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What should the U.S. military brass and/or Japanese authorities do to reduce the number of crimes committed by U.S. military personnel in Japan?

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Interesting article here on the crime rate (figures from 2008) :

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60757

However, to summarise - SOFA-status people accounted for 1.62 percent of all arrests on Okinawa during the year, while they make up 3.28 percent of the island’s population.

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Japanese Authorities should Ban U.S military personnel from getting out of base.

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SOFA-status people accounted for 1.62 percent of all arrests on Okinawa during the year, while they make up 3.28 percent of the island’s population.

It's funny and irrelevent how people ome up with these numbers. Obviously, if I was a guest in your house, would you expect me to commit a crime under your roof?

As for what should be done? Hang them.

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"Hang them."

All of them?

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Get rid of all the US troops in Japan. They are not needed here. Let them have their bases etc back on American soil, where they can have all the malls and fast-food chains they want. The only thing Japan needs stationed here is a nuclear deterrent and a few US personnel to man the warheads. Other than that, the rest of them shoudl be just kicked out.

American's presence in Japan is American imperialism under the guise of 'peace-keeping'. All the military I've met/seen here are utter twats, here for a free-ride.

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Well, this is an interesting topic JT thought up - am sure it will get it fair share of posts.....

But the question really presupposes that there is a disproportionate number of crimes by US military affiliated personnel, which as Geofkiwi refers to, and as other folks who have reserched the topic know (using the GOJ's own figures), that is not factual.

Guess I'd make a couple of points;

Any crime, no matter how small, commited by US military affiliated members in Japan is just plain wrong - as professional military members, and representaives of our government, the crime rate should be zero. I wish I could say that goal was obtainable - it depresses me that it isn't.

The elite on Okinawa who comprise the majority of the far left anti-base moverment (the local government, the academics and the media) have and will continue to use the myth of disproportionate crime by US members to pursue their anti-base agenda and extort more money from the central gov't.

Anytime the GOJ concludes that crime by US military members overrides Japan's national interets in having the US defend it under the terms of the Bilateral Security Treaty, it can abrogate that treaty, and request the US military leave Japan. I will cite one example why this isn't likely. After the horrendous rape of the 12 year old girl in 1995, senior leaders in the GOJ was makng very loud public suggestions that it may reevaluate the US military presence in Japan, perhaps scaling back. What was being said privately to the US was very different, each of these leaders was on "bended knee" begging the US not to scale back or review it's force posture in Japan. They were (and continue to be) deathly afraid of the Chinese, wary of both Koreas (obviously the North more...) and have no confidence in the trustworthiness of Russia.

To directly reply to the question, both governments have a role to play to try to meet the "zero crime rate" goal;

The US has to continue to stress to it's military members and families that service in Japan is unique - it is not like serving at a stateside location. Crime, no matter how small, will quickly become a national level issue and could involve the US President apologizing to the Prime Minister - the expecation is "Zero"

The GOJ has to get some backbone and start to educate its populace on the benefits they derive from the bilateral security alliance - all this slanted reporting out of Okinawa, combined with the one sided view (never corrected by the GOJ) that defines the alliance only in terms of the "burden" on Japan is not healthy nor productive.
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Per the Okinawa Prefectural Police Headquarters report (latest available on the Okinawa Prefectural Government website), of 5,268 crimes for the 2001 year, excluding traffic offenses, SOFA status were involved in 1.3% of the cases (70). Obviously then 98.7% were committed by Okinawan/Japanese themselves (5,268 cases) on themselves.

Moderator: Readers, please note that this question does not just refer to Okinawa but to all parts of Japan where there is a U.S. military presence.

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Refresh courses- that if you harm or cause harm to a Japan national. You will face minuium of 10 years in Japanese jail. Get them more involved in charity work outside of base. Manditory charity work

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okapake

Of course, there are more crimes committed by locals than by the U.S. military personnel. That is not the point. It is a fact of life that members of the U.S. military (and all gaijin in Japan, for that matter) are held to a higher standard of behavior than locals, whether we like it or not.

I don't know what more the military brass can do that they aren't already doing. I'm sure they have extensive orientation programs for every arriving person.

