Stay off base or find a SOFA job that is the question.

[Richard Burns]

I've been living on the economy for a few years now and am wondering of I should continue to do so or try to find a job on the dark side lol. If you were me would you stay on the Japanese side or try to find something on base. What for those who now have SOFA jobs how did you do it? Are you happy that you did, do you have regrets?
Thanx

[DoctorP]

It depends on if you can accomplish the things you want to do by staying non-SOFA or not. I was having difficulty, so I opted to go on base. As for how did I do it? Kept looking at posted jobs and put in for pretty much anything that came open to local hire. Started with MCCS, then moved soon after at the prodding of a friend.

If you are happy the way things are, then no need to move...but be sure that your future and your children's future is secure.

[dk]

Base job, unless you like low pay and no benefits or are fluent in Japanese. Still, unless you're IT, I'd probably still say base job. Took me ten years to get over the pride I had from working on the local economy and give in to the dark side. And all for CHEESE and cheap beer! (Actually, 401k, medical/dental, free tuition assistance and certifications is also pretty groovy)

[Okiman]

If you are happy the way things are, then no need to move...but be sure that your future and your children's future is secure.

I could not agree with that more!!! :thumbup: I was in a position last year and was looking at the grass on the other side and all said and done, the best for me and my family was to stay where I was and the way things paned out, I am grateful for that non-move. :first:

[Carl]

Kind of in the same boat here. Been living off the economy and so far it's been OK (I can count on one hand the number of times I've gone on base for personal reasons). It feels nice to be in complete control of my life and not shackled by SOFA rules. But, I'm at a point now where $25k a year (or rather the yen equivalent) just isn't going to cut it with the baby and me and the wife wanting to move in to a real house and stuff. I've already submitted my resume in reply to a job posting that pays $80-$85k a year for the exact same job I'm doing now (actually less...I'm doing in one job what alot of companies split in to 3 jobs). It's a SOFA job. I'm not expecting a call back, but figured I'd submit it anyway. You never know... Anyway, as much as I would love to continue living off the economy and be a regular old resident here, financially I just can't do it any more and there aren't too many other places I know of on island that would tolerate my very basic Japanese.

From what I can tell, the benefits of having a SOFA job would be a more competitive wage, more holidays (my company gives me Japanese holidays, but only the major ones), and base privilidges if you don't already have them. The cons would be getting on base in the morning (I've seen some pretty crazy lines of cars outside the gates), driving on base (MPs can be real dick heads), and the possibility of being told you're not allowed out of your home because some asshole in the military you don't even know did something stupid (in reference to the lock down back in february).

[dk]

The cons would be getting on base in the morning (I've seen some pretty crazy lines of cars outside the gates)
Consistantly takes me fifteen minutes from the time I leave my apartment to the time I arrive at work.

[Bones]

Yeah dude, but your car flies.:rolleyes:

[hankypanky]

I'll take the lower wages of living in town any day to being sofa. After i retired, i told myself, "self, you're not going to have the man tell you what to do again", and i've kept to that promise now for 8 years. My wife would love me to have a "salary" job, but shit in one hand and wish in the other and see which one fills up first!

As long as i stay strong and healthy, there is no reason for me to switch to the "dark side". I don't plan on retiring, because i love to work, and never want to go back to the rat race across the pond. Green Card all the way baby! :smile4:

[Go-Shay]

I'll take the lower wages of living in town any day to being sofa. After i retired, i told myself, "self, you're not going to have the man tell you what to do again", and i've kept to that promise now for 8 years. My wife would love me to have a "salary" job, but shit in one hand and wish in the other and see which one fills up first!

As long as i stay strong and healthy, there is no reason for me to switch to the "dark side". I don't plan on retiring, because i love to work, and never want to go back to the rat race across the pond. Green Card all the way baby! :smile4:

a little different story here, not retired from the military but a small biz owner and I don't want to give in to the dark side (again):thumbup1: been there done that. It's not for the faint of heart, everyday you have to look in the "mirror" and wonder whats gonna happen, but at the end you are responsible for your fortune or misfortune. You are only responsible to your family, sometimes it gets very stressful but things just happen and keep you going. Now I guess it would be different if you work for a Japanese company, and keep getting shit on or just plain ****ed with. It's worked better for me to stay away from SOFA as I'm allowed more paths.

[OKI4EVR]

I've been living on the economy for a few years now and am wondering of I should continue to do so or try to find a job on the dark side lol. If you were me would you stay on the Japanese side or try to find something on base. What for those who now have SOFA jobs how did you do it? Are you happy that you did, do you have regrets?
Thanx

all depends on what makes you happy. what are your personal pros and cons of taking a sofa job? which "dark side" are you looking at trying to join... civil service, DoDEA, non-appropriated funds, or as a contractor?

[ryukyuboi]

I would try for the job on base. I believe the positives far outweigh any negatives there may be.

[Asshat]

We're all whores for something. The way I figure, the more whoring I do, the more I need in my paycheck. It all depends on what you can live with.

Also, the "dark side" refers to SOFA in general in this thread. There is a world of difference between agencies who provide for SOFA. Not all of us are "commanded" by a military authority, or required to attend military training evolutions.

25K for the freedom to get a Japanese plated vehicle and not go through lock-down once every 25 years versus 100K. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

[hankypanky]

We're all whores for something. The way I figure, the more whoring I do, the more I need in my paycheck. It all depends on what you can live with.

Also, the "dark side" refers to SOFA in general in this thread. There is a world of difference between agencies who provide for SOFA. Not all of us are "commanded" by a military authority, or required to attend military training evolutions.

25K for the freedom to get a Japanese plated vehicle and not go through lock-down once every 25 years versus 100K. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

yeah, maybe for that amount of money i would shave my balls and wake up early every morning :D

[Asshat]

yeah, maybe for that amount of money i would shave my balls and wake up early every morning :D

I shave them so she doesn't have to spit all the time. As far as waking up early, hell man, sleeping in for me is 6:30 AM. I hear all of us old people are like that. :old:

[hankypanky]

I shave them so she doesn't have to spit all the time. As far as waking up early, hell man, sleeping in for me is 6:30 AM. I hear all of us old people are like that. :old:

Well i'm right behind you. 730 is late for me now. but it takes me 2 hours to get my groove on in the shitter:D......but at least i wake up:-|

[Old guy]

I shave them so she doesn't have to spit all the time. As far as waking up early, hell man, sleeping in for me is 6:30 AM. I hear all of us old people are like that. :old:

Lol.... not me, i hate waking up in the morning unless it's to go get another drink.