Official military lockdown in Okinawa & beyond
This is a follow-up from last night’s entry announcing the military lockdown from today in Okinawa. Well, the full email was circulated throughout the services in Okinawa today and here it is for your perusal:
FM COMMARCORBASESJAPAN CP BUTLER JP(uc)
TO CG III MEF(uc)
CG MCB CAMP BUTLER JP(uc)
CG 1ST MAW(uc)
CG 3RD MARDIV(uc)
NAVHOSP OKINAWA JA(uc)
CPCOM CAMP GONSALVES JP(uc)
31ST MEU(uc)
MCAS FUTENMA JP(uc)
CPCOM CAMP KINSER JP(uc)
CPCOM CAMP SCHWAB JP(uc)
CPCOM CAMP FOSTER JP(uc)
CPCOM CAMP COURTNEY JP(uc)
CG 3D MLG(uc)
HQSVCBN BUTLER JP(uc)
MCAS IWAKUNI JP(uc)
COMFLEACT OKINAWA JA(uc)
HQBN CAMP FUJI JP(uc)
CPCOM CAMP HANSEN JP(uc)
INFO COMMARCORBASESJAPAN CP BUTLER JP(uc) CG MCB CAMP BUTLER JP G-2(uc) BT UNCLAS MSGID/GENADMIN/OKINAWA AREA COORDINATOR//
SUBJ/PERIOD OF REFLECTION//
POC/XXXXX
/xxxxxxxRMKS/1. THIS IS AN OKINAWA BASED U.S. ARMY, U.S. MARINE CORPS, AND U .S. AIR FORCE COORDINATED MESSAGE.
2. SITUATION: TO ENSURE ALL STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT (SOFA) STATUS PERSONNEL UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLES AS AMBASSADORS OF THE UNITED STATES IN JAPAN. AS THE OKINAWA AREA COORDINATOR, I AM DIRECTING ALL SOFA STATUS PERSONNEL TO OBSERVE A PERIOD OF REFLECTION, LIMITING OFF -BASE ACTIVITIES OF A PERSONAL AND RECREATIONAL NATURE.
3. MISSION: EFFECTIVE 0730, 20 FEB 2008, ALL SOFA STATUS PERSONNEL PERMANENTLY OR TEMPORARILY ASSIGNED TO OKINAWA, CAMP FUJI, AND IWAKUNI, JAPAN, OR WHO ARE TRANSITING THROUGH THESE LOCATIONS IN A TAD/TDY/LEAVE STATUS, WILL OBSERVE A PERIOD OF REFLECTION UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
4. COMMANDER*S INTENT: MY INTENTION IS TO UTILIZE THE TIME WITHIN THIS PERIOD OF REFLECTION TO REVIEW ALL APPROPRIATE PLANS, PROCEDURES, ORDERS AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE CONDUCT OF ALL SOFA STATUS PERSONNEL SERVING IN OKINAWA, CAMP FUJI, AND IWAKUNI, JAPAN. RECENT HIGHLY REPORTED INCIDENTS INVOLVING U.S. SERVICE PERSONNEL SERVING IN JAPAN WARRANT MEASURES BE TAKEN UNTIL SUCH TIME AS TO BRING AN INCREMENTAL RETURN TO A MORE NORMAL STATE OF
AFFAIRS. I NEED LEADERS AT ALL ECHELONS IN ALL SERVICES TO HELP REINFORCE WHAT THE VAST MAJORITY DO WELL AS FORWARD SERVING AMBASSADORS OF AMERICA, WHILE WE COLLECTIVELY POLICE OUR RANKS TO IDENTIFY THOSE FEW INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD DESTROY OUR GOOD STANDING AND REPUTATION WITH THE JAPANESE PEOPLE. I FULLY INTEND TO DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT TO EXEMPLARY COMMUNITY RELATIONS THAT APPROPRIATELY CAPTURE THE PROFESSIONALISM AND GOOD WILL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND PATIENCE DURING THESE
DIFFICULT TIMES. YOUR OVERWHELMINGLY SUPERB BEHAVIOR AND EXEMPLARY CONDUCT IS NOT LOST ON ANY OF YOUR LEADERS WHO REMAIN INTENSELY PROUD OF YOUR SERVICE AND PATRIOTISM. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND FOR BEING WHO YOU ARE. 4.A. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS: ALL SOFA STATUS PERSONNEL MOVEMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:
PLACE OF DUTY
PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT
PLACE OF WORSHIP
PLACE OF EDUCATION
PLACE OF MEDICAL, DENTAL, VETERINARY TREATMENT AIRPORTS (FOR THE PURPOSE OF PICKING UP OR DROPPING OFF PASSENGERS OR FOR AUTHORIZED TRAVEL) ALL ON-BASE FACILITIES TO TRANSIT BETWEEN ONE*S AUTHORIZED RESIDENCE, INCLUDING OFF-BASE HOUSING, AND ANY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) INSTALLATION VIA PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLES, MILITARY SUPPORTED TRANSPORTATION, AND COMMERCIAL TAXI. CURRENTLY SCHEDULED COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROJECTS
4.B. COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS: EXCEPTIONS TO THIS POLICY ARE DELEGATED TO THE O-6 LEVEL COMMANDERS TO APPROVE PRE-EXISTING AND PRE-REGISTERED OBLIGATIONS OR SPECIAL EVENTS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS .
5. ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS: COMMANDERS ARE REQUIRED TO DISSEMINATE THIS MESSAGE TO ALL SOFA STATUS PERSONNEL. POC ARE XXXXXX
6. COMMAND AND SIGNAL: *SOFA STATUS PERSONNEL* INCLUDES ALL UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL, DOD CIVILIANS, DOD INVITED CONTRACTORS, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE FAMILY MEMBERS.
6.A. THIS IS A PUNITIVE ORDER AND AS SUCH VIOLATION OF THIS ORDER BY ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL CAN RESULT IN PUNISHMENT UNDER THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE. ALL OTHER SOFA STATUS PERSONNEL INCLUDING FAMILY MEMBERS ARE REMINDED THEY ARE SUBJECT TO THE FULL RANGE OF ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS INCLUDING LOSS OF COMMAND SPONSORSHIP AND DEBARMENT.
I personally think it’s only going to be a matter of days before a lot of Okinawan businesses are screaming for the lockdown to be lifted. All the Starbucks in the Chatan area are going to go bust! What is more interesting is that this covers dependents, which means Japanese people who are married to members of the military and who have children, are not allowed to leave their houses to go shopping, pay bills or anything. That’s crazy stuff! The locals who run shops and businesses near the bases are gonna be going ballistic at the lack of custom over the next few days. With pressure from them, I can’t see this lasting too long.
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Trackbacks & Pingbacks
- Big in Japan | Some news from Okinawa to add context pingbacked on February 26, 2008, 10:27 am
- Big in Japan | 2009: Resolutions of the New Year variety pingbacked on December 30, 2008, 8:05 pm
I was planning on getting orders to Iwakuni Japan by the end of this year. Not anymore. What is the purpose of going overseas when you are going to be imprisioned on a base.
“The actions of a few reflect poorly upon the many”. Lieutenant General Richard C. Zilmer.
Hopefully the Japanese community will not generalize Marines as a bunch of drunk trouble makers.
Marines should think twice about what they are going to do..and a 30 year old man trippin of a 14 year old…thats just wrong. i think there should be a curfew..not a lockdown..isn’t a lockdown too drastic? just boot the marines who commited such crimes off island….
Thank you Damon and Mikoto for visiting my site and taking the time to express your feelings here in this matter, which will affect everyone on Okinawa.
Damon - that quote frm Lieutenant Zilmer is so appropriate in this case. Unfortunately, a lof of Japanese and Okinawans make no distinction between the Marines and any other branch of the armed forces, and have them all tarred with the same brush. The younger generation are different in Okinawa, with a different attitude. Hopefully they can see that the rest of the Marines and SOFA status personnel here in Okinawa now are as frustrated and angered by the actions of a tiny number of people as anyone of the Japanese are.
Mikoto - you’re right in that a lockdown is too drastic I think. I’m not sure (maybe someone can enlighten me on this one) but I thought some ranks of Marines already had a curfew here in Okinawa. I know in South Korea, there is a big curfew system/lockdown system in operation.
How NOT to impress the host nation…
It’s certainly not going to impress local businesses!
Im a civi contractor here in Oki and have been here for about eight years. I’m married to an Okinawa woman and have three kids. I don’t plan on moving back to the US because I love it here so much and think this is the greatest place on earth. Don’t get me wrong the US is an amazing place filled with real freedom and wonderful people however for my situation this is home for me. With that said, my wife and kids fall under the sofa status here and also have to abide by this restriction as i will be barred from base and loose my job if she is caught off base with her Y plate (american tag) vehicle. Keep in mind, she is fully Japaneses and this is her home yet she cannot leave the house for anything personal or recreational. Imagine three small kids in an Okinawa sized apartment for as long as this thing lasts. Needless to say she is furious and I understand this as well. The retard that did this regardless of weather or not rape was truly the case needs to be put out in public and flogged. He admitted to holding her down and kissing here. Let me ask you this, if the roles were reversed and this was happening in the US, the American people would have gone haywire, yet this kind of activity happens here regularly. So there is both sides, the Japaneses are sick of the US servicemen raising hell here and are demanding a leash be used on these dogs and on the other side you have the vast majority of the upstanding wonderful servicemen here who work hard as true ambassadors in a foreign county and be polite, respectful and make a positive difference in their host country. My solution, absolute and total public humiliation after a guilty verdict is reached, then hand them over to the Japaneses, and when the Japaneses are finished running them through, uncle Sam gets his hand on them and throws the entire book at them.
