After 30 years of working with the Department of Defense, Kyoko Hirota is now the budget analyst for Marine Corps Base Camp Butler. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Denny).

Now eight job titles, a husband, a 17-year-old son, two dogs and a pet turtle later, Hirota works as the budget analyst for G-1, personnel and administration, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler.

After graduating from a Japanese high school, Hirota, moved to Westminister, Calif., to attend a year long adult education school, where foreign citizens learned English. From there, she then attended Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, Wash., for two years, where she played on the school's varsity volleyball and basketball teams.

Before she started working on base, she became accustomed to American culture through her experiences in the English school and college in America, said Hirota.

After Hirota earned an associate's degree in general studies, she returned to Japan and wanted to use her English language skills in a career. A job with the Government of Japan as a master labor contract employee supporting the DoD was a perfect fit.

"I figured they were looking for English-speaking and writing abilities," said Hirota about the job. She said she wanted to take full advantage of her American education.

Hirota completed the interview and was hired as a secretary for the contracting department, U.S. Fleet Industrial Supply Center on Yokosuka Naval Base Japan on mainland.

At that time, primary jobs were being held mostly by men, but now more women share those jobs, she said.

Hirota worked in four different positions at Yokosuka. Her last job there was as a program analyst. While a program analyst at Yokosuka in 1990, Hirota met her husband. Three years later her husband transferred to Okinawa bringing his family along.

While on Okinawa, she eventually found herself as the lead staffing and employment technician in the Civilian Human Resources Office, Japanese employment section, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler. So far, this has been her favorite job, because she was able to help Japanese people find jobs on base, as well as help them with any problems that came up at work, she said.

She enjoys her current job because she likes "to work with and help people, and I enjoy getting them to smile," Hirota said.

Her long career has helped Hirota become accustomed to working with her U.S. counterparts, she said. Her positions have allowed her to work with people from many different cultures, including Mexico and the Philippines and she learns about other cultures from pen pals in Germany, France and Austria, she added.

In recognition of her 30 years of service, Hirota was congratulated by Maj. Gen. Mary Ann Krusa-Dossin, commanding general, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Oct. 29.

"I feel honored and lucky to be in the work I do now," Hirota said. "I appreciated Major General Krusa-Dossin taking the time out of her busy schedule to congratulate me."

After 30 years of working alongside the DoD, Hirota said if she left her current position she would like to follow her dreams of helping people, animals and the environment.

"My current goal is to help restore the Awase wetland to the way it was before the starting of the landfill," said Hirota who belongs to a group that protects wetlands.

For now, Hirota said she is happy where she is.

"Its been a great working experience while in both Yokosuka and Okinawa," said Hirota. "It has given me a variety of job experience, and I've met many interesting people."