Posted on Feb 4, 2021
What’s it like being stationed in Japan in the US ARMY?
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I have a chance to reenlist for Japan, and I was curious what it’s like? I’ve been to Germany and surrounding country’s, and I’m currently at fort Riley. I was just wondering what the day to day is like? I’m a 31B CPL (SPC P, just need to make points). Any information would be appreciated.
Japan
PCS
31B: Military Police
Yokosuka
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 9
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If you have the chance to reenlist for Japan and you haven't taken it yet, it's already gone. There is only a tiny detachment of MPs at Okinawa and Zama, Yokosuka isn't run by the Army. This is one of those situations where you jump when opportunity presents itself. If it's still there you need to jump on it because you will be missing the opportunity of a lifetime
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SSG Bill McCoy
SFC (Join to see) - Sad how things change; BUT even when I went for an ACCOMPANIED tour; some household goods and my vehicle, I was only there for three months or so! Why? DA had sent something like 140 TOO MANY NCO's.
When DA called me one afternoon and asked, "Where in the States do you want to go?" I suggested that they pull back someone else who was a short-timer, but the SOFA required that those sent OVER whatever the limits were, had to be reassigned. Dumb! (Long story here!) Now, EVERY "dream sheet" I had EVER filled out, Navy AND Army, I asked for the West Coast, but ALWAYS got the East! Figuring I'd outsmart the system (LOL), I said, "Send me back to Walter Reed (the original one in D.C.). He said he'd see what he could do.
Called me back the next day & said, "Sorry. Reed has no NCO slots." I was THRILLED and figured, "Presidio, or Lewis, or Ord, 'here I come!'" He continued, "I got you close though. You're going to- Fort Belvoir, VA."
I said, "NO WAY ... I want the WEST COAST!" He asked, "Then why did you say Reed?" I told him about the years of "dream sheet" thing ... he said, "Oh, well yeah; BUT when MP's do a tour with ASA, we get them as close to where they want as we can." DUH!!
When DA called me one afternoon and asked, "Where in the States do you want to go?" I suggested that they pull back someone else who was a short-timer, but the SOFA required that those sent OVER whatever the limits were, had to be reassigned. Dumb! (Long story here!) Now, EVERY "dream sheet" I had EVER filled out, Navy AND Army, I asked for the West Coast, but ALWAYS got the East! Figuring I'd outsmart the system (LOL), I said, "Send me back to Walter Reed (the original one in D.C.). He said he'd see what he could do.
Called me back the next day & said, "Sorry. Reed has no NCO slots." I was THRILLED and figured, "Presidio, or Lewis, or Ord, 'here I come!'" He continued, "I got you close though. You're going to- Fort Belvoir, VA."
I said, "NO WAY ... I want the WEST COAST!" He asked, "Then why did you say Reed?" I told him about the years of "dream sheet" thing ... he said, "Oh, well yeah; BUT when MP's do a tour with ASA, we get them as close to where they want as we can." DUH!!
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SFC (Join to see)
SSG Bill McCoy that's a shame. I can definitely say that Okinawa has been the best location of my career so far
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SSG Bill McCoy
I enjoyed it while there, and really did wan to stay despite it being ASA which is BORING for someone used to actual Law Enforcement duty - what used to be termed, "White Hat MP." ASA was nice - the PM was just a 2LT but trusted his NCO's (I was an E5 then). Our OPNS NCO was a SFC MP and he too trusted his NCO's. Even as a relatively new SGT, I was the ranking one so i got tasked with updating the Desk Sgt and communications SOP's which was great experience.
My next duty station turned out to be THE best, and it was my last duty station. I was on orders to the "Garrison MP Company," but when I checked in at MilPerCen, they said, "Oh! You're a Sergeant. You're not going to that unit - you're going to a 'STRAC' unit!" I asked what that was and he said, "Oh, you'll find out!" It was a tactical MP Company and it was GREAT. Ended up getting police classes form the N. VA Community college during our 6-week Training Cycle; classes at the D.C. PD and with VA State and Fairfax County PD, and even got SWAT training at the FBI Academy which was truly awesome!
So, sometimes what SEEMS to be like getting the shaft, turns out to be THE best thing!
My next duty station turned out to be THE best, and it was my last duty station. I was on orders to the "Garrison MP Company," but when I checked in at MilPerCen, they said, "Oh! You're a Sergeant. You're not going to that unit - you're going to a 'STRAC' unit!" I asked what that was and he said, "Oh, you'll find out!" It was a tactical MP Company and it was GREAT. Ended up getting police classes form the N. VA Community college during our 6-week Training Cycle; classes at the D.C. PD and with VA State and Fairfax County PD, and even got SWAT training at the FBI Academy which was truly awesome!
So, sometimes what SEEMS to be like getting the shaft, turns out to be THE best thing!
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CSM Kevin Nolan
Concur with all comments above, Okinawa was a great assignment, but then again the 97th MP Bn aint to bad either
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CPL (Join to see) … I've never been there, but everyone I've spoken with really liked it in Japan. I'm not sure where you'll be- but Camp Zama in Japan is supposed to be a great assignment. The Tokyo area is really crowded, but once you get outside of the main town (urban megacity) it's a very scenic place.
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Depends on where you’ll be stationed. When I was in the navy I was stationed in mainland Japan and I loved it. I was a civilian in Okinawa and if I had a chance to go back I’ll never leave. Okinawans aren’t that fond of military due to the constant issues they present, but if you’re in any trouble they’ll help you in a heartbeat. Japan is a great duty station to get. Plus you can hop on the mac flight and go to other countries. Enjoy your stay and learn a lot when you can.
