Military News

Weekend Marine Patrols Intended to Promote Courtesy

By Gunnery Sgt. Cindy Fisher
United States Marine Corps

July 29, 2010 - Marine Corps Bases Japan and III Marine Expeditionary Force Marines and sailors are unofficial ambassadors for the United States every time they leave base for liberty, and courtesy patrols help ensure they are good ambassadors, says a MCBJ sergeant major.

As ambassadors, it is imperative Marines and sailors exhibit positive behavior - both on duty and off duty - that reflects well upon the military; this is an obligation, said Sgt. Maj. Cevet A. Adams, MCBJ sergeant major.

Courtesy patrols, as outlined in chapter five of MCBJ/III MEF Order 1050.7 Liberty Campaign Order, are a preventive measure intended to help service members, he explained.

The patrols do this by deterring off-base misconduct through immediate leadership, assistance and guidance to service members on liberty, he added.

The Marine Corps and its leadership take any incident or allegation of misconduct by Marines and sailors seriously, according to the order.

"Any acts of misconduct by (status of forces agreement) members only helps to tarnish the U.S./Japanese relationship," Adams said.

During courtesy patrols, a command program first established in 1997, teams of three to four service members rove four designated off-base liberty areas: Henoko District near Camp Schwab, Kin District near Camp Hansen, Kadena Gate 2/Chuo Park Avenue District near Kadena Air Base and Futenma-Kitamae-American Village District near Camp Foster.

Patrol members, clad in Service "C" uniforms, are expected to monitor the behavior of SOFA personnel in these districts to include monitoring off limits establishments, upholding liberty buddy and liberty card policy, maintaining liberty curfew regulations, ensuring service members wear appropriate civilian attire and preventing alcohol abuse and illegal consumption.

"Patrol members must be approachable, always on the alert for any potential incidents of misconduct, ready at all times to provide assistance to SOFA members and local community establishment owners," Adams said.

The patrols are not a police force but instead aimed at defusing potentially volatile situations before they get out of hand, according to the order. Courtesy patrol members are instructed to contact the appropriate military law enforcement in any situation they cannot resolve.

The camp commanders closest to each area take responsibility for coordinating the patrols of their area.

The order mandates patrols be conducted Fridays, Saturdays and holiday periods from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and allows camp commanders to establish additional patrol hours within their areas.

The program has been successful in past years and continues to be beneficial to local communities, according to the order.

"If we are able to stop or prevent any acts of misconduct from occurring out in the local community, this will continue to build a positive relation with the Okinawan community," Adams said.

The courtesy patrol program has been supported by Okinawa agencies as well.

"The courtesy patrols have been implemented with the cooperation and concurrence" of the Okinawa Prefectural Government, Okinawa Prefecture Police, Okinawa Defense Bureau and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of the Cooperative Working Team, according to the order.

Having this military presence within the local communities frequented by MCBJ and III MEF personnel sends a positive message to these communities, said Adams.

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