9th Engineer Support Battalion

We want to extend a very warm welcome to everyone who is relocating to Okinawa! Okinawa is a fabulous place to be assigned to and we want to ensure your tour starts off right by providing every possible resource to ensure your relocation to Okinawa is as easy as possible.

Want to learn more about where to shop, eat and play in Okinawa? Looking for transportation schedules for the Green Line and the off-base bus system? Download MCCS Okinawa Liberty App as it provides this and much, much more on what is available on Okinawa.

More resources

9th ESB, 3D MLG

Deployment Readiness Coordinator

Email: irene.sarabiarecinos@usmc.mil

Office hours: 0800-1500

Cell: 080.8590.6949 / DSN: 315.623.1742

Greeting to all,

I am Irene Sarabia Recinos (Ms. Rene), the Deployment Readiness Coordinator (DRC) for 9th ESB, 3D MLG. This position was formerly referred to as the “FRO.” To expand on the meaning of the title, a DRC is the connection between home and work. In application, that means helping with anything the service member, or their family, is having trouble with. It does not matter to me that the marine may arrive unaccompanied or single. All 9th ESB Marines and sailors come from a family, and are defining what their immediate family looks like, and are part of the 9th ESB family and Family Readiness is a top priority to Commanding Officer, LtCol Gillett.

Other areas of equal importance are education, employment, entertainment, and overall health and well-being. MCCS has a program for almost everything on this island and strives to deliver what is missing. I am their embedded resource hub for the battalion. I connect you all to the programs and services available to you. Please check your emails for official/authorized communication, flyers, and deployment support offerings. Keep an eye out for morale boosting events like Easter egg hunts, beach bashes, or bowling days. Tell us what you need, what is missing, and help us manifest that.

My job is to see that the Commanding Officer’s vision of the Unit, Personal, and Family Readiness Program is executed. I cannot do it alone. I need your help. Tell me how to help you bring your piece of home here. Being forward deployed, with a high operational tempo brings challenges that I know are difficult. We can best attack those hardships united. We need volunteers in all capacities and are grateful for your support. I invite you to strengthen this community, so that this feels like home.

This job is personal to me. I am a Navy veteran from an Army, and Air Force family with a green side husband. I have worn many hats and can’t wait to meet and get to know you more.

"Taking Care of Our Most Important Resource"

VISION
To provide a program where 9th Engineer Support Battalion Marines, Sailors, and associated family members are actively involved in improving their personal and family readiness. This improved personal and family readiness will help to mitigate the difficulties often associated with the military lifestyle, particularly in a unique location like Okinawa.

The Unit, Personal, and Family Readiness Program has been developed over the last few years into an extremely useful and beneficial tool for members of the Marine Corps, Navy personnel assigned to a Marine unit, and their families. The program relies on the participation of the active duty members and their families. This is not a program only for families; it is a program for all personnel who are a part of 9th Engineer Support Battalion. Most important, this program belongs to this battalion.....we make it what we want. We have a professional and extremely helpful Family Readiness Officer, Sean Haynes, who helps make this program a success.

How can the Program help you? Think of program as if it were a tool like the popular and useful Swiss Army knife. It can help you in many situations.

• If you are in trouble or need help, use one of the many resources available to find a solution, or develop a way to reduce the issue to a manageable problem. A simple phone call or email to the FRO will open the door to resources you probably didn’t know existed.
• On the more positive side, if you are looking for some fun and exciting activities, the Family Readiness Officer coordinates and hosts many activities throughout the year, for both Single Marines and Families. From family pool parties to Jane Wayne days (spouses get to play 'Marine' for a day of military events) to Single Marine beach or barracks bashes, there is an activity planned for nearly every month of the year. These activities promote interaction among 9th Engineer Support battalion family members and often develop into lifelong friendships.

We are all in this fast-paced unit together. The Unit, Personal, and Family Readiness Program is a way to ensure we maintain our personal readiness which in turn improves our operational readiness. Make no mistake - the two types of readiness are interrelated. A Marine or Sailor who has all of their personal affairs in order can better focus on the mission at hand, and the family members of that Marine or Sailor can confidently go about their business knowing they are adequately cared for and have help in the event they want or need it. Use the program to your advantage. I highly encourage you to participate in unit functions; several years down the road you will be thankful you did as you look back on the good times here in Okinawa as part of 9th Engineer Support Battalion.

Calling from Overseas?

IN JAPAN

https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help-now/chat (recommended)

IN EUROPE

Call 00800 1273 8255 or DSN 118

IN KOREA

Call 080-855-5118 or DSN 118

IN AFGHANISTAN

Call 00 1 800 273 8255 or DSN 111

IN THE PHILIPPINES

Dial #MYVA or 02-8550-3888 and press 7

Text Option:  838255

Chat Option

Service Members overseas may contact the crisis lifeline via the chat modality at https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help-now/military-crisis-line/

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOW DID 988 IMPACT THE VETERANS CRISIS LINE?

The 988 expansion directly addressed the need for ease of access and clarity in times of crisis, both for Veterans and non-Veterans alike.

HAVE 988 PERSONNEL BEEN TRAINED SPECIFICALLY FOR VETERANS?

Veterans Crisis Line responders are continuing to support Veterans, service members, and their families via 988. Responders are trained in crisis intervention and military culture.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN VETERANS PRESS 1?

To reach the Veterans Crisis Line, Veterans need to Press 1 after dialing 988. Veterans and service members who Press 1 are routed to the same trained Veterans Crisis Line responders, 24/7. The Veterans Crisis Line is also available by chat (VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat) and text (838255). The Veterans Crisis Line’s 800 number remains operational for anyone utilizing the 10-digit number option.

IS THE VETERANS CRISIS LINE TEXT NUMBER CHANGING?

The Veterans Crisis Line is evaluating a new text option for Veterans and their supporters to reach caring, qualified responders 24/7. Upon activation, Veterans will still be able to text via 838255.

WHAT HAPPENS TO VETERANS OVERSEAS?

The Veterans Crisis Line’s 800 number is partnered with SAMHSA’s Lifeline network and is, therefore, a Continental United States (CONUS)-based toll-free number that remains active. As such, some international calls may incur a charge, depending upon the caller’s location and network provider. Nonetheless, a Veteran overseas may contact the Veterans Crisis Line via the chat modality at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat. If the Veteran prefers a phone call, they can request this within the chat venue. A Veterans Crisis Line responder will call them at the number they provide at no charge to the Veteran.

For active-duty personnel (VeteransCrisisLine.net/ActiveDuty.aspx), the Veterans Crisis Line is available:

• In Japan, call 1-800-273-8255 (international calling fees will apply depending on service provider)  or DSN 988
• In Europe, call 00800 1273 8255 or DSN 118.
• In Korea, call 080-855-5118 or DSN 118.
• In Afghanistan, call 00 1 800 273 8255 or DSN 111.
• In the Philippines, call #MYVA or 02-8550-3888 and press 7