I wouldn't like to see it but an off-base curfew would be the only way to reduce the number of incidents (assuming that most crimes happen at night).

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Hand over the culprits "straight away" to the japanese police/law without hiding them behind the walls of military.

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SOFA status were involved in 1.3%

...aaaaannnnnd, that makes it okay?

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Reduce the troops.

Impose strict curfues.

Ban drinking off the base.

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All the military I've met/seen here are utter twats, here for a free-ride.

Maybe you've only met the really terrible ones. What did you mean by, "a free ride"?

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Does not matter what the LOCALS are doing with regards to committing crime - military personnel should commit ZERO crime. The fact that they are NOT locals and the fact that SHOULD have more self-control as military personnel, makes their crimes even more insufferable.

If they are in Japan, they should at least be answerable to Japanese law. I'd guessing (hoping) they will get a dishonourable discharge and sent back to te US in disgrace for any crime. Adding a lengthy jail term to that wil make them think twice. Finally, make the US military pay for their incarceration. The crims can pay it off when they get out, if they get out.

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It's thier country. Can I come to your house and steal? and it would be okay if the locals in your neighborhood has a higher crime rate than the one I do at your house?

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porter - look at the lockdown last time, the business owners were clamouring for an end since they were not making any money

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Is there really such a high crime rate among the US military in Japan or is it just the fact that every time a US soldier farts it becomes national news? Yes, they should be reprimanded and yes, they should be punished, but keep a rational perspective on this issue.

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But the question really presupposes that there is a disproportionate number of crimes by US military affiliated personnel

The number of crimes is completely disproportionate, Lincolnman.

Disproportionately low.

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Bottom line is this, any crime committed by a local Japanese and/or a US Service member is not okay. However, how can you defend 'guest' in a foriegn country that commit crimes by comparing numbers? However way you look at it, one crime by a 'guest' in any country is inexcusable.

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Your figures from The US Military news paper, do you think they could be biased and a little kind to the Military??? Even if we look at those figures provided, they show 1 crime every week, and 1 Heinous crime every month! That is way to many! Anyway, remember these guys have guns and are trained to kill people. They need scrutiny and a much lower threshold than the locals. To answer the question. It needs to be addressed from the top down. (see; Milgram Experiment) For any crime, the punishment must go all the way up. Perhaps a solution is they can make R&R's in a totally different location or country, a night time curfew, as mentioned before. Better alcohol abuse training. All the marines I know drink hard core, and say its part of being a marine. You do the maths!

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Well said Lincolnman. You also brought up a very good point. - The elite on Okinawa who comprise the majority of the far left anti-base moverment (the local government, the academics and the media) have and will continue to use the myth of disproportionate crime by US members to pursue their anti-base agenda and extort more money from the central gov't.

Many people don't know this scam that many pull, they even pull it up here in Atsugi with the closed down Kamasaya base. They whine about us giving back the land, when in fact they hope we don't so they get more money from their own government. So they are basically getting paid to protest.

Better screening needs to take place in the states when they send folks over here. Also they really need to keep those who actually want to stay in Japan here, and not send those who are disgruntled and don't want to be here. We don't want them here either.

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Mandatory military service for ALL Japanese males from 20 to 30. That should do it. Again the flames are being stoked to fire up the usual host of characters here.

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There isn't anything much left for the Officers and authorities to do. They do monthly briefings on sexual harassment and drinking policies, they make weekly safety announcements about being a professional soldier when going off base, they have curfews for all of the bases from not driving for the Marines for the lower enlistment tier to not being at certain drinking establishments at certain times, they also have different restrictions on what service members can and can't do. They are also talking about military that lives here for 2+ years. As much as we can call military members and their families guests, they are living here for an extended period of time. Things are bound to happen in that time frame and some situations can and can't be avoided. But we can make the proper steps to resolve the problem one way or another. The fact is that you can do all of these things but crime happens and the Military as well as the GOJ have made steps to solve these problems.

As much as it is bad that crime happens and it is totally wrong, we can never stop all of the crime because it's just not possible.

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Use robots instead of people. Robots won't commit crimes, but people will.

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“It's funny and irrelevent how people ome up with these numbers. Obviously, if I was a guest in your house, would you expect me to commit a crime under your roof?

