Chief of U.S. forces in Japan promises to get tough on crime

Tuesday 15th April, 05:06 AM JST

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7 Comments

VoXman at 08:15 PM JST - 14th April

to do his utmost to tighten discipline among U.S. service personnel by ensuring ‘‘unwavering professionalism’’.

The problem is not with most of the servicemembers here. It with some of those that have just arrived and those that will come in the future. I wish someone would put Gen. Rice on the spot and ask him what he's gonna do to get commands back in the states to take the Ocerseas screening seriously. Whats he going to do about revamping the OCOT policy. He and his predecessors have been BS-ing the Japanese Gov for 2 decades on this issue. We'll do more to tighten things up. What I learned my Navy experience is words are cheap and easily disemminated by the officers. But actions costs.... make it happen General. Stop lying!
HoDeDo at 07:19 AM JST - 15th April

There's and Overseas Screening process? I don't recall getting screened, unless it has been adopted in the last 10 years or so.
Obakemono at 09:43 AM JST - 15th April

Once again I wish that the Japanese press would get a persons Military rank correct This officer has the rank of Lieutenant General (3 Stars) in the US Air Force

His title is Commander US Forces Japan

I also wonder if there is a screening for people who are assigned to any overseas locations and what would the criteria be besides Mental ?

I hope that Gen. Rice will advise all people assigned to Japan that if they screw up that they will be at the mercy of the UCMJ and that the Japanese will also be after them To me I think that the UCMJ is more harsh than Japanese law (Penalty Wise)
rjd_jr at 11:16 AM JST - 15th April

I didn't know there was an overseas screening report either. But regardless, is such a screening process truly going to weed out the bad elements? It's unfortunate the small percentages of the servicemen that give the others a bad name, but there's absolutely no way to guarantee that no one will commit a crime.
bebert1 at 11:55 AM JST - 15th April

There is a simple way to prevent poor behavior by U.S. forces stationed in Japan. Threaten to send them to Iraq if they screw up. For a while, the quality of character of the U.S. troops was getting much better. They were screening for drug use and other poor behavior. I can't help but think that the lowering of standards to keep enlistment up in this era of Middle-East war is contributing to the increased crime rate against civilians. Still, I think the discipline of U.S. troops is much better than that of other armies.
Ultradude at 01:04 PM JST - 15th April

Yes, the US military only sends troops exactly where they desire and it also lets them choose what they'll do all day, as well. Club Med copied their business model.
jambon at 10:01 PM JST - 15th April

“I don’t believe that the SOFA should be revised,” Rice said. “I think that we can continue to improve it operationally as we move forward and have it continue to be relevant without changing the basic document itself.”

Revision unnecessary. Japan can hang a U.S. military member just as easily as they can an Engrish teacher, "entertainer" or illegal 3K day laborer.

after a string of incidents

Nice try, (Wire reports). Let's have a count from 1995.