2. OVERVIEW
The current Area Orientation Briefing (AOB) that
each new service member and family member
attends upon arrival provides valuable information
and resources about the new installation and can
be enhanced by a simple trip to the grocery store,
shopping mall, and self help store, in addition to the
trip to a local temple.
3. INTRODUCTION
Packing your bags, making sure you have all the
necessary paperwork, including passports and
having your entire household pack in boxes and
shipped halfway around the world is part of being a
military personnel. A new duty station happens
about every three years, and the local Fleet and
Family Support Center plays an integral part in
ensuring that each personnel along with their family
member gets acquainted to the new installation
seamlessly.
4. THE OPPORTUNITY
Current Situation
The current Area Orientation Briefing (AOB) plays as vital
part in providing valuable information and resources to
incoming military personnel and family member.
The current brief offers the following information:
• Military base rules and regulation
• Local county’s rules and regulation
• Military base facilities provided (Gym, Shopping Area,
Food Court)
• Location of base facilities
• Trip to local temple / shrine
• Trip to a local restaurant
6. THE OPPORTUNITY
Key Success Factors
The addition of a trip to local area shops like a grocery
store and shopping mall can offer incoming personnel a
better experience while “out and about” in their new host
country. By providing additional trips to local area
shops, incoming military personnel and their family
member can better understand the host country’s
culture and way of living. For instance, a trip to a local
grocery store can provide a glimpse on what to expect
and look for when shopping for every day household
items. Furthermore, it will also introduce the new
military personnel and their family members how the
locals shops.
7. THE OPPORTUNITY
Key Success Factors (cont.)
For example, when we shop at a local grocery store
such as Publix or Whole Foods in United States, the
items we need is organized in such a way that makes
shopping easy. Once we are done shopping we pay for
it and baggers normally bags our groceries and even
help us to our car to unload the groceries. In a host
country like Japan, the items are labeled in Kanji and
once you are done shopping and you thought you
bought the right items, you will then take it to the cahier,
pay for your bag to place the groceries in and also bag it
yourself on the table across the cashier.
9. THE OPPORTUNITY
Analysis of Alternatives
Local culture experience can be enhanced with a trip to
a local grocery store, shopping mall, and self help store
The local store trips will provide an insight on local
goods and the type of products that we can shop for.
10. THE OPPORTUNITY
Strategic Option
By arranging a trip to a local stores, such as a grocery,
shopping mall, and self help, new comers can have a
better understanding on how to shop locally which can be
done in several ways:
Divide the personnel into smaller groups
• Offer the trip throughout the entire week long seminar to
avoid extending it
• Enlist the help of local residents when touring the shops
11. BENEFITS AND RISK OF STRATEGIC OPTION
Benefits
The additional information that the trip to a local grocery
store, shopping mall, or local self help store can ensure
that incoming military personnel and their family member
can really enjoy and appreciate the culture of the host
country.
Be more familiar with the local labeling of
merchandise.
Enhanced experience while stationed abroad
Better understanding of host country cultures and way
of living
Can create a stronger relationship among the local
residents and business owners
13. BENEFITS AND RISKS OF STRATEGIC OPTION
Risks
The additional trips to local store can prolong the AOB
sessions
Initial arrangement to local store tours can be difficult if
the facilities in the area are unwilling to participate.
14. FINAL RECOMMENDATION
The current outline of the Area Orientation Briefing (AOB)
provides resources and information that can be enhanced
by adding trips to local shopping stores to ensure that new
personnel can really appreciate the culture of the host
county.
The additional trip can be offered in the following way
instead of just one big group going into a store:
• Offer smaller group tours
• Offer the tour by section to be given throughout the
seminar
• Enlist the help of local resident to provide the tour
• Market to local business the possible increase in
business from gaining new patrons
