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DODD Teachers Chatboard Topics

Special Issuance passport

by Excited

Jul 7, 2016

For my current DOD teachers, about how long did it take you to get your passport back?

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KLS I applied 3 weeks ago for the official passport and tourist passport renewal (not expedited). I received the new tourist passport a week ago. I have not yet received the official.

On 7/08/16, K. Inkajou wrote: > On 7/07/16, Excited wrote: >> For my current DOD teachers, about how long did it take >> you to get your passport...See More

Jul 8, 2016

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Get tourist (blue cover) passports for your children ASAP. Techincally, even if they have the no-fee (brownish cover), these no-fee passports are not authorized to be be used for tourist/discretionary travel, which you should anticipate you will be doing. Child toruist passports are valid for 5 years which is the same 5 years validity as for the no...See More

Jul 8, 2016

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Pet Quarantine

by H

Jul 7, 2016

Can someone please tell me about pet quarantine. I am completely unfamiliar with it. We are currently in Germany, where we added a cat to our family. We are heading back to the US in a couple of weeks and then flying out to Japan. I'm not sure what this will mean for our cat. Thanks.

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long link, if it breaks after you paste it, just google for Yokosuka Shipping Pets http://www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil/MOS/f? p=MI:CONTENT:0::::P4_INST_ID,P4_CONTENT_TITLE,P 4_CONTENT_EKMT_ID,P4_CONTENT_DIRECTORY:263 5,Shipping&37;20Pets,30.90.90.30.210.0.0.0.0,39

Ideally, you want "Home Quarantine" which is a privilege ...See Morelong link, if it breaks after you paste it, just google for Yokosuka Shipping Pets http://www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil/MOS/f? p=MI:CONTENT:0::::P4_INST_ID,P4_CONTENT_TITLE,P 4_CONTENT_EKMT_ID,P4_CONTENT_DIRECTORY:263 5,Shipping&37;20Pets,30.90.90.30.210.0.0.0.0,39

Ideally, you want "Home Quarantine" which is a privilege (i.e. not guaranteed) for personnel under the Status of Forces Agreement, SOFA, between Japan and the U.S..

It's possible to have your pet accompany you, assuming you've gotten all pet import requirements in order and you have successfully arranged & paid for the flight reservation for your pet. It's also possible to delay your pet's transportation (if delayed then only option is via commercial Air Cargo, but Cargo is quite pricy vs. the pet's flight fee when accompanying you on your flight) until a more convenient date, e.g. after you move into your permanent housing, but again, your pet's papers must all be completely right. Heads Up: if you pet's paperwork isn't complete and right, to the jot and tittle, then your pet risks being put on the first flight back to the States.

Here's the Japan source material used by the Yokosuka Navy Base Vet's webpage on Shipping Pets... http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/im_index.html

Transportation to Japan Port of Entry can be either via commercial into Narita Intl Airport or via AMC to Yokota AB. When you have your orders, go to the nearest military bases's TMO/PPD (AF&Army/Navy-MC) office and specifically ask them to book you to the airport that works better for your desire to bring along your pet. Also, seek inputs and caveats from a colleague/sponsor/principal there who, ideally, has recent pet importing knowledge and experience. Then, VERIFY what you've learned with the Yokosuka Vet office; their international phone numbers are listed in their webpage above.

Your ground transportion w/ pet from either airport to your Yokosuka destination cannot be via the usual buses as no pets are allowed on these buses. Instead, you need to specially arrange your ground transportation. See info on options in above link; also ask sponsor for advice. The cost to transport and kennel and any other costs for your pet are all on you, i.e. not reimbursed from Uncle Sam, although you will claim your & family member ground transportation costs via your travel voucher even when using specially arranged, higher cost ground transport for pet van. (and, keep all pet transporting receipts as these are claimable as Moving Expenses if filing your taxes long form w/ 3903F form.)

Temporary lodging on Yokosuka does have a few rooms that allow pets, but you must arrange that reservation. As soon as you know arrival date, book your pet friendly room at Yokosuka, if still available. If none available, then you need to arrange for a reservation for your pet at the on- base kennel. Also ask your sponsor for input a/o use this link to find phone number and then, when date of arrival is known, call and, hopefully, make your pet-friendly room reservation http://www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil/MOS/f? p=MI:CONTENT:0::::P4_INST_ID,P4_CONTENT_TITLE,P 4_CONTENT_EKMT_ID,P4_CONTENT_DIRECTORY:263 5,Temporary&37;20Housing,30.90.60.30.60.0.0.0.0,10

Lots to do, but you have plenty of/enough time, but not a lot to waste. As far as when to fly, that's up to both you and TMO, but, personally speaking, arriving one week prior to Reporting Date has always been plenty of time to do what needs to be done. Once you have PCS'd a time or two, then a couple days prior to Reporting Date will usually suffice just fine.

