The Newcomer’s Orientation Welcome Aboard brief is mandatory for all accompanied USMC and USN Service Members, family members (military and civilian), children ages 16 and up, all unaccompanied USMC and USN (E-6 and above) Service Members and civilian personnel. New arrivals are required to attend the NOWA brief within 72 hours of arrival.
ALL E-5 and below unaccompanied Marines and Sailors assigned to Marine units arriving on Okinawa, please read the Joint Reception Center (JRC) Welcome Aboard Letter.
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Event: In-person Newcomers’ Orientation Welcome Aboard (NOWA) Brief
- Times: 0645 - Arrival time for any Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) privately owned vehicle (POV) license testers, Japanese license holders, and within Japan transfers (Any personnel who arrive after the 0700 SOFA POV licensing examination start time will not be permitted to enter the testing area).
- 0700 – 0830 - SOFA POV license examination (Optional if completing before/after the NOWA Brief at the Installation Safety Office).
- 0815 - Arrival time for non-POV SOFA license examination testers
- 0830 – 1300 - Mandatory NOWA Brief
Location: Camp Foster Ocean Breeze, Northern Breeze Room, 2nd FL
Attire: Proper civilian attire or uniform of the day
Per the United States Forces, Japan Instruction 36-2811, all SOFA status personnel and their family members stationed in Japan are required to complete an indoctrination training program within 72 hours of arrival to their permanent duty station. The NOWA Brief satisfies this requirement.
Children ages 16 years and older are required to attend a NOWA Brief.*
*A Youth and Teen Tour will be available for newcomers ages 10 - 15 years and will consist of visits to the following Camp Foster facilities: Kishaba Youth Center, Base Exchange, Library, and Bowling Center. The tour will depart from Camp Foster Ocean Breeze parking lot at 0840 and return at 1130 in time for the youth and teens to join their parents for the Information Fair. Please note that seating is limited to 28 participants. Parents are highly encouraged to pre-register their youth and teens when signing up for the NOWA brief.
Children aged 15 years and younger are not required to attend a NOWA Brief.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mccs-newcomers-orientation-welcome-aboard-tickets-1042519532987?aff=oddtdtcreator
To request a virtual NOWA Brief please send an email to mcbb_reloassist@usmc.mil, with “Virtual NOWA Brief Request” in the subject line.
A virtual NOWA Brief is available to the newcomers who are spouses of the Active Duty service members, DoD civilians, and contractors with children under the age of 16 years old.
A virtual NOWA Brief is also available to the newcomer who is a single parent with children under the age of 16 years old.
All others are required to complete an in-person NOWA Brief.
All children are still welcome to attend an in-person NOWA Brief; however, some content discussed may not be considered suitable for all ages.
The virtual NOWA Brief is a 2-hour, video-based webinar. Virtual NOWA Brief codes and training links are specific to the individual and will be emailed to the approved newcomer personal email address on the Thursday following the in-person NOWA Brief by 1000.
All newcomers that complete a virtual NOWA Brief prior to 1400 on Friday will have their name(s) forwarded to the MCIPAC-MCBB Installation Safety Office POV Licensing Section showing proof of virtual NOWA Brief completion.
MCCS Child Care Services for NOWA Brief Attendees:
Free childcare service with MCCS Child & Youth Programs (CYP) is available on a one time, limited, space available basis. The following details apply:
- Services will be provided at the Camp Foster, Chimugukuru Child Development Center (CDC), building 499.
- Limited spaces available for children 6 weeks – 5 years of age.
- Drop off will be no earlier than 06:15 and children must be picked up no later than 15:00.
- Parents must pre-register their child/children at the MCCS Resource & Referral (R&R) office in building 495, room 100, on Camp Foster.
- Reservations for care are made at the MCCS R&R office after completion of registration, but no later than noon Tuesday the day prior to the NOWA Brief.
- Registration packets can be emailed to the parent or picked up at the MCCS R&R office by parents or their sponsor.