As for what should be done? Hang them”.

It's funny to think if 100 people were a guest at your house, that a person would commit no wrong for the one to three years they are there?

“All the military I've met/seen here are utter twats, here for a free-ride”.

Or could it be they are here because orders sent them to Japan?

“Hand over the culprits "straight away" to the japanese police/law without hiding them behind the walls of military”.

This is done when charges are file. No ones hiding.

“Reduce the troops. Impose strict curfues. Ban drinking off the base”.

Yes, that’s called prison. And should this “curfues”(sic) apply to all SOFA to include locals who marry and become SOFA? You think you should have the right to live here and walk around after mid-night and others should not have this right?

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The military are guests here? Is that what it says in the SOFA?

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The whole "guest" approach is wrong. Japan and the U.S. have a lifelong relationship. They warred upon each other, and Japan lost. The U.S. now protects Japan from its enemies (China and North Korea are two examples). Each has to live with each other and deal with problems fairly. Anyone who has had to live with a roommate can tell you that in a tight space there are always some flair-ups.

The media likes to play up ANY problems in order to play the martyr. However, Fuji TV recently sent a director (read as low level employee) to live for 2 weeks in Okinawa. What he saw was that the people are fifty-fifty. half just love complaining about everything, and the U.S. soldiers are the easiest targets. The other half make their living off of military money. Even during protests, what's shown on the media are only the highlights. For example, the ring-around-the-base was only for a little bit, because young people didn't care. they went off to keep dry and socialize with their friends. It was only when the cameras came that they ran into position.

You want to reduce crime by U.S. military? Start by also improving accountability by the Okinawan people as well. Okinawan crimes against military never get reported. So let's start being fair. Let's make shared patrols. one MP and one JP together in each patrol car. Any arrests of either Japanese or Military will go directly to a court of both military and civilian authority. And the Okinawan crimes get reported alongside the military crimes.

My bet is that there will be more Okinawan crimes coming to light than military ones.

Want good guests? Be good hosts!

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There isn't anything that could be done because people will be people. The U.S. military and the Japanese government can not control the military personnel behavior.

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Bottom line is this, any crime committed by a local Japanese and/or a US Service member is not okay. However, how can you defend 'guest' in a foriegn country that commit crimes by comparing numbers? However way you look at it, one crime by a 'guest' in any country is inexcusable.

Holding guests to higher standards than the local populace is not only stupid but racist. "I say zero crimes from the locals." It's a silly statement, right. So why say it the other way around.

Of course nobody wants any crime. Of course crime will happen. Looking at the stats, the US are succeeding in keeping crime low for their own people.

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Want good guests? Be good hosts!

How are Okinawans not being good hosts. They treat the Americans here far better than in the states. There is some resentment on the base issue, but never have I've seen it directed at the American's here in Japan/Okinawa. Sure there are times when the language barrier becomes a problem, but never have I seen an American Sevice member receive biased treatment.

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Holding guests to higher standards than the local populace is not only stupid but racist.

How is this racists? What gives you the authority to say zero crimes for locals? Not only are you implying that a little bit of crime by guest in a different country is okay, but now you are trying to decide what is best for a country that you have no say in. Thier country in thier country. Thier crime is thier crime.

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It's funny to think if 100 people were a guest at your house, that a person would commit no wrong for the one to three years they are there?

So you are saying, crimes by service members, a guest in a foriegn country, is to be expected?

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I suppose maybe the soldiers are watching the locals and have determined that committing crimes is socially acceptable in Japan (since the Japanese crime rates are so much higher than military). What the military can do is organize regular instruction, so that the soldiers know that you can't act like the locals....

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Some of the posts here probably reflect some of the military personnel thinking which is I am special so I can do whatever I want. I don't have to follow the rules and even it I break it I am a personnel of the military here to protect and serve. Since the posts here can't come to an agreement as to what is the problem and come up with a solution to the problem.

Crimes will keep happening because the heads of the U.S. military is not taking it seriously.

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Crimes will keep happening because the heads of the U.S. military is not taking it seriously.

Military command takes crime seriously for reasons that have nothing to do with the Okinawans' feelings on the matter.

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Since the posts here can't come to an agreement as to what is the problem and come up with a solution to the problem.