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Mainland Japan, from all I've heard from Army, Navy & Marines is great - culturally and scenic wise. I have no idea what the current ratio of Yen to Dollar is, but when I was in Okinawa, the first time, and on the way home from Nam, it was great. When I was stationed there (Okinawa) in '74, not so good.
Nevertheless, personally I'd jump at a chance for mainland Japan.
SOME OF THIS MAY HAVE CHANGED, and remember, I was on Okinawa but the Japanese ran it:
Be aware, and PAY ATTENTION there are a lot of cultural rules that you (should) adapt to. School kids all wear yellow ballcaps - EXPRESS RIGHT-OF-WAY on ANY part of a road & not just intersections. Driving can be strange - when I was in Okinawa, the Japanese police explained that locals can "jump" a red light turning to green, but we could NOT. Also at a 4-way stop, the rule was, "Whoever smiles AND nods first, HAS THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. If you ship a car over, it's best that it's a small or mid-size car. "Back when," large cars were worth a LOT; BUT you cannot sell an US car until after it's been there for a number of YEARS.
CAUTION: Drugs are a HUGE no-no! When we caught a GI with even a tiny "roach" marijuana, the law was we had to turn him over to the local police. (I never did because they'd end up in a tiny jail cell with a bucket for a toilet and be in often for 24 hours/day. I usually wrote them up for Disorderly Conduct and would tip of their 1SG with the details. Otherwise, they would not get access to anyone, attorney or unit reps, for WEEKS and reportedly, the sentences were pretty long prison time. Fortunately, I never ran into anyone dumb enough to have enough to deal - that would've been a whole different ballgame.)
Nevertheless, personally I'd jump at a chance for mainland Japan.
SOME OF THIS MAY HAVE CHANGED, and remember, I was on Okinawa but the Japanese ran it:
Be aware, and PAY ATTENTION there are a lot of cultural rules that you (should) adapt to. School kids all wear yellow ballcaps - EXPRESS RIGHT-OF-WAY on ANY part of a road & not just intersections. Driving can be strange - when I was in Okinawa, the Japanese police explained that locals can "jump" a red light turning to green, but we could NOT. Also at a 4-way stop, the rule was, "Whoever smiles AND nods first, HAS THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. If you ship a car over, it's best that it's a small or mid-size car. "Back when," large cars were worth a LOT; BUT you cannot sell an US car until after it's been there for a number of YEARS.
CAUTION: Drugs are a HUGE no-no! When we caught a GI with even a tiny "roach" marijuana, the law was we had to turn him over to the local police. (I never did because they'd end up in a tiny jail cell with a bucket for a toilet and be in often for 24 hours/day. I usually wrote them up for Disorderly Conduct and would tip of their 1SG with the details. Otherwise, they would not get access to anyone, attorney or unit reps, for WEEKS and reportedly, the sentences were pretty long prison time. Fortunately, I never ran into anyone dumb enough to have enough to deal - that would've been a whole different ballgame.)
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CPL (Join to see)
I have an older mode ram 2500, which I think probably wouldn’t be the best the bring, I do have an electric bike I was gonna bring though, seems like that might be the better move.
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SSG Bill McCoy
Yeah, a pick-up on some of the streets would be rough. In Okinawa though, they have freeways, or 4-lane highways in parts. HOWEVER, the MAX speed limit, anywhere on Oki, was 50 kph (33 mph) and if Japans anything like Oki, the police are SNEAKY! Along the highways, they'd have a car parked, jacked-up with a tire off. A radar gun would be in the taillight. A spotter would report the speed and vehicle make/color and about a mile ahead was a cut-out in a high berm. A cop would wave you into a parking area. You'd pay your fine, ON-THE-SPOT ... or get into a bus for an appearance in court! WOW!
Also, EMISSIONS are a biggie. Anywhere - usually in town at a traffic circle type area, the police would stop you ... one would put a tube in your exhaust and if it read okay, you were good to go. Meanwhile, another cop would open your hood. To get registered, you had to have your car's timing set and they'd put a seal on your distributor. LOUSY gas mileage; but if the seal was removed, BIG FINES!! So, beware.
Also, EMISSIONS are a biggie. Anywhere - usually in town at a traffic circle type area, the police would stop you ... one would put a tube in your exhaust and if it read okay, you were good to go. Meanwhile, another cop would open your hood. To get registered, you had to have your car's timing set and they'd put a seal on your distributor. LOUSY gas mileage; but if the seal was removed, BIG FINES!! So, beware.
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Never been to Japan, but how many times will you get a chance to see and live in other countries in your life especially when you get out of the military. I say take it and see all the sites Japan has to offer.
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CPL (Join to see) My dentist was assigned to Japan during his two year tenure in the USAF. Many of the SNCOs he treated were appreciative of his services. A phone call to many of them would result in a flight to “?” for a weekend.
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
Once you learn to say, ‘Dozo’, (please), everything falls into place.
During my two R & Rs in Japan, 1954/55, I was very impressed with the politeness and courtesy extended.
I was also dismayed/amazed at the number of people that could be compressed into one public transport vehicle.
During my two R & Rs in Japan, 1954/55, I was very impressed with the politeness and courtesy extended.
I was also dismayed/amazed at the number of people that could be compressed into one public transport vehicle.
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Suspended Profile
2 tours, Oki and Fuji and loved them both but I like Fuji better and it was close to Tokyo.
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