Story of Trisha Xena Roxas Van Dusen | Yokosuka, Japan
Born and raised in the Philippines, Trisha Xena Roxas Van Dusen has called Japan home for eight years. A military spouse for almost three years, she and her spouse are currently based in Yokosuka, Japan, a city she knows well, having already visited 43 of the country’s 47 prefectures. But Trisha’s story is not just about the places she’s explored. It’s about the career she’s worked hard to rebuild, one step at a time.
A Decade of Building
Before military life, Trisha had a career most people spend years working toward. She graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering in 2012 and spent the next decade handling projects across Asia, the Middle East, and Northern Americas. Her professional background covered civil engineering, health care management, and community recreation. Along the way, she found herself drawn to the broader field of project management and began working toward making that shift.
Then came the move. And with it, a set of obstacles she had not fully expected.
The Wall Most People Don’t Talk About
The biggest challenge Trisha faced in continuing and rebuilding her career was the language and work visa requirement. She had worked in Japan for five years, but after changing her visa from a work visa to a SOFA visa, the job search became much harder. Since she is not proficient in Japanese, most companies would not move forward with her application, and even fewer were willing to sponsor a work visa.
Jobs on base came with their own set of challenges. Opportunities were limited, and her engineering background did not line up with most available roles. As a non-U.S. citizen, she was also ineligible for positions requiring security clearances, which cut off most of the engineering work she was qualified for.
For two years, she kept applying. The emotional toll was real.
How She Kept Moving Forward: Certifications, Volunteering, and Starting Over
In 2023, Trisha made the decision to take a career break, not to stop, but to reset. She used the time to upgrade her skills through online courses, travel overseas for a fresh perspective, focus on her health through group fitness classes on base, and give back to the military community by volunteering with the USO and NMCRS.
In 2025, she took and passed the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM®) certification. It was a real win, but the job search continued. She would get an interview or two and eventually not hear back from the hiring team.
Then, in October 2025, she landed a job as a dental clinic receptionist, a total shift from the work she knew and took pride in. It humbled her in ways she had not expected. She learned dental administration from the ground up and found ways to make the clinic workflow more efficient and clear for everyone. Talking to patients every day also built her customer service skills in ways she never saw coming.
After six months, another door opened. She got a job on base at the CFAY Liberty Center as a Recreation Assistant, and it felt like coming home. Marketing tours, organizing events, and sometimes leading trips across Japan for unaccompanied sailors is the kind of work that energizes her. “This job made me feel like I was back in university, organizing events and trips,” she says.
The Resources That Made a Real Difference
Trisha is quick to credit the community she found along the way. Through friends she met in group fitness classes and while volunteering on base, she built a support network that helped her learn how to navigate the military system. She made it a habit to attend free seminars and online training to stay current.
She is especially grateful to FMSN for paving the way and providing resources on how to navigate military life as a foreign-born spouse.
You can also explore all FMSN programs and resources to find support that fits where you are right now and learn about the steps and requirements of continuing your career in the U.S as a foreign born military spouse.
“I am a firm believer that everything takes time, and what is meant for you will always find its way to you.” – Trisha Xena Roxas Van Dusen
Her Advice for Foreign-Born Military Spouses Starting Over
Trisha’s message to those just starting their journey is both a call to action and a reminder:
“Embrace the power of a multi-dimensional career. In our world, agility is power. When one path closes, remember that there are a thousand other ways to recreate your journey. Trust the process, keep pushing, and manifest your own success, because your potential cannot be contained by a single border or a single job title.”
She also adds something quieter, but just as meaningful: “I would always thank my younger self for mindfully choosing those decisions that lead me to where I am today.”
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