Behavior training ordered for servicemembers on Okinawa

Behavior training ordered for servicemembers on Okinawa
By David Allen, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Thursday, March 25, 2010

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — A recent rash of off-base incidents involving servicemembers on Okinawa has prompted commanders to call for mandatory behavioral training.

Marine Lt. Gen. Terry G. Robling, the senior commander on Okinawa, has ordered all servicemembers and civilian employees to take part in unit training “to review what is expected of them (in order) to ensure good order and discipline,” according to a news release issued Tuesday afternoon.

On Okinawa, even minor incidents involving U.S. troops are used as ammunition for opponents of the U.S. bases on the island. The latest incidents come at a time when the prefectural government and anti-base factions are stepping up their campaign to scrap a plan to build a new Marine air facility on Okinawa.

Robling met with senior commanders from all services Saturday to discuss measures “to reduce incidents and accidents to the greatest extent possible,” according to the release.

The meeting Saturday was partly in reaction to a hit-and-run accident March 16 in Henoko, in which Okinawa police allege a Navy petty officer who had been drinking struck an Okinawa man’s car with the Humvee she was driving and sped away.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=68864



unhappycamper comment: Sometimes it seems that the only time we give a fuck what the natives think about us is when we're trying to negotiate military base stuff.

Out of Afghanistan in 60 Years or So"