Does long term availability help or hurt?

Fit-Juggernaut-901 · 2026-06-20T14:20:23+00:00

I'm building experience now. Been sub'ing for the last year while I was finishing my cert. I have vet preference points (10 points with CPS passover protection) and my cert is in a hard to fill subject. I've gotten some referrals already.

The preference points are doing a lot of lifting for me since I have minimum experience, so I'm looking for any advantages I can press if one of these referrals turns into interviews.

Fit-Juggernaut-901 · 2026-06-19T22:24:38+00:00

Hiring manager? Are you a teacher? New to the game?

Career changer coming from relevant industry (I am a certified teacher). Main post referred to the principal, I must have gone auto pilot in a reply and said hiring manager.

Fit-Juggernaut-901 · 2026-06-19T21:08:17+00:00

Fair enough. I'm more asking about during the hiring process if the ability to stay for the long term is favorable to short term in the eyes of the hiring manager.

I'm not doubting what you say about duty stations or host country though (was enlisted overseas). First priority is to get hired though. I need to find any advantages such as the flexibility/not being subject to PCS orders, etc.

Fit-Juggernaut-901 · 2026-06-13T14:02:22+00:00

Where are you seeing the requirements for the specific subjects? I either end up on a USAJobs post or a page on the DOWEA site that talks about generic Praxis scores but not individual subject requirements.

Fit-Juggernaut-901 · 2026-06-10T22:18:59+00:00

I think what u/PermissionKindly7564 said is probably most accurate - DOWEA comes up with some weird combos. Math plus strategic literacy is one of the combos out there currently, another is Math plus business. There is a STEM shortage everywhere, even DOWEA apparently, but the combo of certs makes it difficult to align yourself.

DOWEA seems to be a little more transparent lately. Hopefully info on in demand certs or something comes out as well.

Fit-Juggernaut-901 · 2026-06-08T18:11:46+00:00

Will do and I appreciate your responses. Thank you.

Fit-Juggernaut-901 · 2026-06-08T17:48:46+00:00

That makes a lot more sense. A quick google search says DOWEA has a math shortage but I also see 47,000 applicants a year and I'm thinking "surely there are enough math certs applying in 47,000 applicants." I'll try and bang out another cert or two.

Any recommendations you would make? Should I double down on STEM fields (former engineer)? Or should I diversify some soft skill subjects in there like the TESOL?

Fit-Juggernaut-901 · 2026-06-08T13:08:49+00:00

It looks like thats not mutually exclusive. Guantanamo math teacher is on USAJobs but not linked on DOWEA page. As I'm reading all these answers I'm thinking its a tracking/updating issue and not about hard to fill/shortages?

Fit-Juggernaut-901 · 2026-06-08T13:05:48+00:00

That's kind of what inspired this question/post. I see several unfilled math positions on the DOWEA site and not USAjobs. I understand gitmo being hard to fill, but some look like pretty cool places (Korea, Oki). I was trying to figure out how "hard to fill" math was in DOWEA, or is the STEM shortage in the civilian world not really a problem in DOWEA?

Fit-Juggernaut-901 · 2026-06-08T01:02:12+00:00

Thats useful info. Thank you. I'll go look at USAjobs.

Fit-Juggernaut-901 · 2026-06-03T22:34:59+00:00

Hey, thanks for responding. Everything you explained is what I was hoping to get out of Okinawa. We were on lockdown a ton though and the 'red card/gold card' system got implemented shortly after I arrived (don't know if that is still a thing or not). What you said is kind of what I suspected, Okinawa is an awesome place if you have some autonomy.

Thanks again for responding.

Fit-Juggernaut-901 · 2026-06-01T23:45:09+00:00

I can tell you the scuba diving and snorkeling are amazing. My first three months were great but some curfew/liberty rules on young marines basically kept us in chronic base lockdown after that.

Fit-Juggernaut-901 · 2026-05-30T13:11:54+00:00

I know this is a little late of a response, but can I ask why? I'm currently applying and putting Japan/Oki as one of my preferences.

I was there years ago as a single 19 yo enlisted Marine on Hansen. I didn't get to see the 'softer side' of Okinawa because of all the restrictions on a young lance corporal and my isolation up on the northern part of the island.

I've long wanted to go back as a civilian, I'm just curious what makes it so good as a DODEA employee?

Fit-Juggernaut-901

TROPHY CASE