The long flight is behind you and you finally have your feet planted firmly in Okinawa. You are probably anxious to get off the plane and get settled in your home or lodging for some much needed rest.

Since you’re on the Patriot Express, you will land at the airfield at Kadena Air Base. You will be asked to deplane in small groups to get onto a bus that will shuttle you from the flight line to the arrivals area.

Even though you’re landing on a military base, you will still need to go through a passport check and customs just like a regular airport. Be sure to have your official no-fee passports, orders, and Area Clearance (USMC) in hand ready to show to the agent.

After going through the passport check, you will be sent downstairs to baggage claim. Your bags will come out like a regular baggage claim area, and carts are available to help carry your luggage to the car. If you have a pet in cargo you will wait in the baggage claim area for them to deliver your furry family member through oversized cargo hold.

Since you still don’t have a SOFA driver’s license you won’t be able to drive to your home or your lodging. But don’t worry! Your sponsor should be there to pick you up. Be sure to let them know how much luggage you have so they can secure an additional vehicle or drivers to help you get to your next destination, whether it’s your house if you did Port to Home or lodging.

Some Pro-Tips to Help You Get Settled Faster after Landing in Okinawa

Since you won’t be able to drive yet you will be pretty limited on what you can do once you have arrived at your lodging or your new home. Here are some things you can do to help get yourself acclimated and settled a little faster, and enjoy some much needed rest after a long flight!

Order groceries ahead of time- The Commissary has an order pick-up option. Order groceries and have them scheduled to be picked up by your sponsor the day before you arrive. You can set your sponsor’s name as the pick-up name and you can even pay for the groceries ahead of time so all they have to do is pick them up and put them in your house or your hotel room.
Get Internet- If you did Port to Home, you can set up Internet before you even arrive on island by using MBC’s easy online portal. Simply sign up by following the prompts, and schedule the date in which you want your service to be turned on. Your sponsor can head to one of MBC’s convenient locations– on Camp Foster or on Kadena Air Base- to pick up your modem and your cables for your free Armed Forces Network service. It will take you less than 5 minutes to self-install your Internet, and you’ll already be connected to family and friends back home, or just chill with Netflix, Hulu, or one of the many other streaming services that is available through MBC’s network.
Have some staples ready- If you did Port to Home, ask your sponsor to grab things like a shower curtain and shower hooks, toilet paper, sheets, towels, and pillows. You can also ask them to grab a set of kitchen items from the Lending Locker, located on both Camp Foster at the Marine Corps Family Programs Center or on Kadena Air Base Loan Locker Office.

Related: 8 Things You Need to Do Before You Get to Okinawa

Landing in Okinawa after a long flight on the Patriot Express can be such a relief for you and your family. Your sponsor will be a huge help when you first land, and they will help you with your luggage and getting to your new home or your lodging. You can also do a few things like order groceries and set up Internet ahead of time so that you can have some comforts as you get settled and rested.