fish.
The tank is constructed with a transparent wall, 35 meters wide (about 115 feet) and 60 centimeters thick (about two feet), that allows visitors see an amazing view of the ocean life.
“The whale sharks made me seem like an ant,” said 12-year old Jariah Tolbert. “They were amazing.”
Ocean Expo Park was the site of the Okinawa International Ocean Exposition, a 1975 event concerning oceanographic cultures, technology, and marine life. The park features several areas of interest, each containing distinctive themes focused on aquatic life, history and nature. The vast park has many exhibits and shows that can keep patrons busy all day.
On the MCCS tour, visitors all started with a trip through the aquarium but then went their separate ways. Some continued to explore the aquarium in depth while others ventured off into other areas including the Oceanic Culture Museum, the Native Okinawan Village, Emerald Beach, the Tropical Dream Center and the Tropical & Subtropical Arboretum.
For most of the children, and a few others on the tour, the comical antics of dolphin species, such as the pilot whale, at the aquarium’s Okichan Theater proved to be another favorite.
“It was pretty cool when the dolphin actually came on stage and stuck his tongue out,” Army Capt. Jeremy B. Robert said. “I’d never seen anything like that before.”
Elsewhere in the park, close encounters with in the Shark Research Lab was the highlight for 6-year old Daniel Locke III.
The lab houses an aquatic tank full of various kinds of sharks and is full of shark skeletons, including the jaw of a great white shark.
“I’d never been that close to a shark before,” Daniel said. “It was cool.”
In the Okinawan Village, the Vasquezes got hands-on experience in mastering one of their favorite lullabies on a Sanshin, a traditional Okinawan instrument similar to a banjo.
“We spent most of our time in the Okinawan Village,” Wilikinia said. “They taught us how to play ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’.”
The village replicates Ryukyuan dwellings found on Okinawa during the 17th and 18th centuries and presents visitors with a chance to experience ancient Okinawan culture and explore the ancient homes.
There is no fee to enter Ocean Expo Park, but aquarium tickets are ¥1,800 for adults and ¥1,200 for high-school students. A few other attractions in the park also have admission
fees. A complete list of attractions, show times and admission fees are available on the park’s
Web site at http://www.kaiyouhaku.com/en/index.html.
To get to the park, take the Okinawa Expressway north to its final exit near Nago City. Exit on Highway 58 and follow the signs to the park.