Welcome to DoDDS and to Japan!

On 7/07/16, H wrote: > Can someone please tell me about pet quarantine. I am > completely unfamiliar with it. We are currently in > Germany, where we added a cat to our family. We are > heading back to the US in a couple of weeks and then > flying out to Japan. I'm not sure what this will mean > for our cat. Thanks.

Jul 7, 2016

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When to fly out?

by H

Jul 7, 2016

I got the TO today!!! I'm so excited! We're off to Ikego Japan! But I'm a little confused about timing of flying out and starting. The offer says:

Recommended Travel Date: Aug 9 Reporting Date: Aug 23 Classes Begin: Aug 29

But I understand it can take about 2 (or more) weeks before I get the official offer and travel orders, and t...See More

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Teaching Thank you for the info! Looks like my future base has
Community Bank and Navy Federal. I am a Bank of America
customer, so I can probably just use the Community Bank
ATMs for free, right?

On 7/15/16, Jay22 wrote:
> I agree with Nathan. I have not used a regular bank since
> joining DoDDS in 2000. I have two credi...See More

Jul 16, 2016

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TANSTAAFL, JJO. Bank of America may be the contractor for most overseas bases' Community Banks but that doesn't mean those Community Banks are branches of Bank of America, so, ask when you get there and exercise your choices as you see fit. Good luck!

On 7/16/16, JJO wrote: > Thank you for the info! Looks like my future base has > Co...See MoreTANSTAAFL, JJO. Bank of America may be the contractor for most overseas bases' Community Banks but that doesn't mean those Community Banks are branches of Bank of America, so, ask when you get there and exercise your choices as you see fit. Good luck!

