Employment opportunities for military spouses and family members are limited on Okinawa. Plan on being out of work for two to six months and budget accordingly. It is possible to find work sooner than this estimate, but it could also take even longer. The best advice for the job seeker is to keep your options open, network and be persistent.

The employment situation on base is considered fair for military spouses and family members. The situation off base is extremely limited, with most positions requiring bilingual ability. The majority of off-base employment openings are as English conversation instructors.

Employment on-base is available in the following categories:

Appropriated Funds

• Marine Corps Base Civilian Human Resource Office
• Department of Defense Education Activity school system
• Most Army, Air Force, and Navy Appropriated Fund jobs on Okinawa can be viewed through USAJOBS.gov 

Non-Appropriated Funds

• Marine Corps Community Services: https://www.usmc-mccs.org/careers/
• Army and Air Force Exchange Service:https://publicaffairs-sme.com/applymyexchange/
• Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation:https://www.navymwrokinawa.com/jobs

U.S. Naval Hospital, Okinawa

• Contract positions

For Transitioning Service Members only: Schedule your IC appointment by visiting https://www.mccsokinawa.com/transition/#tab3*. 

The Transition Readiness Program (TRP) ensures that Marines are prepared for their transition from military to civilian life and provides Marines and their families with the tools and resources needed to pursue the Department of Defense directed Career Readiness Standards.  The program promotes awareness of the Career Readiness Standards (CRS) that Service Members must meet to create a successful transition in order to meet TAP Compliance. 10 U.S.C. § 1142(a)(4) Service members must comply with the below conditions to become TAP Compliant:

1.      Completion of Initial Counseling

2.      Completion of Pre-Separation Counseling

3.      Completion of TRS or Pre-Retirement

4.      2-day Track Completion based on Tier Assignment

5.      Capstone

6.      Commander/Designee Signature

Service Members are eligible to start their transition process as early as 24 months prior to separation and no later than 12 months. To register and receive the TRS Pre-Work checklist Service Members must contact their Unit Transition Coordinator (UTC). If you need assistance identifying your UTC, please contact our office a MCBB_TRP@USMC.MIL .

For additional information or assistance, visit the TRP website.

OVERVIEW:  Tuition Assistance is a program offered by the Department of Defense intended to encourage service members to volunteer to attend courses delivered by accredited civilian educational institutions on campus, at military installations, or through distance learning during off-duty times. To aid with this, $4,500 is available for active duty Marines every fiscal year (1 October - 30 September) to help pay for the cost of tuition. Current rates are $250 per semester hour or $166.67 per quarter hour.

Are you a Sailor interested in Tuition Assistance?  Click here for Navy specific guidelines and contact information.

ELIGIBILITY:  First time tuition assistance applicants must complete eligibility requirements to gain access to this funding.

     1. Complete the Personal Financial Management (PFM) Course.
          a. This course is completed within 90 days of arrival on first Permanent Duty Station at Joint Reception Center.
          b. Also available through Joint Knowledge Online (JKO) - Course Code is J3OP-US1395
          c. Upload completion certificate to your Web TA Portal.

     2. Attend a Marine Corps Tuition Assistance Overview (TA) Brief either online or in-person (no registration required).
          a. In-Person Schedule
               Schwab - Friday 1000
               Hansen - Wednesday 1000
               Courtney - Monday 1000
               Foster - Thursday 1000
               Futenma - Friday 1000
               Kinser - Tuesday 1000
          b. Online / Virtual
               Monday, Wednesday, & Friday 1000
               Meeting ID: 199 464 0271
               Password: tabrief

     3. Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) required ONLY IF GT SCORE EQUALS 99 OR BELOW.
          a. Check with your local Education Center for scheduled TABE tests.

APPLYING FOR TA:  Once the eligibility requirements are met, the next steps are enrolling in school and applying for TA to help cover the cost of tuition.

     1. Enroll in the school of your choice and request a degree plan (the list of classes required to earn your degree)
          a. First time TA users MUST attend their first TA funded class at an on-island school. Contact your local education center for possible exceptions to this requirement.
          b. Once received, upload a copy of your degree plan to your Web TA Portal.

     2. Choose a class that you wish to attend and apply for Tuition Assistance through your Web TA Portal.
          a. For guidance, please follow the instructions on our Step-by-Step Guide.

My Career Advancement Account Scholarship Program

The My Career Advancement Account Scholarship Program is a workforce development program that provides eligible military spouses with financial assistance for licenses, certifications or associate degrees to pursue an occupation or career field. For information on MyCAA, visit the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities page on Military OneSource.

No unemployment benefits on Okinawa.