Service member being an idiot

[pourts]

So, this thread has gone for 4 pages and nobody has mentioned Okinawa yet?

http://www.nbc29.com/story/20128686/another-us-marine-arrested-in-okinawa
If I remember correctly, this is the 3rd or 4th incident in 3 weeks, and by far the most benign. The fact that his name was released immediately, unlike in the previous incidents, was a calculated move.

 

[Harrier Dude]

So, this thread has gone for 4 pages and nobody has mentioned Okinawa yet?

http://www.nbc29.com/story/20128686/another-us-marine-arrested-in-okinawa
If I remember correctly, this is the 3rd or 4th incident in 3 weeks, and by far the most benign. The fact that his name was released immediately, unlike in the previous incidents, was a calculated move.

When you're a 1stLt and the President of the United States not only knows who you are but has to discuss your actions with the Prime Minister of another country personally, you are either about to get the Medal of Honor............or not so much.

REALLY, not so much. Talk about a career defining moment.

 

[Flash]

Just continuing the fine Marine tradition of getting drunk and trying to get 'home' by any means necessary, even if it means climbing the White House fence thinking it is actually Quantico.......

 

[RadicalDude]

The fact that his name was released immediately, unlike in the previous incidents, was a calculated move.

Well, definitely knew this guy from school. He was a real winner, personality-wise. Good Job, Annapolis.

 

[scoober78]

Well, definitely knew this guy from school. He was a real winner, personality-wise. Good Job, Annapolis.

A fact I'm sure he will have the opportunity to prove in his new civilian career.

It boggles my mind how "tolerant" the military has been about these continued incidences on Okinawa. We had a aircrew guy f-up on liberty in Souda...your basic ARI until he threw an empty bottle off the balcony and damaged a BMW)...and the squadron wasn't allowed to drink while transiting the 6th Fleet AOR for almost a year. Period. Zero alcohol. We screw up on Okinawa again and again and it seems like very little is done...part of me can't help but agree with the Japanese here. We ought to get our shit together.

 

[phrogpilot73]

It boggles my mind how "tolerant" the military has been about these continued incidences on Okinawa. We had a aircrew guy f-up on liberty in Souda...your basic ARI until he threw an empty bottle off the balcony and damaged a BMW)...and the squadron wasn't allowed to drink while transiting the 6th Fleet AOR for almost a year. Period. Zero alcohol. We screw up on Okinawa again and again and it seems like very little is done...part of me can't help but agree with the Japanese here. We ought to get our shit together.

Spoken like someone who has never been stationed on Okinawa/knew someone stationed there.

Zero Alcohol for a year? Child's play compared to what I've heard from my buddies on Okinawa.

The problem is not that these things happen, and the military responds - it's that the Japanese don't want us there, and haven't wanted us there for a very long time.

 

[scoober78]

Spoken like someone who has never been stationed on Okinawa/knew someone stationed there.

Zero Alcohol for a year? Child's play compared to what I've heard from my buddies on Okinawa.

The problem is not that these things happen, and the military responds - it's that the Japanese don't want us there, and haven't wanted us there for a very long time.

I've been TAD there for about 8 months...several friends...blah, blah blah....I just say that to give you my background, not as defense of what may be misunderstanding of the situation...

That said, are you just saying that these things happen everywhere and are only publicized because "it's Japan"...are you saying that despite the earnest efforts of the CoC, they just can't keep control of their folks? What is it that you are saying other than "You're wrong, the Japanese don't want us there"?

 

[BigRed389]

A fact I'm sure he will have the opportunity to prove in his new civilian career.

It boggles my mind how "tolerant" the military has been about these continued incidences on Okinawa. We had a aircrew guy f-up on liberty in Souda...your basic ARI until he threw an empty bottle off the balcony and damaged a BMW)...and the squadron wasn't allowed to drink while transiting the 6th Fleet AOR for almost a year. Period. Zero alcohol. We screw up on Okinawa again and again and it seems like very little is done...part of me can't help but agree with the Japanese here. We ought to get our shit together.

What do you mean by that?

What are you looking for them to do beyond what's already in place?

From what I've heard, the pattern is somebody does something stupid, the lockdown and pain begin for everyone else, things relax a bit, then somebody fucks up again. Not sure how the dumbassery could be prevented other than locking everyone down 24/7.

Don't get me wrong, at the local unit level, I have ideas, but from the flag level, not sure how you manage that. Stupid people really seem to want to be stupid.

 

[scoober78]

What do you mean by that?

Might have overstated and/or poorly stated my point a bit, as both you and Phrog reacted this way...and I am looking at it from the unit level. (squadron etc...)

While I'm not a general advocate of blanket curfews and confinement to base, it seems to a guy from the outside looking in that what they are doing isn't working...so...WTF? What's the plan?

 

[phrogpilot73]

I've been TAD there for about 8 months...several friends...blah, blah blah....I just say that to give you my background, not as defense of what may be misunderstanding of the situation...

That said, are you just saying that these things happen everywhere and are only publicized because "it's Japan"...are you saying that despite the earnest efforts of the CoC, they just can't keep control of their folks? What is it that you are saying other than "You're wrong, the Japanese don't want us there"?