soldave, you’re absolutely right. The single Marines that live in the barracks, E5 and below, have a curfew of midnight. I’m currently on leave in the states and just found out about this ridiculous lock down. One of my biggest pet peeves is commanders punishing the WHOLE and not just the individual. I had nothing to do with what happened and yet I’m coming back to the island in the middle of being ‘grounded’. It’s horrible for the dependents of SOFA personnel and I’m probably going to wait to come back. Thanks for all the information on this.
To Soldave: The lockdown won’t be too long, I am living off base with my wife who is Japanese. Therefor I see both sides of the spectrum (including receiving flyers from the anti military groups). The businesses thrive off of the bases, that’s apparent. After a while there will be pressure from the Japanese government to lift this so called “lockdown”.
To Damon: It’s not a bad place here, I’ve been here for 3 years. I like it a lot and this is the first time in 4 years or so that something like this has happened. Though it may seem like your imprisioned on base, you know that it’s what it is. In fact its community relations the Commanders need some breathing room to think of new ideas and relieve the pressure off of them so things can turn back to normal. Just like in the States if we had a different country in our area and they did the same stuff, we would not be happy. All in all, you should get orders here, Japan is a great country along with most of the people here.
To Mikoto: Marines such as myself, don’t like to be generalized, yes Marines have been creating problems. As I explained to my Wife also when she mentioned “Marines”, we aren’t the only group with “problem children”. There are even Japanese who rape, kill, steal, etc (maybe not as much percentage wise, but none the less). There are also Navy, Army, and Airforce here in Japan also, every service member has done something. Not to excluded civilians, one of which I have read about is in Jail for drug possession (not as harsh as rape but still breaking the law). As explained before I understand that a lot of Japanese are not happy because we are in their country and we are on the spotlight. I however think it is nieve to single out a certain group, as we are all being locked down as a whole to remind us of the big picture.
To Unlucky: I feel for you, although I have a Japanese wife whom I married here and she is not SOFA status because we are leaving soon. Though, I’m still affected as we live off base so I can not help her with shopping and everything (we also have a newborn to make this more interesting). I partially believe in the way you are thinking about the punishment to the certain service members, but we all know there is a lot of politics and the SOFA status to “protect us”.
To Elizabeth: There is a program that all service members that requires all members to be on base by midnight. Now as for E5 and below, they are issued a certain card that requires them to be on base by midnight and after a certain amount of time and good behavior they are allowed to “apply” for another type of card that allows them to be off base past midnight. E1-E3 are required to go off base with a “buddy”, E4+ are not required to do so. As for E5+ and O1+ they are given no restrictions right as they first arrive, but it can be taken away from them if they do mess up. This applies to all service members in the Pacific. As for mass punishment, it is normal in the Military as we are used to it (it helps create teamwork), but for civilians they might think it is unfair. As that it may be, it is all in the interest of politics and public relations.
In Kuni - thanks for the long comments in response to whate everyone has said.
Let me just clear up that E1, E2, E5, O1 etc are all grades which determine the heirarchy of people here in Okinawa. I’m not entirely sure what each one means (are they specific ranks within each group?) but maybe someone could clear that up.
I agree that the lockdown won’t be in force for long, although some are worried about this “indefinite” period about how long it will last
soldave, in response to your E1,E2,E5,O1 comment: Yes It is the Paygrade system with more pay comes more rank and responsibility. For those of you not assoiaciated with the Military Hes is a link (http://www.combatcasting.com/RankStructure.html) that will give you a little insight into the paygrades of the military.
Thanks for clearing that up Joe. I’m sure that info and link will help everyone who didn’t understand those letters and numbers.
My whole response to this lock down can be summed up in a pretty short sentence. Your punishing over 50,000 people (on Okinawa, I hear this is spreading to mainland now) for the crimes of less than 10 people.
I did nothing wrong, so why do I have to sit in the corner with my tail between my legs? Why am I made to look and feel guilty when I could have done nothing to stop any of these events? How am I to prove these stereotypes wrong, locked in my house?
Crystal - Welcome to the Military, either you are in the Service or you’re being hosted by the Military for some contracting work. Sad to say but mass punishment as a whole can be effective. It may be a drastic measure, but when safety briefs, slideshows, “ass-chewings”, and other training fail, then they must do something diffferent. It is not “spreading” to mainland, it is effective here just the same as it is in Okinawa. The actions of one can reflect everyone. They are not trying to prove stereotypes wrong right now. Deal with it and do your part later.