USFJ top commander vows continued efforts to prevent crimes

Saturday 17th May, 06:43 AM JST

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8 Comments

the_sicilian at 07:17 AM JST - 17th May

Kyodo likes to spout lies,

U.S. Forces Japan Commander Lt Gen Edward Rice said the USFJ’s Sexual Assault Prevention Task Force, set up in February in light of the rape of a junior high school girl, ‘‘found that all USFJ components and installations are in full compliance with Department of Defense and service-directed policies.’’

There was no rape. No Conviction, and no prosecution on the Japanese side. Unbelievably irresponsible reporting.

Now, the USFJ Commander can only do so much. There are a lot of young men cooped up here on the bases, and a handful will do stupid things. I think the alcohol ban may help. Or at least have limited hours where the troops are allowed to drink. The military, as a general slice of the population, is going to have a few bad apples. They just need to do a better job screening who goes overseas.

Addiu
m0l0 at 02:50 PM JST - 17th May

In Japan, no prosecution means there was no crime?
sarcasm123 at 02:59 PM JST - 17th May

"The military, as a general slice of the population, is going to have a few bad apples."

The difference with the local population being that the military should not be there.
Alphaape at 03:02 PM JST - 17th May

There was an interesting article this month in the "Proceedings" magazine which is published by the US Naval Institute. Long story short, a retired Capatain by the name of van Tol wrote an article about how silly and ridiculous these liberty measures where. He should speak from experience, since he was the CO of a destroyer in Yokosuka and the CO of the USS ESSEX in Sasebo. The way he reduced sailor "liberty incidents" was to basically treat them like adults. If you treat someone like an adult, and not nit pick them like a child as with these rules we have, he claims you will see a reduction in these events. Also, holding supervisors responsible in the chain of command, not by doing some paperwork drill but by actually making sure that troops tow the line is what works.

He cited an example. When the ESSEX pulled into a liberty port, the drinking age for the crew was the same as it was for that host country. So if it is 20 in Japan, then his sailors at 20 could buy a drink. They were all aware that if someone screwed up, that it would jepordize everyone's liberty so what you had was people watching each other. Not some whole sale "thou shalt not dring"but rather "if you drink and screw up, you are in trouble."

The brass at C7F and CNFJ did not take too kindly I believe to his methods, thus probably why he retired as a CAPTAIN rather than Admiral after having a major command. But the bottom line is this, you can't regulate people's actions. There will be "knuclke heads" out there that will screw up. But what you can do is hold them accountable. If a sailor goes out and screws around with an underage girl, then let's make sure we cooperate (which we do) fully and if there is evidence to present his case, turn him over to the Japanese. By putting rules on the rest of us law abiding members, and making us pay for the sins of others is not a good leadership method.

Also, just be up front and don't spin the crime. If a US military member screws up, let the J-public know he will be accountable for it.
cracaphat at 08:58 PM JST - 17th May

When your choice is "serve or jail" for many of these GIs,I struggle to see how things will change.More of the same ol',same ol' Yankee lip service I'm afraid.
VoXman at 08:54 AM JST - 18th May

Sarcasm

The difference with the local population being that the military should not be there.

What will help more is when people like you become Japanese Nationals and vote your conscience instead of making cheap shots on JT. Barring that let the Japanese work their representative gov on their own.

VoXman at 08:57 AM JST - 18th May

Alphaape,

Thanks for posting that. I think what is needed here is an "outing: of the Admirals and Generals. Basically, someone has to get the JMEDIA to let them post a editorial or series there of, (that would also be trans to Japanese) that points out the faults in the system, and what the US could be doing (and doesn't) to fix the problem. The press coverage would generate debate and maybe change. Think about how effective editorials are in the US.

VoXman at 09:01 AM JST - 18th May

oops! Editorial blooper above.

Should say,

I think what is needed here is an "outing: of the Admirals and Generals. Someone needs to get the JMedia to let them publish an editorial about why the faults are in the system currently in place, and what the US Mil could be doing, but is not doing. The coverage would and should cause some debate amongst the readers and force the Jgov to ask harder questions of the US Mil.