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 2022-2023 is yet another example of that enduring commitment. We hope you will find this free annual guide to be a valuable resource for enjoying 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 abundant 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—even more so with the persistent COVID-19 pandemic. If you’re new to the island or to living abroad, know that you have a tremendous qualityof-life resource in Marine Corps Community Services. Our many programs and services provide everything from family readiness and financial planning to functional fitness, fine or fast-casual dining and fun—much of it free-of-charge or priced to provide a terrific value proposition. We encourage you to use Okinawa Guide 2022-2023 as a power-packed information tool to aid in a trouble-free transition—starting with your arrival as a nervous newcomer to your departure as an honorary Okinawan-at-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
OKINAWA GUIDE 2022–2023 |9
