My orders just posted on CMS for Gaeta, anything I should expect or know?

Gaeta is a wonderful little tourist town about an hour and a half away from both Naples and Rome. There are no Government services, the NEX, Commissary, and the Hospital are all down at support site. That being said the towns surrounding Gaeta have plenty of places to shop and there are farmers markets in town or one town over just about every day. You have to live out in town, but thats part of fun of being there. The locals love you as the Navy is the lifeblood during the tourist off season. Formia is a bit farther from work, but your OHA will stretch farther there and you will be more likely to get a nice house with a yard. Check out the OHA calculator (http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/ohaCalc.cfm) to get an idea of what you will be capped at, remember you cant keep any extra OHA, they look for OHA fraud quite a bit while overseas. When you get there go to Cooks, its out in Formia, great family restaurant. Good luck in Gaeta!

I just got orders there as well. It's been a little over 2 years since your original post. Any pointers?

Benvenuto a Italy! Unlike many areas of the world, Italians actually like Americans, Especially if you try to get to know them just a little. Get in touch with NSA Gaeta and/or your parent command so that you can get ALL of the latest information and news about the area. As an E-5 you will be able to do an accompanied tour (most likely as long as you meet all requirements). Your Command is the best source of information.

I loved living and working in Italy. Gaeta is just a stones throw from Naples, Rome, and all kinds of tourist destinations. Study some Italian if possible, but the local dialect is a Italian/Spanish mixture known as Napalatian.

Good luck and Enjoy.