Camp Zama programs equip newcomers to Japan with vital information | Article
The welcome packet that Camp Zama’s Army Community Service prepares for attendees at the newcomer’s orientation includes informational brochures, contact information, and local magazines. The newcomers’ orientation provides incoming employees with a primer on many of the installation’s key organizations and services.
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CAMP ZAMA, Japan (Aug. 31, 2021) – Two programs that are part of the welcoming process for those newly arriving to Japan and Camp Zama help to quickly familiarize them with their new living and working environment.
“Head Start” is a weeklong class that serves as an introduction to Japanese food, culture and helpful-to-know phrases and customs. And the newcomers’ orientation provides incoming employees with a primer on many of the installation’s key organizations and services.
David Rood, an Education Services specialist at the Camp Zama Education Center, said his facility offers Head Start twice a month. During their in-processing, newcomers are scheduled to attend the program, and Rood recommends they attend within 30 days of their arrival to Japan.
The next scheduled Head Start class, which is already full, will be held Sept. 7 through 10. The class after that, which still has spaces available, will be held Sept. 20 through 24. Class sizes are currently limited to a maximum of 24 students due to COVID-19 restrictions, Rood said.
Head Start is a mandatory course required for all active-duty military members and Department of Defense employees assigned to Camp Zama, Rood said. The course provides students with some basic knowledge on