MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Station residents, along with their soon-to-be spouses, attended the Marine Corps Family Team Building Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program workshop at Yujo Hall here Feb. 29.
The workshop taught those attending about the financial, legal and communication aspects of marriage. .
“The idea behind the workshop is to support the Marine Corps Bases Japan order stating anyone in Japan or getting married to a foreign national needs to attend this premarital workshop,” said Jerilynn Campos, MCFTB life-skills trainer. “Those getting married in the states to an American can also attend the workshop and get great information out of it.”
MCBJ 3rd Marines Expeditionary Force Order 1752.1C states a pre-marital workshop such as this is a requirement for all active duty personnel assigned to MCBJ III MEF who are either marrying a foreign national or having a marriage which will occur in Japan.
“There’s a lot of paperwork involved with getting married here because of our (Status of Forces Agreement) status,” said Campos. “We want to bring all the experts on marriage here in one place to better prepare those who plan on getting married here.”
The legal aspects of getting married in Japan or to a foreign national differ from what servicemembers experience in the states.
The order details the legal and administration requirements for pre and post-marital paperwork and benefits.
“This workshop clearly communicates the expectations of a marriage here from a command perspective,” said Lt. j.g. Travis E. Coffey, Marine Aircraft Group 12 deputy chaplain. “For anyone marrying a Japanese national or having their marriage take place in Japan, this lets you know exactly what needs to happen.”
While the workshop focused on preparing those who are seeking to tie the knot in Japan, all personnel planning to marry could take away helpful information about the legal requirements of a successful and happy marriage.
“Without question, the financial part of marriage, in my opinion, is about 80 percent of the problems you could have in a marriage,” said Cpl. Jeffrey P. Vanmourik, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron food service cook. “It was really beneficial being there today learning how to better communicate in my marriage and handle any problems which may arise.”
MCFTB hosts these premarital workshops every other month, as well as other programs to help and support servicemembers with the challenges of living a military lifestyle.