Posted on Feb 29, 2016
How can you be grown enough to give your life for your country but not grown enough that you need a curfew in Korea?
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Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 22
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I was stationed in Japan for the past 10 years. There is a similar situation with curfew there. One of the biggest reasons is the American service members stationed there are under an extreme microscope. Anything bad we do becomes front page news.
Another reason is the "group" culture. The group is responsible for the individual's actions.
So when the less than 1% screws up it becomes huge news and the military must show the local community they are taking action. Combine that with the second reason and you get curfews and mandatory times to stop drinking etc.
Another reason is the "group" culture. The group is responsible for the individual's actions.
So when the less than 1% screws up it becomes huge news and the military must show the local community they are taking action. Combine that with the second reason and you get curfews and mandatory times to stop drinking etc.
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SSgt Mark Lines
Agreed, my last 4 years were in Okinawa. Everything that one American did, all Americans were held responsible, and the incident was in all the local news. What I found was interesting, when a local would attack, hurt, or do anything negative to an American, it was always the American's fault, and it was not reported in the news.
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SCPO (Join to see)
SSgt Mark Lines The media plays a big part of it. As my mother in law (who is Japanese) pointed out to me once: When the Americans do something bad it's on the front page of the newspaper, if they do something good, there will be a small article on page 10 if at all.
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SSgt Mark Lines
SCPO (Join to see) - Agreed. I saw this time and time again. I see the same thing here in Thailand when it comes to foreigners that live here.
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We had a similar type curfew system in Okinawa, Japan. While I did not like it, it did prevent idiots from doing stupid stuff. No matter how many safety briefs, threats, and examples made, there were still idiots who would ruin it for everyone else. Their jack-assery was then reported in the local news, and made life miserable for all Americans there. What was sad, it was not junior ENLISTED service members only causing the problems. There was a fair representation of officers and SNCO's in the mix as well. A demographic that should know better. As I said, I did not like it and it did put a hamper on one's social life, but it reduced incidents.
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1SG (Join to see)
I agree idiots will be idiots any no matter how well you preach they never fail to amaze you.
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I spent a year in the ROK and hated that policy to no end.
I generally find that the more restrictions placed on individuals, the more likely they are to push against the restrictions.
Sexual assault is NOT a problem of a lack of a curfew: it's a violent criminal act. Deal with it as such.
I hated my time in Korea SO much that I reclassed, learned a CENTCOM language and went Airborne so as to never EVER see that place or its absurd rules EVER again.
As I see it: we are an all-volunteer force. We have never required more strategic thinking from our junior leaders. If a servicemember cannot be trusted to NOT commit a felony, then we don't need that person. If the curfew is the only thing standing between that person and a LONG prison sentence, we DO NOT need that person.
If you treat people like convicts and/or children they will behave as convicts or children.
I generally find that the more restrictions placed on individuals, the more likely they are to push against the restrictions.
Sexual assault is NOT a problem of a lack of a curfew: it's a violent criminal act. Deal with it as such.
I hated my time in Korea SO much that I reclassed, learned a CENTCOM language and went Airborne so as to never EVER see that place or its absurd rules EVER again.
As I see it: we are an all-volunteer force. We have never required more strategic thinking from our junior leaders. If a servicemember cannot be trusted to NOT commit a felony, then we don't need that person. If the curfew is the only thing standing between that person and a LONG prison sentence, we DO NOT need that person.
If you treat people like convicts and/or children they will behave as convicts or children.
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