INITIAL BASE CHECK-IN

¡Bienvenido a Rota!

• So you've just arrived in Rota, whats next?

• Your spouse sponsor will be there to pick you up, along with other spouses from the ship, the ombudsman, and people from the USO. It is a tight knit community here so everyone is more than willing to help out!

• Your spouse sponsor will take you to the Navy Lodge to drop luggage off and any pets that you might have.

• You will then make your way through a serious of important stops on the way with your sponsor. You WILL be tired but everyone has to go through the same check-in process so just bare with it.

• BRING ALL IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS WITH YOU INCLUDING PASSPORT AND STATESIDE DRIVERS LICENSE.

• The stops include:

1. Naval Station Rota Hospital

• Go to Patient Admin to sign up for overseas TriCare and check into the hospital.

• After, go to Dental to submit dental records and fill in paperwork if necessary.

• The hospital will stamp your orders (the 2nd stamp on your orders so far).

2. Building 1/Admin:

• Obtain your Page 13 (sponsorship letter), which will be needed to continue with the check in process.

• Page 13 could take a day to process, if so, pick it up the next day after 10am.

3. Security:

   • Obtain your TEI card (Spanish military ID). This allows you to get into the commissary and on and off base.

   • You will also get your temporary Driver's License, which is valid for 60 days.

   • Dependents will also turn in their No-Fee Passport here, which will go up to Madrid and be returned about 3 weeks later.

   • Security will stamp your orders allowing you to get on and off base (the 3rd stamp on your orders)

   • Not required at initial check-in, but recommend to apply for an NIE within first week of arrival.

4. Post Office:

   • Your spouse sponsor should set you up with a P.O. box prior to your arrival.

   • At the Post Office, you will check in and get the combination for your P.O. box.

   • This is a U.S address so whenever family mails things to you or you order things, DO NOT WRITE "SPAIN", "EUROPE", OR "ROTA" ANYWHERE ON IT. Write the address EXACTLY as your sponsor gives it to you.

5. Navy Federal:

   • Change address for any corresponding bank accounts, if applicable.

6. ICR - Fleet and Family Service Center:

   • Sign up for the Inter-cultural Relations (ICR) class for the first available convene date. It will meet M-Thur 8:30am - 3pm. Those with small children are encouraged to register for CDC childcare soon after arrival in Rota. It is free during ICR.

   • It is a base requirement for all Sailors and adult dependents who are new to Rota to attend. It will cover valuable information regarding Spanish culture and history, beginner Spanish, rules of the road, and important information regarding all base services. Here you will take your Spanish Driver's License test.

7. Housing Brief:

   • Attend the first available convene (important!). Those seeking off-base housing MUST attend prior to house-hunting.

   • Every Friday 1100: E-4 and below who are unaccompanied will attend a barracks brief.

   • Every Friday 1000: For on and off-base housing. Those interested in off-base housing will meet one-on-one with housing counselors after the brief. You will be entered into the system in order for you to receive TLA and to be able to sign a lease.