Could you imagine if such an order was put on Korean spouses married to USFK servicemembers?:

“My biggest concern is my wife,” said a civilian DOD worker who lives on Camp Lester. He asked to be referred to by just his first name, David.

“Her rights as a Japanese citizen are being infringed,” he said. “She’s not allowed to go to work or visit her family without special permission from the U.S. military? My children can’t visit their grandparents?

“We got an exemption for her work, but why did we have to do that?” David asked. “This ‘period of reflection’ doesn’t appear to have been thought out well. I mean, we even have to get permission to walk our dogs.” [Stars & Stripes]

Make sure to read the whole article, but the Marines are definitely taking this restriction very seriously.  Supposedly dependents caught violating the order face being sent back to America for the offense.  I don’t see how legally the Marine Corps command can restrict the movement of Japanese citizens or punish them if caught violating the order? 

The people I’m sure are really feeling the pain of this restriction are the O-6 colonels that have to sign a document every time someone needs to walk their dog because they are the approval authority for every excemption to the order.  I cannot imagine asking a brigade commander for permission to walk a dog, but that is where this restriction has led to. 

One USFJ servicemember however seems to be thinking the same way I was earlier this week:

“I think that the restriction imposed on all DOD and family members was a great idea,” wrote a Marine gunnery sergeant. “The Okinawan community doesn’t realize how important the military is to its businesses and community. I parked in American Village before only to receive a flyer stating go back to America and thanks for Rock and Roll and cheeseburgers. I felt that was disrespectful. I hope the restriction will last till at least April or May so the Okinawans will be protesting about raising the restrictions so they can live.”

I would be amazed if this restriction continues into April or May because USFJ personnel all have their families with them and to keep wives and kids imprisoned in their homes for that long would be devestating for morale and would probably lead to a lot of angry letters and phone calls to members of Congress. 

Here is what Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt. Craig Deatherage, the top enlisted servicemember for U.S. Forces Japan had to say about the "Period of Reflection":

“We are a reflection of society. There will always be that one or two people who do something that we find extremely disappointing. Their misconduct will highlight us in negative ways. I don’t think we can fix human nature.

“I think a relentless focus on our programs and our people and the focus on professionalism and their duties and responsibilities helps us to mitigate a lot of that. Statistically, in the last 20 years, we’ve seen an incredible improvement. But to eliminate every bit of it would be an unrealistic expectation.

“Certainly, we’re embarrassed every time one of our people’s misconduct highlights us. I guarantee you there are a lot of senior enlisted people out there right now, very focused on the conduct and behavior and what their people’s plans are for the weekend and talking to them about duty and responsibility and the fact that they are the face of our service to the Japanese people.”  [Stars & Stripes]

Chief Master Sergeant have you been reading the ROK Drop by chance? 

I have been saying this for years in regards to USFK crimes and recently in regards to USFJ crime that it is impossible to eliminate all crime in such a large population group.  What you do is take all measures reasonably possible to limit crime and ensure it stays below the norms of the general population.  However, what I do have to wonder is if USFJ is making this case strongly enough to the Japanese public that they are in fact being good citizens or is the Japanese public so invested in the image of the out of control Marines that there is nothing they can do to change it?