To add on to my other post about trying to escape English teaching, I have also considered trying to work on a military installation (preferably in Okinawa). Does anyone here have experience working as a non-military personnel on a military installation here? I was in the military for a while and still have an active security clearance, so I figured this could also be a solution to my wanting to escape English teaching problem. I have specifically been eyeing some HR and logistics positions.
I’m currently on a spouse visa, if I work for the US government, would I have to change to SOFA status? Would I be required to PCS ever? Or could I stay in Japan indefinitely?
Overall, what is it like working for the US government while living in Japan?
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There are different types of Jobs on the base that provide very different benefits and can drastically change the answer to alot of your questions.
As a federal employee, even as a local hire, at some point you would be required to return to the US. It is commonly known as the “5 year rule” and you would be to be CONUS for a minimum of 2 years before coming back overseas. Its the government so there are obviously exceptions to every rule.
As a contractor, you would not be subject to that rule but you lose out on some of the benefits that a federal “GS” employee receives. Upside, the base pay is generally higher, downside it is a contract that could end at anytime.
Speaking in very general terms here but hope this helps.
Know that if you switch to sofa, you’ll be resetting the clock for PR status.
I’m working as a contractor in Okinawa pm me if you have any questions
Apply for the USO! They offer SOFA status and it is not under the US government so the 5 year rule doesn’t matter.
If you have a security clearance and some IT certifications, you can get hired pretty easily (at least based on my experience in the past). My clearance has long since expired and I tried to get back in to contracting last year (took a 3 month break from my main job and decided to see what else was out there), but I couldn’t even get an interview without an active clearance.
That said, I truly did hate working as a contractor. I hated the bureaucracy, I hated the attitudes and egos of certain senior leadership, I hated the stress of having to find a new job every couple years, I hated that my skills were becoming obsolete due to the slow adoption of new tech and being limited to the narrow scope of a contract, and I hated feeling like I depended on the bases. It was nice for a while, but the novelty of having access to cheap gas and American stuff didn’t make up for my day to day feeling that I was wasting my potential so I eventually moved on.
Former military and current DOD civilian. Check usajobs for positions. Okinawa ALWAYS needs people. You would go from spouse visa to sofa visa. Depending on the job you do, you MIGHT pcs back to the states eventually.GS positions and jobs where you get housing benefits tend to have to go back after 5 year rotation, after extensions are used up. Local hire positions don’t have that issue. Just be aware that some restrictions that the military fall under you might as well. This really applied for the health emergency order due to covid. However, if it is a punishment style restriction, it usually doesn’t apply to us, but I am not sure about okinawa.
Yeah the GS side has a 3 year rule with a 2 year extension if your supervisor needs you.Can be extended passed this for some critical roles but rarely ever happens. What my bosses have mentioned people done at my workplace are two options. Option 1.) you love Japan and don’t want to leave after your GS time. Go work at NAF or AAFES. Continue to be on SOFA without needing to leave Japan. Option 2.) You move to Guam or Korea to work 2 years there (dwelling time required). Then you can move back to Japan for another 5 years on GS.