- For more information, parents or sponsors should call 645-4117 or 645-4062 as early as possible prior to the newcomer’s arrival.
- Reservations can only be made once registration is completed.
Welcome!
Congratulations on being stationed on the beautiful island of Okinawa!
Your mission here in the Indo Asia Pacific Region is crucial to our partnerships with allied nations and the stability of the region. You’re about to embark on an exciting journey that is sure to deliver an experience you won’t get anywhere else in the Marine Corps. You will have the opportunities to train with our military allies, take part in multinational exercises, and put your skills to the test on a daily basis. On top of all that, you get to live in a foreign country where you can experience the local culture and have access to a wide-range of activities. Your journey will start with the dedicated Marines at the JRC. Upon arriving to Okinawa, you’ll be hosted by the JRC for 5- 10 days during the processing period. Ensure that you have the following on your person:
1. Copy of your orders
2. Flight itinerary
3. Military ID
We’ll ensure that you get set up for success for serving in your unit and taking full advantage of living in Okinawa. We’re here to serve you and we look forward to your arrival! ARRIVING TO KADENA AIR BASE (VIA PATRIOT EXPRESS) The Patriot Express typically arrives every Friday night to Kadena Air Base by way of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Once you arrive, standby in the seating area until a JRC Marine and PMO arrive; you’ll work your way through customs under there guidance. Once you’re through, we’ll have buses waiting to take you to Camp Foster to start the processing period.
ARRIVING TO NAHA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (VIA COMMERCIAL FLIGHT)
If you are arriving to Okinawa through Naha International Airport (OKA), look out for a Marine in Service “C” uniform. This is a JRC Marine awaiting your arrival who will drive you to Camp Foster to start the processing period. In the event a JRC Marine is not there, look for a blue and red sign depicted in the image below. These signs are posted at every gate and will have information regarding contacting the JRC Duty to have a Marine pick you up. Courtesy phones are located behind the Information Desk. Under NO circumstances should you leave the airport and find public transportation to a US military installation. Be sure to contact JRC upon your arrival. If unsure, ask an airport official for assistance.
CONTACT
Use in Need of Pickup:
JRC Duty Driver Phone: 090-6861-4727
JRC Office: 645-5769 (DSN), 098-970-5170 (commercial)
H&S Bn Duty Phone: 645-7315 (DSN), 098-970-7315 (commercial)
MCB Camp Butler Operator: 098-954-5555 (commercial)
Okinawa Base Information provides information on other MCCS/USMC Installations, Okinawa Military Services, how to direct dial on-base phones from a cell or off-base phone, information on The Green Line and off-base buses, USMC on Okinawa along with other military links.
Okinawa is surrounded by world-class beaches and dive spots and is considered a "hotbed" for a variety of recreational water activities. With the pristine beaches and the wide variety of recreational water activities, there also exists an element of danger. Water conditions can change in minutes and riptides are widely present throughout the coastline due to unique coral formations.
It is essential all personnel engaging in water activities on Okinawa be acutely aware of the dangers involved in recreational water activities on Okinawa. A great place to start becoming more knowledgeable is through the Marine Corps Base Butler Base Installation Safety Office's Water Safety Web Page. Please become familiar with this important information as it may save your life!
Essential relocation websites have extensive information on relocation.
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The Military OneSource web page is a central hub and go-to place for the military community. Find out more about benefits and helpful steps to take when preparing for the big stuff – deployments, reintegration, moves, parenthood, retirement, managing finances, and much more.
The Department of Defense (DoD) has launched the new PCS & Military Moves landing page on the Military OneSource website as a replacement for its previous information hub, Move.mil. Military OneSource will now serve as a single online access point for DoD members and their families to plan the full spectrum of their move. The new PCS & Military Moves landing page can be accessed under the Moving & Housing section of the Military OneSource website. Customers may use the website to schedule a move and find resources related to moving their personal property as well as other aspects of their move. Additionally, the Household Goods Inconvenience Claims - Informational Brochure provides information on how to file a claim if your shipment is delayed.