Posted on 06/05/2016 9:39:51 PM PDT by Ronin
YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) – Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet (C7F) and Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan (CNFJ) announced temporary liberty curtailment and restrictions on alcohol consumption for all Sailors in Japan as a response to a recent trend of alcohol-related incidents detrimental to the U.S.-Japan Alliance.
Effective immediately, Sailors are prohibited from drinking alcohol, on and off base. Additionally, all off-base liberty will be curtailed.
Sailors who live off base will be permitted to travel to and from work and engage in official actions such as childcare drop-off and pickup, trips to the grocery store, gas stations or the gym.
The liberty curtailment will remain in effect until face-to-face training has been conducted by unit commanding officers, executive officers and command master chiefs with all personnel.
The alcohol restriction will remain in effect until C7F and CNFJ are comfortable that all personnel understand the impact of responsible behavior on the U.S.-Japan Alliance and the United States’ ability to provide security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific.
“These measures are not taken lightly,” said Rear Adm. Matthew Carter, CNFJ. “For decades, we have enjoyed a strong relationship with the people of Japan. It is imperative that each Sailor understand how our actions affect that relationship, and the U.S.-Japan Alliance as a whole.
The order extends to all Sailors assigned or forward deployed to Japan, as well as transient Sailors and units in Japan for temporary duty.
“The overwhelming majority of our Sailors are doing an outstanding job every single day,” said Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin, C7F. “But that same majority—at every paygrade--is also responsible for providing leadership on all levels. We will not condone misconduct that impacts our ability to conduct our mission or which jeopardizes our critical alliance with Japan.”
Interestingly, and I just confirmed this with an official source, the order does NOT apply to USMC personnel, or (at this time) US Army or Air Force personnel. Since the USS Reagan battle group is already at sea, that means only a few hundred shore duty people are actually impacted.
The official I spoke to said the Marines at Yokosuka and at the Embassy will be expected to comply voluntarily, but did not comment about the Marines on Okinawa.
Maybe the Coasties that are there this week will get some good liberty!
Maybe, but I doubt it. If there are any cutters in Yokosuka, their COs are likely to extend the ban to their people as well. Failing to do so and risking the possibility of an incident would be a total career ender if anything happened. Not to mention it would be a big middle finger to Seventh Fleet, which would definitely be remarked upon at some level.
I was joking about hitting the bars down there. I still have a Navy haircut and wear Navy patches on my liberty jacket. It would be very impolite for me to disrespect the big bosses that way.
What does this tell us about the quality of recruits and their training and discipline?
It tells us much more about the quality of our leadership.
Don't go there.
There is a long, if not exactly proud, military tradition of going on liberty, getting drunk and making an ash of yourself to the detriment of the service.
Not the first time this has happened and won't be the last.
If those clubs are anything like the ones I knew then command is going to hear a large red ink scream coming from there where there’s usually tons of black ink. A condition that doesn’t last long.
There’s gonna be a lot of po’d sailors and officers!
The DoD under Obama’s administration has gone totally overboard with all of the touchy-feely indoctrination designed to accommodate the LGBTs. Cutting off all alcohol is another step too far.
Why didn’t they just punish the persons who violated Japanese laws and Navy regulations instead of punishing everyone? .....Like everything else Obama’s administration does, it’s all for “show”.
Such restrictions on liberty will have an impact on the local economy as clubs that cater to sailors lose customers. Those making such restrictions may be targeting these clubs because of a hidden bias that will not be stated.
What’s wrong with that. If they don’t like the restrictions, tough.
That sound you hear is the city of Yokuska going bankrupt. Hundreds of bars shut down; thousands of people instantly unemployed; demonstrations against US ensue.
Way to go, Admiral S$%t for brains. Well thought out plan. Hope you have plenty of brigs.
I worked on Boat Crew for a Med Cruise and a half and a Caribbean Cruise. I saw some whoppers LOL. One squadron officer wanted to bring a pig back to the ship with him. Some guys ended up in going back to the ship in wire mesh baskets. Kinda like a cell you took two wire mesh stretchers and put drunk in one with a life jacket then another one with open side facing him on top and tieing it up so he could not get out. We put plenty of flotation on the thing.
I was walking on the gunnels one night while we were in transit from fleet landing to ship and some idiot grabbed my feet and wouldn't turn loose. Boat Officer saw it and he got a trip to the old man.
No, it is NOT an ineffective ‘libtard’ way of dealing with this.
It is a way of demonstrating that the actions of a few can damage ALL.
Ever served on a submarine? One man can kill all if he does not perform as required.
This was demonstrated to me in bootcamp. A lesson taken to heart.
>>What does this tell us about the quality of recruits and their training and discipline?
Absolutely nothing. I operated a nuclear reactor in the Navy and my division buddies would go out on Liberty and get absolutely sh-faced drunk, but they were sober the next day and standing watch with total professionalism.
I don’t drink alcohol and never have, but this sort of “curtailment” has lots of unintended consequences. All of them are bad.
Making the local japanese businesses decide ...... reminds me of the story , myth or not, long ago about the commander that paid troops with 2 dollar bills so the locals could actually see where a lot of their income had originated..... the american fighting men and women stationed in their country......
Crazy stuff.....
When I was going to Machinist Mate A school in Great Lakes last century, the base commander put the whole city of North Chicago off limits due to the locals taking advantage of drunken sailors. After three days the city leaders came crawling to the commander promising to take care of the drunken sailors.
I’m with you, I hate COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT, but we all (mostly) get it at work in various ways. But in these cases, there may be a bit of value to it, because peer influence is a big factor. My thinking is that service men don’t just go alone to a bar, they go with others - and it’s the other people that may not be as ripped that might be able to stop and out-of-control person and prevent an international incident.
As it is, considering how sensitive things are there (this is far from the first incident), if we really want to keep that base, we really should bad off-base drinking. While I’m sure there are plenty of great seafood places to eat, the guys will either have to order to-go, or eat the food without alcohol...at least if I was running things.
Was ship’s company with USS Ranger (CV 61) in the late 80s. A number of alcohol-related incidents near the end of deployment that caused “drunk watches,” being placed on report, and liberty restrictions. Morale plummeted. New CO took over and had one rule about drinking: Take care of your shipmates. He got rid of all the oppressive measures. Morale soared, and liberty incidents, while not completely eliminated, declined significantly. He ran a clean, well maintained ship, with a happy, work hard/play hard crew.
This is a mistake. Everyone needs a safe place to let off steam. No OFF base drinking? For many of the young enlisted, drinking is closely associated with partying and meeting girls. Don’t forget, you are dealing with youths in the prime of their lives, physically speaking.
This article points to the reason that I did not make the military my life...MASS PUNISHMENT for the acts of a few!
Whether it be for the driving records of a few or anything done by a small number (or in some cases a single person) people causing all to receive the punishment they alone (or in small groups) deserved........with absolutely no recourse!
It is the sole reason that I did not make the military my career.
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