INTRODUCTION
MENSÔRE Our mission at Marine Corps Community Services is to support Marines, Sailors and their family members on Okinawa with exceptional services and programs that enhance personal and family readiness. Okinawa Guide 2021-2022 is yet another example of that enduring commitment. We hope you will find this free annual guide to be a valuable resource in navigating one of the most memorable U.S. military duty stations in the world. A captivating champuru (meaning “harmonious mix” in the Okinawan language) of East and West and of old and new, Okinawa is an island paradise replete with both breathtaking natural beauty and 21st century amenities such as retail, restaurants, resorts and recreation. The transition to Okinawa is usually smooth and stressfree, but military life overseas can pose unique challenges for service members, spouses and children—especially with a global pandemic thrown into the mix. If you’re new to the island or to living abroad, know that you have a tremendous quality-of-life resource in Marine Corps Community Services. Our many programs and services provide everything from family readiness and financial planning to functional fitness, fine dining and fun—much of it free-ofcharge or priced to provide a terrific value proposition. We encourage you to use Okinawa Guide 2021-2022 as a power-packed information tool to aid in a troublefree transition—starting with your arrival as a nervous newcomer to your departure as an honorary Okinawanat-heart. From all of us at MCCS and all who serve and support the U.S. military community on Okinawa, we extend a hearty and sincere “mensôre,” or welcome!
Jim Kassebaum Chief Marketing Officer
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