Posted on Jun 6, 2016
How would you handle DUIs & multiple criminal incidents in your unit overseas?
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Back story: The U.S. Navy has just banned its personnel in Japan from drinking alcohol after a sailor was arrested for allegedly driving drunk & causing a multiple-vehicle collision. Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga condemned the incident and said misbehavior by U.S. military personnel was a recurring problem that requires a “fundamental resolution.”
Also, in March, a U.S. Sailor in Okinawa was arrested on suspicion of rape. In May, a civilian contractor at a U.S. base in Okinawa was arrested in connection with the death of a 20-year-old woman.
Today (June 6th), the U.S. Navy issued a ban for drinking both on and off base. The order also prohibits personnel from coming and going from the base as they please. As a leader of this Naval command, how would you address this international attention with your Sailors and other joint forces in the area?
http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/06/politics/us-navy-alcohol-ban-japan/index.html
Also, in March, a U.S. Sailor in Okinawa was arrested on suspicion of rape. In May, a civilian contractor at a U.S. base in Okinawa was arrested in connection with the death of a 20-year-old woman.
Today (June 6th), the U.S. Navy issued a ban for drinking both on and off base. The order also prohibits personnel from coming and going from the base as they please. As a leader of this Naval command, how would you address this international attention with your Sailors and other joint forces in the area?
http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/06/politics/us-navy-alcohol-ban-japan/index.html
DUI
Okinawa
Discipline
Leadership
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 24
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If it was off base (which I'm reading correctly it was) turn said offender over to local authorities. Mass punishment and a "hip shot" reaction is not a good thing.
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SGT (Join to see)
There is a lot more at play than just individuals. The U.S. presence in Okinawa is extremely unpopular, and further antagonizing of the very cool and uneasy relationship between the U.S. Military and the local Okinawan populace will severely endanger our presence there. This Admiral is doing something which he thinks will ease tensions between both sides.
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LTC Paul Labrador
SGT (Join to see) - Bingo. To further extrapolate, the "strategic corporal" paradigm that has been mauch talked about cuts both ways. In modern warfare, the decisions of that corporal can now determine the outcome of battle. Well, fortunately or unfortunately that is true in geopolitics as well. A good example was in Korea back in 2012. A US service member committing a crime in Korea had a butterfly affect of causing the political downfall of the then sitting President. Because of the actions of one person, the election was affected and a new party was put into power. So if you think it's just an issue of one dude needing to be punished for acting the fool, you are looking at it through a soda straw.
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It's political, not criminal. It's avoiding further incidents, not punishing sailors.
I doubt that this new, and temporary, policy is an attempt to address a crime problem or an alcohol problem. It is certainly not about punishing sailors.
The political environment in Japan, especially Okinawa, is really hot. The people question why we are there. The local leaders rail against the American presence.
If there were to be one more horrific incident, the US commander and the ambassador would be called on the carpet to explain why Japan shouldn't just kick us out.
So our Navy in Japan is fighting for its political survival in a way, and enforcing a ban on alcohol and a limit on local interactions to provide a cooling off period.
I doubt that this new, and temporary, policy is an attempt to address a crime problem or an alcohol problem. It is certainly not about punishing sailors.
The political environment in Japan, especially Okinawa, is really hot. The people question why we are there. The local leaders rail against the American presence.
If there were to be one more horrific incident, the US commander and the ambassador would be called on the carpet to explain why Japan shouldn't just kick us out.
So our Navy in Japan is fighting for its political survival in a way, and enforcing a ban on alcohol and a limit on local interactions to provide a cooling off period.
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PO3 Sherry Thornburg
That's what I was thinking. The issue is well beyond a few people with alcohol and criminal charges pending. When you are on foreign soil, you can't have these issues one after another.
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SPC Jonathan Schmidt
Except that because the Navy personnel will be building resentment during this "cooling off" period it may lead to a bigger powder keg if they are ever let out again.
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LTC Paul Labrador
Absolutely correct Capt Michael Greene. It's not about 1 Sailor/Soldier/Marine going out an acting stupid. It's now a situation where that 1 individual becomes the representation of ALL overseas service members. Is it fair or accurate? No. But it's reality. And when 1 individual can screw up an entire alliance simply because they couldn't act like an adult, major lockdowns are going to occur. Remember, you are NOT in the US and that nation can ask ALL of us to leave tomorrow if they want to.
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Keelhaul the Sailor, sure, but punishment for the masses? I don't agree with that. There's going to be a LOT of needlessly disgruntled Sailors over there. The Admiral didn't just ban booze, he banned liberty, too. I can't get behind that.
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PO1 Tony Holland
I beg to disagree. I feel that splattershot punishment will only build unwarranted resentment which will further exacerbate the next incident.
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SPC Jonathan Schmidt
Col Rebecca Lorraine - Or you just beat the hell out of that weak link. Enter: The Blanket Party.
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Col Rebecca Lorraine
It isn't forever, but that Admiral is responsible for every sailor, and American diplomatic relations, and if you had to make a choice, this isn't the first incident. Unless he can trust everyone to behave in a mature way, he makes the decisions. Did I mention it is a life for a little Liberty? I would make the same decision, and I would hold everyone accountable. It's something you really don't understand until you are responsible for the actions of 1000s. All it takes is one event and if it isn't taken seriously, then no more Liberty.
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