On 7/16/16, JJO wrote: > Thank you for the info! Looks like my future base has > Community Bank and Navy Federal. I am a Bank of America > customer, so I can probably just use the Community Bank > ATMs for free, right? > > > On 7/15/16, Jay22 wrote: >> I agree with Nathan. I have not used a regular bank since >> joining DoDDS in 2000. I have two credit unions: Pentagon >> Federal and Navy Federal. Rates are better and they have >> good deals on auto and home loans. As for ATMs in the >> states, many Target, Walgreens, and 7-11 stores have >> fee-less ATMs for Penfed or Navy Federal but you have to >> check online with your zipped and the symbol on the back >> of your debit card. It has worked for me since there are >> no actual Penfed or Navy Fed branches near my stateside >> home. In general, you will find Penfed on Air Force >> bases; DOD Community Bank on Army bases and naturally >> Navy Federal on Navy bases. I started with PenFed on an >> Air Force base but have been on navy bases for a long >> time so reason why I opened a Navy Federal account. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On 7/15/16, Nathan wrote: >> >> >> >> >>> I've found it convenient to set up automatic allotments >>> at MyPay to send some of my pay to the local on base >>> credit union and the rest to credit union accounts back >>> in the States. (I've not used an actual bank in decades; >>> I've found credit unions are more personal and have >>> always met every financial need, but that's my choice.) >>> However, some overseas DoDDS locations/bases don't have >>> a credit union that dispenses cash nor have any ATMs >>> (begs the question: what's the point? but I digress) but >>> these locatiions will ~usually~ have ATMs at the on-base >>> "Community Bank". I think that Bank of America is still >>> the main contractor-bank for most of these overseas >>> on-base Community Bank branches, but cannot say for sure >>> because I have not found it either useful nor necessary >>> to ever set up an account at one of these on-base >>> Community Banks when my Stateside cards work fine to >>> obtain cash, for a ~$1 fee, from their ATMs (there's no >>> ATM fee if one does set up an account at a local >>> Community Bank). But, each location has some quirk or >>> another that drives one's banking choice so it's best to >>> ask colleagues at the specfic DoDDS location you are >>> beign assigned to. >>> >>> On 7/15/16, haha wrote: >>>> We have had great luck with the on base/post credit >>>> unions. In Europe the credit union was very helpful >>>> with car loan, credit line and benefits for having >>>> direct deposit. >>>> >>>> In Japan we have also had good experiences although we >>>> have not needed as much assistance. We have one check >>>> going to the credit union in Europe and one going here. >>>> Check it out and if it seems like a good idea for you >>>> then I would recommend it. >>>> >>>> On 7/15/16, JJO wrote: >>>>> Haha, would you recommend getting a credit union >>> account, >>>> then? >>>>> Does your paycheck go to the credit union account or a >>>>> bank account in the states? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On 7/14/16, haha wrote: >>>>>> I don't know if you are still in Japan or if we are >>>>>> in the same area but that hasn't really been our >>>>>> experience. 7 11 ATMs generally seem to give better >>>>>> exchange rates (although admittedly it is tough to >>>>>> really track it unless you are purposely pulling >>>>>> money out from multiple locations on the same day). >>>>>> As for fees, we have several accounts (from the >>>>>> credit union >>> on >>>>>> base) that credit a certain amount back in fees every >>>>>> month so we don't really need to worry about it. >>>>>> >>>>>> Also, many/a majority of restaurants etc seem to take >>> US >>>>>> credit cards these days (much more than when we >>> were >>>>>> here in 2008). I would agree that it is always a good >>>>>> idea to have cash in any case. >>>>>> >>>>>> On 7/14/16, wanderer wrote: >>>>>>> Reality Sheriff, I wasn't recommending waste. The >>>>>>> fact is, when you grab a local restaurant map from >>>>>>> your onbase hotel, you have no idea which dot is >>> expensive >>>>>>> and which ones are cheap until you find them (side >>>>>>> note: in Japan, you should always buy into a >>>>>>> contract on a smartphone just for the mapping >>>>>>> functions. Drop lots of pins to mark places you want >>>>>>> to return to!) During my hotel stay time, my goal >>>>>>> was to go to a new place every day. Don't get into a >>>>>>> rut. Make yourself explore. In Japan, that meant I >>>>>>> figured out which was my favorite ramen shop and >>>>>>> that I found out how truly wonderful Japanese beef >>>>>>> can taste compared to the protein slabs of American >>>>>>> steaks. That place became >>> my >>>>>>> go-to "special occasion" place to bring visitors to. >>>>>>> Meanwhile, there were french and italian places I >>> never >>>>>>> visited again during my stay there that were just as >>>>>>> expensive as the Japanese beef place. I learned that >>>>>>> while in the hotel stay. And yes, I am grateful that >>>>>>> I learned >>>>>> that >>>>>>> while it was subsidized. What we really end up doing >>> is >>>>>>> finding favorite affordables and favorite special >>>>>>> occasion destinations. The hotel time is the best >>>>>>> time to figure >>>>>> that >>>>>>> out. It's not premeditated exploitation of the >>>>>>> government dime, targeting the expensive ones. (who >>>>>>> knows which dot is expensive?) It's making yourself >>> not >>>>>>> get in a rut and go out and explore offbase and >>>>>>> learn even though it might seem easier to sit at the >>>>>>> base food court every day. Going to a new restaurant >>>>>>> from >>> a >>>>>>> map provided to every military and civilian visitor >>>>>>> staying at the base hotel is rational behavior. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> BTW, learn to always carry lots of yen in cash in >>> Japan >>>>>>> preferably pulled out from the ATMs on base. The >>>>>>> only other ATMs that will spew out yen at the daily >>>>>>> rate from your American debit accounts (but with >>>>>>> greater fees) are the green Japan Post ATMs and the >>>>>>> ones at 7-11 convenience stores. American credit >>>>>>> cards are useless or at the least, problematic, at >>>>>>> most restaurants. Cash is >>>>>> king >>>>>>> in Japan. Learn it early and learn it well. And >>>>>>> enjoy! >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> 7/07/16, H wrote: >>>>>>>> I got the TO today!!! I'm so excited! We're off to >>>>>>>> Ikego Japan! But I'm a little confused about timing >>>>>>>> of flying out and starting. The offer says: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Recommended Travel Date: Aug 9 Reporting Date: >>> Aug 23 >>>>>>>> Classes Begin: Aug 29 >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> But I understand it can take about 2 (or more) >>>>>>>> weeks before I get the official offer and travel >>>>>>>> orders, and that I shouldn't do anything too >>>>>>>> serious before then (sell cars, pack up, give >>>>>>>> notice of current job, etc). That would take be to >>>>>>>> about July 22. Then that only leaves me about two >>>>>>>> weeks to pack up a household >>> and >>>>>>> sell >>>>>>>> everything before the recommended travel date. Is >>> this >>>>>>>> everyone else's experience? I knew it was going to >>> be >>>>>>>> crazy, but two weeks seems very crazy! >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> How much say do we have on when we fly out? And >>> has >>>>>>> it >>>>>>>> been other people's experience that the DOD will >>>>>>>> reimburse you for hotel & meal expenses up to 10 >>> days >>>>>>>> before you fly out? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Thanks!

Jul 16, 2016

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Class sizes

by Lindaloo

Jul 7, 2016

I was curious what class sizes typically are with DoD schools. I know from state to state the sizes can vary drastically and wondered if DoD schools are closer to the small or large end of that scale.

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haha It will vary somewhat wildly from school to school. In general, class sizes have been towards the smaller end of the spectrum in our experience. In the HS some classes end up much smaller (-10) while some of the core classes can be 20+.

