Do I have to go to the whole AOB/ICR class to get my license?

Usually only the last day (friday) is required for the driving/safey brief.
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Thanks Adam, do you know how I go about finding out for sure? I don't want to have to go thru the whole class if all I need is the last day. Is there a number I can call?

I had been here over a year when I decided to get my license and they said I had to do the whole AOB orientation, it may have changed though. Friday they let you study for the driving test, then you take the test so that is really the only day related to driving, but they still made me do the rest, aside from the field trip you take I think on Wednesday. Call 243-3372 to register for the class. Then ask them for sure if you have to go trough all of it. Then once you pass your written test on Friday, then they'll sign you up for the driving test. Hope this helps, good luck!

I had been here over a year when I decided to get my license and they said I had to do the whole AOB orientation, it may have changed though. Friday they let you study for the driving test, then you take the test so that is really the only day related to driving, but they still made me do the rest, aside from the field trip you take I think on Wednesday. Call 243-3372 to register for the class. Then ask them for sure if you have to go trough all of it. Then once you pass your written test on Friday, then they'll sign you up for the driving test. Hope this helps, good luck!

Active duty are required to take the full week. Dependents can take what they need.
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Yay for being a dependent!

From what they told us in the class last week, you just have to show that you have completed AOB/ICR to take the test. They hand out certificates on Friday, and then they have the study portion and the written exam. So if you've done AOB/ICR in the past, I think you just need to show the certificate or some how verify that you've done it.

I was told when I moved here last summer that I had to take the week long course to get my DL (I'm a dependent). They told me that if I missed a day, I would have to come back later to make it up. It kinda irked me because this isn't my first time in Japan. I lived here from 98 - 02 and had my DL back then. My international DL had expired, so they said I would have to attend the whole AOB/ ICR class and complete the written & driving test again. I'm not sure if things have changed since last summer, but as far as I know, dependents have to attend the whole week long class. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong and that is no longer the case.

Yokogirl, I don't think they have to attend the 1 week. Just friday.
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I'm a dependent and I had to attend the whole week...

I am a dependent and I also had to attend the entire week of class. A friend of mine decided she did not want to go to AOB and in turn can not get a drivers license. Unless the rules have changed since I arrived in July 2008... you have to go the whole time.

Yup I did too, they told me you have to have the certificate of completion to take the drivers test, and in order to get that you have to attend the entire week of class. But I got mine a year ago, so Im not sure abaout now

Why are you so opposed to attending the week of AOB/ICR? Believe it or not there is actually some good information put out there.

Personally I think the AOB class should be a requirement for continued SOFA status. Have a 6 month "buffer" from your arrival to complete it or you get sent back to the states (or where ever you came from). And honestly I'd like to see other bases, not just overseas, require an indoc for the falmilies as well.

@Yoko - There were several people in my indoc class that had been in Japan for multiple tours already, all of them said the information was sinmilar but they learned something new each time they went.

Blast away, cause I know its coming!

i am a dependent and had just completed my AOB 2 weeks ago as explained you have to show certificate of AOB/ICR completion before they can give you DL test which is given on the last day.

I think that AOB/ICR should be 100% voluntary if have already been here before. Sure, you could learn something knew...so write the whole course in a pamphlet and hand that out to those who have been here before.

My wife (Japanese National) and I had to take that course when moving from one area of Japan to here. WTH!?! Hate to say it, I learned nothing except that some people don't do their research when PCSing. If it is your 1st time in Japan then make it a requirement, but seriously?

Anyway, @Adam, attending only the last day to get your driver's license went away with CAPT Weed. Another "idea" he had to "improve" this place. It used to be the case, but not any longer.

Posted By Rashaka on 27 Aug 2010 07:51 AM
Why are you so opposed to attending the week of AOB/ICR? Believe it or not there is actually some good information put out there.

Personally I think the AOB class should be a requirement for continued SOFA status. Have a 6 month "buffer" from your arrival to complete it or you get sent back to the states (or where ever you came from). And honestly I'd like to see other bases, not just overseas, require an indoc for the falmilies as well.

@Yoko - There were several people in my indoc class that had been in Japan for multiple tours already, all of them said the information was sinmilar but they learned something new each time they went.

Blast away, cause I know its coming!

I actually really enjoyed the class.  I agree, it should be a requirement and I thought it was until a couple friends told me they hadn't gone because they didn't intend on getting their license.  I feel like I learned quite a bit that I didn't know before hand!

Okay so I have been going this week. I can say that while some of the info is dry, I am glad that I am going through the whole thing. It wasn't so much that I was OPPOSED to the class as much as it was that I didn't want to have to put my kids somewhere (I initially thought that I would have to stick them in the CDC, instead one of my friends said she would watch them) they weren't familiar or comfortable with.

Thanks for the info.

My husband attended the AOB class when he got here a year and a half ago, but because his rank was too low, he wasn't allowed to take the test for his drivers license. I doubt he kept the certificate, but is there a way he can take just the written portion of the test anyway?

I think you just need to call the drivers license office. They used to keep the names of who went on file. If its not more than 1 year, I don't see why they wouldn't honor him taking the test only. I just don't know if they keep your name on file. They used to.
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I just ask because my husband and I want to get our motorcycle licenses, but to do that, he must get his drivers license. I don't want him to go there only to find out he has to do the whole week over again. I highly doubt his command would give him a whole week off just so he can get his license.

We must be smarter in Iwakuni; the class is only 1 day. :-)

I am a civilian and dependant and still had to take the whole week (except that I skipped the field trip on Thursday).  You have to have your certificate of completion for the AOB class to take the driver's test, which is given on Friday.  Sorry!  I tried to find a way around it, but couldn't...we even had childcare issues because the CDC was full, and I just had to wait and take the class when I could get a childcare provider.

Amber, it sounds like your husband already took the class once, but just didn't get his license...if so, depending on how long ago it was, he would only have to go to class on Friday for the driver's review and test.  I can't remember how long they said the AOB certificate was valid for...6 months, maybe?  Call either the license office or Fleet and Family Services to clarify.

Amber, I just found the rest of your post, and thought a little more about my AOB class - my last post wasn't totally correct.  If he already took the AOB class, even if it was a year and a half ago, he would only have to go on Friday to get his license.  What I was thinking of when I said it was only good for 6 months or so was actually that you can take the written drivers test and THAT is valid for 6 months, so they told people that were expecting a promotion to go ahead and take the written test, so they could just take the driving portion when the promotion came through.  The AOB certificate would still be good.  Call to see if he needs to sign up, but I think all he has to do is go to the class any Friday that works for him and take the safety briefing, written test and then sign up for the driving test.

If you have taken the class within the last 4 years (and received the license), you will only have to attend the first day and take the test on the last day. If you or your wife hold a japanese drivers license, the base will issue you or her a license no questions asked. Any body that has taken the class more than four years ago must take the class again (ie. took the class in 2004, left japan and came back to japan.)