Not what I'm saying. A squadron "transiting" 6th Fleet AOR is different then a guy who has 3 year orders to the same place. It is also different when you have a minor ARI in 6th Fleet and you have a minor ARI in Okinawa. Even the most minor ARI results in full blown lockdown on occasion. Japanese don't want us there, so Japanese also tend to blow out of proporiton their reports on the incidents.

What is so magically special/enticing about Okinawa that causes Sailors/Marines to completely lose their minds? I would argue that it's probably close to the same percentage of all the other duty stations around the world, but it gets more press because Japan doesn't want us there.

How many times have you picked up a copy of the Marine/Navy Crimes and read the murder, rape, burglary charges at CONUS duty stations. Yet we don't restrict the entire base because of one shithead. But we do in Okinawa. The military is HARDLY tolerant of what happens in Okinawa. They've proven it time and time again. If anything they're LESS tolerant than they are at other duty stations.

 

[Harrier Dude]

There are also multiple times the number of personnel in Oki compared to squadrons transiting places like Souda.

I deployed there, and I was stationed there for a year. The place is hyper sensitive to all buffoonery. Much more so than most other places.

It's just simply a numbers game in terms of exposure.

 

[pilot_man]

Not what I'm saying. A squadron "transiting" 6th Fleet AOR is different then a guy who has 3 year orders to the same place. It is also different when you have a minor ARI in 6th Fleet and you have a minor ARI in Okinawa. Even the most minor ARI results in full blown lockdown on occasion. Japanese don't want us there, so Japanese also tend to blow out of proporiton their reports on the incidents.

What is so magically special/enticing about Okinawa that causes Sailors/Marines to completely lose their minds? I would argue that it's probably close to the same percentage of all the other duty stations around the world, but it gets more press because Japan doesn't want us there.

How many times have you picked up a copy of the Marine/Navy Crimes and read the murder, rape, burglary charges at CONUS duty stations. Yet we don't restrict the entire base because of one shithead. But we do in Okinawa. The military is HARDLY tolerant of what happens in Okinawa. They've proven it time and time again. If anything they're LESS tolerant than they are at other duty stations.

I have to disagree to your point on this one. Japan is a safe and peaceful place. These incidents are blown up because it is stupid Americans getting drunk and doing stupid shit. Just because these types of things are OK in the States, doesn't mean we should expect the Japanese to accept them. Here's a novel idea: Since alcohol is a factor in every one of these incidents, then make Japan dry outside of base. Don't put a curfew on the 99% that can behave themselves. Once we prove that we can act like intelligent, civilized people, then we can drink in public again. The Japanese are hyper sensitive to the buffoonery. That is because it is safer in a Japanese town than it is on a US base in Japan. Once our people grow the fuck up, then they should be allowed to drink.

 

[Harrier Dude]

Here's a novel idea: Since alcohol is a factor in every one of these incidents, then make Japan dry outside of base. Don't put a curfew on the 99% that can behave themselves. Once we prove that we can act like intelligent, civilized people, then we can drink in public again. The Japanese are hyper sensitive to the buffoonery. That is because it is safer in a Japanese town than it is on a US base in Japan. Once our people grow the fuck up, then they should be allowed to drink.

It's not a novel idea by any means. This happens about every six months. It doesn't work.

By the way, the Japs get hooted up and run around like crazy people sometimes, too. It's just that nobody cares.

If they wanted us gone, they should have fought harder in 1945.

 

[pilot_man]

I haven't heard of it. At least not an entire 7th fleet no-alcohol policy. How does it not work? You mean the troops don't listen to it or our sailors still go out and rape, assault and trespass when they're sober? I find that hard to believe. There is a catalyst for their actions and that can easily be removed. If it's just that the rule isn't being obeyed, then we as leadership need to fix that.

If you are going to punish everyone in Japan for the actions of a few dumb fucks, then do it with alcohol. Not a curfew.

The Japanese don't go around gang raping our women when they get all hooted up. That's the difference here.

You can't use that argument any more. Saying "we won WW2 so you can go fuck yourselves" doesn't work 60 something years later. It's time to move on and start acting like grown ups.

 

[scoober78]

Not what I'm saying. A squadron "transiting" 6th Fleet AOR is different then a guy who has 3 year orders to the same place. It is also different when you have a minor ARI in 6th Fleet and you have a minor ARI in Okinawa. Even the most minor ARI results in full blown lockdown on occasion. Japanese don't want us there, so Japanese also tend to blow out of proporiton their reports on the incidents.

What is so magically special/enticing about Okinawa that causes Sailors/Marines to completely lose their minds? I would argue that it's probably close to the same percentage of all the other duty stations around the world, but it gets more press because Japan doesn't want us there.

How many times have you picked up a copy of the Marine/Navy Crimes and read the murder, rape, burglary charges at CONUS duty stations. Yet we don't restrict the entire base because of one shithead. But we do in Okinawa. The military is HARDLY tolerant of what happens in Okinawa. They've proven it time and time again. If anything they're LESS tolerant than they are at other duty stations.

Fair enough...thanks.