In elementary you often see a bit of range with 15 to 24 being fairly usual and varying from grade to gr...See More

Jul 7, 2016

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Lindaloo Thanks, Those numbers don't sound too bad. In my current district upper elementary classes are typically around 32-33 students lower elementary 26-28.

On 7/07/16, haha wrote: > It will vary somewhat wildly from school to school. In > general, class sizes have been towards the smaller end of > the spectrum in our experience. In the...See More

Jul 7, 2016

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Job offer

by Amanda

Jul 7, 2016

At this point I'm beginning to give up. I haven't had a referal in about two weeks and have not been told yes or no on the interview I had. It is now July 7th and I'm wondering at this point is it likely to get a job offer or any more referrals. It's kinda late in the game. :-(

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uh89 But be realistic too. The odds are very much against all of us because of the sheer number of applicants alone coupled with the limited number of openings. I've been waiting for 4 years and have only received 3 referrals with no offers......and I am a former successful DoDDS teacher who taught for them 15 years ago.

On 7/08/16, wanderer wr...See More

Jul 9, 2016

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HelpOthers Offers can happen at any time. Get your house in order and don't give up your day job. Grow where you are planted for now. :)

On 7/09/16, uh89 wrote: > But be realistic too. The odds are very much against all of us > because of the sheer number of applicants alone coupled with the > limited number of openings. I've been waiting fo...See More

Jul 9, 2016

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Offer... but no other paperwork

by Insight

Jul 7, 2016

Ive returned my acceptance and have yet to get anything else..... its been a week. Is this normal

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Panda I'm in the same position; submitted the first batch of paperwork on Thursday and then heard nothing. I called to follow up with HR yesterday and it turns out the person handling my files sent the wrong form and took Thurs and Fri off. I was able to send them the correct form yesterday morning but they sat on it till today.

On 7/11/16, H w...See More

Jul 12, 2016

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Insight I think we may actually have the same person because that's exactly what happened to me. When you get your package I hope you get all the direction included. Happy faceof >

I'm in the same position; submitted the first > batch of paperwork on Thursday and then heard > nothing. I called to follow up with HR > yesterday and it t...See More

Jul 15, 2016

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Referrals

by Tonja

Jul 7, 2016

I received several referrals recently, however they are all local (stateside) in SPED. Is there something I need to change to indicate oversees positions preferred? I am not interested in stateside positions.

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haha Your target location in EAS should be set to the locations you are willing go in the Interest Area. You still might get referrals from other locations though.

On 7/07/16, Tonja wrote: > I received several referrals recently, however they are all > local (stateside) in SPED. Is there something I need to > change to indicate oversee...See More

Jul 7, 2016

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HelpOthers In EAS, go to the Application page:

click the link for: Target Location and Date (Overseas/Stateside)

In the "Interest Area" section: "Do you wish to be considered for DoDDS vacancies Overseas?" click the "yes" bubble.

Go to each of the tabs within this section: DoDDS-overseas, DDESS-Statesi...See More

Jul 7, 2016

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Interview

by Amanda

Jul 7, 2016

I had an interview 2 weeks ago and have not heard anything... Is it safe to say I did not get the job

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haha Sigh. HR really is our weak link right now. You can try calling back in a few hours and hope that you get someone more helpful.

If you don't like that idea then I would follow up with the principal via email if nothing else. Apologize for the intrusion but explain that you tried contacting HR just to get a final word on the position (and m...See More

Jul 7, 2016

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HelpOthers They will only tell you after the position has been
filled- person in place.

On 7/07/16, haha wrote:
> Sigh. HR really is our weak link right now. You can try
> calling back in a few hours and hope that you get someone
> more helpful.
>
> If you don't like that idea then I would follow up with
> t...See More

Jul 7, 2016

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"Tentative"

by H

Jul 7, 2016

What needs to happen before a tentative offer becomes an official offer? How long does the process take and what exactly are they looking for before they can make an official offer?

At what point would it be safe to quit my current position. Nothing's happened yet, except my EAS becoming inactive after an interview, but with it already Ju...See More

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H Poisonous centipedes, huh? Fun. What makes the spiders so
scary (pardon my paranoia), how big are they, do they
jump?

What is PSCD? What is the school and admin like at Ikego?
How come you changed positions and school? I've been
researching housing and bases. We have three kids ages
4-9. How come you chose to like in Ikego?...See More

Jul 10, 2016

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HSSpedTeacher H, I sent you a message on email. Did you get it? Do you have the offer yet? You should know that HR in the Pacific is very slow. Short staffed and slow. Check with the school by email and let them know you haven't received anything yet. Good luck!

Jul 13, 2016

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