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When considering your options for working abroad, the Department of Defense offers a number of programs in 14 different foreign countries with its primary goal to provide education to the dependents of civilian and military personnel who are on overseas assignments. There are currently over 6,000 teaching jobs servicing around 90,000 students, and their main headquarters are located in Arlington, Virginia, Okinawa, Japan and Germany.

These EFL teaching jobs have very high standards and they are accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, with the Department of Defense committed to providing a high quality education for students with a comparable education program to that which is found in the mainland of the United States. This education can include families and schools together, distance education, drug abuse education, and Sure Start. The curriculum is patterned to match the finest educational programs in America, and English as a second language and special education are also taught, as well as programs for gifted students.

A job working abroad for the Department of Defense in a teaching capacity is much the same as in America, with a vacation received during the summer months, and the ability to travel throughout numerous countries and to soak in the culture. Overseas teachers will also have access to military hospitals, low cost care, and a number of other benefits.

The daily routine is quite flexible and adaptable to the individual, and working with Americans provides a much more comfortable setting for teaching jobs abroad than does teaching natives, which can be sort of a culture clash.

In order to meet eligibility for the Department of Defense teaching programs, there are a number of qualifications in order to work abroad. All applicants to these jobs must be U.S. citizens, in addition to having physical abilities to perform their duties effectively, and they must also be in excellent health, as medical services may be limited depending on the location abroad.

The availability of the job applicant will also be considered and the education required to work abroad includes a bachelor’s degree, in addition to 40 hours of educational coursework, distributed among a number of different subjects. An additional 18 credit hours of teaching education in the basics of learning and curriculum may also be required, depending on the individual government program.

Teaching experience is also a must in order to provide a proven track record of performance, although one year of teaching in a public or private institution is usually sufficient to work overseas for the Department of Defense. Foreign college credits may also be accepted depending on the particular overseas program and the discretion of the person evaluating the application.

The Department of Defense international schools also require traditional DOD licenses which include an emergency license, a provisional license, and a professional license. Emergency licenses are provided to overseas teachers who are not available to perform in a position immediately and it is valid for one year, while a provisional license is good enough for two full years. A professional teaching license issued by the Department of Defense means that an individual has met the qualifications of two years of teaching experience and they have access to these teaching jobs for the rest of their lives.

Most overseas teaching positions are scheduled in the winter months around December and January, although waiting lists are also filled out for any vacant positions that may open up in the future. Families will receive preferential employment opportunities for a teaching position, although this will not be a primary consideration if a non family candidate is much more qualified.

Former members of the military also receive increased employment opportunities from the Deptartment of Defense teaching program. Keep in mind that the acceptance process is fairly rigorous and requires an extensive background in academic study. A proven track record as an educator, in addition to exemplary personal qualities and awards, are helpful to gain a competitive overseas job position working in an international school.

So what kind of salary can and overseas teaching job paid for the Department of Defense? Overseas teaching salaries are comparable to those in the states, and they are usually set by law and include free housing and allowances for medical and expenditures. There also a number of tax benefits from teaching abroad.

The Federal Employees Retirement System provides retirement benefits for those teaching overseas, and sometimes those on overseas job assignments may have to pay for their own housing, which may be provided in government facilities or as a daily per diem.

So how long does an international schooling job last?

Most of these overseas teaching jobs last for one or two years in areas such as Europe, East Asia, and certain parts of Middle East. Medical facilities overseas are usually quite excellent as they are provided on military hospital facility bases. The Department of Defense also offers special education courses for the children of those in teaching positions, and they will take care of a wide range of disabilities.

The amount of subjects that can be taught at a DOD school are extensive and run the full range from English to vocational subjects such as cosmetology. There also exist opportunities for educational support positions, which may not require as much of the university background, like teaching assistants and teaching aids. Teaching English as a second language is also a popular choice for teaching positions in the defense department.

If you are interested in applying for Department of Defense dependent school position, you should do so well before early January to be considered for the next school year. International teaching schools also exist which receive partial sponsorship by the U.S. government as their independent entities. The schools usually provide a good route to gain in English as a foreign language teaching job overseas experience and make for an excellent springboard to more educational opportunities abroad.

Another resource that you can use to find a teaching job abroad is the International School Service, which was founded about 50 years ago to help educate expatriate and military children overseas, and candidates may be accepted with a bachelor’s degree in two years of successful school experience in a private and public school setting. Most international school applicants will have to pay a registration fee and they may have to pay an additional charge once the position is secured as a result of the International School Services effort.

Just remember that it takes an impressive resume to gain a teaching job in a DOD international school, but it is an excellent springboard to additional opportunities for work overseas and the benefits are numerous and involve a fairly low stress environment that does not involve full immersion into a host culture. For more information about these types of positions you can visit ISS.edu or DOD.gov