That's because there isn't a problem to begin with.

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I think nightflesh has summed it up well. Those responsible at the bases don't want the stigma of the behavior of the few that do commit crimes. It's in their best interest to keep this to the lowest amount possible. And as we have seen in recent reports, even the JDF themselves are not averse to committing criminal acts. Should they be restricted to base as well?

I'm fully in support of those foreign military personnel (and family members here) who commit crimes in Japan to face the brunt of the law of the country they are within after a fair and transparent trial. Whilst these people should behave better in Japanese society as 'guests' some don't, but when 'guests' soldiers, tourists, foreign workers (eg ALTs) are held to an even higher standard as the locals and undergo undue attention towards them because of their foreignness, then that's unfair. However, there is a substantial part of the population that believes that being a foreigner means not being entitled to the same legal / human rights as the Japanese population.

In any case, I urge the US military to keep briefing/warning service people and their families of the consequences of poor behavior, not just for themselves but for the other non-Japanese who live here. Unfortunately, when you are in control of inexperienced youngsters (and this can equally apply to ALTs) good behavior is something that is not necessarily on those folks minds when they're out and around on the town.

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Junnama: Military command takes crime seriously for reasons that have nothing to do with the Okinawans' feelings on the matter.

Authority is what is lacking here. That's why military personnel commit crimes. If there was authority then military personnel will think twice about it doing it. Rules plus Authority equal Less Crimes.

Military personnel represent the country that they are from. When a person serve in the army he/she are not just serving himself/herself but on behalf of the country.

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What gives you the authority to say zero crimes for locals? Not only are you implying that a little bit of crime by guest in a different country is okay, but now you are trying to decide what is best for a country that you have no say in. Thier country in thier country. Thier crime is thier crime.

I only said it to highlight the absurdity of the statement. I think the rest of my post explains that. No crime is ideal, but don't hold foreigners to higher standards than locals.

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2020hindsight:

What gives you the authority to say zero crimes for locals? Not only are you implying that a little bit of crime by guest in a different country is okay, but now you are trying to decide what is best for a country that you have no say in. Thier country in thier country. Thier crime is thier crime.

I only said it to highlight the absurdity of the statement. I think the rest of my post explains that. No crime is ideal, but don't hold foreigners to higher standards than locals.

I would have to disagree guys. That's the problem. When military personnel thinks that they are just like the local is the problem. That thinking or perspective is the problem because they are the locals. This is not about locals misbehaving (if a local screwed up he/she will have to face the J-police). It is about standards that the military have set forth and the military personnel failed to meet that expectation.

It's like the employees of a company. The employee represent the company in how they dress and talk. The supervisor and management is to oversee that the employees act accordingly to the rules and regulation. If the employee do not meet those standards or screwed up then the employee is shown the door.

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Rules plus Authority equal Less Crimes.

Which is why of course the military had a much lower crime rate than the Japanese population.

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Correction,

That thinking or perspective is the problem because they are the locals.

That thinking.....because they are not the locals.

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Junnama: Which is why of course the military had a much lower crime rate than the Japanese population

We are not talking about Japanese people committing crimes. We are talking about reducing crimes committed by military personnel.

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Oh, well in that case I suggest as before, some cultural training:

I suppose maybe the soldiers are watching the locals and have determined that committing crimes is socially acceptable in Japan (since the Japanese crime rates are so much higher than military). What the military can do is organize regular instruction, so that the soldiers know that you can't act like the locals....

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US Forces in Japan are not "guests". They are here to defend Japan at the request of the Govt.

So they commit some crimes - what do you expect? Young men and women trained in violence, many single..... With plenty of locals willing to drink and party and soon with them. Seems almost inevitable that a small number (70 or so annually) crimes involve them.

Seems to me that the only way is to move all US Forces elsewhere - something which the current Government has looked at and failed to achieve.

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Gurukun - you are surely joking when you say there is no bias against gaijin in Okinawa. I have been refused entry to so many bars and restaurants it isn't funny!

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I don't think that crimes committed by U.S. Military personnel in Japan has drastically increased from the first time I was here back in 92. I have heard of ALOT of incidents regarding military personnell being dropped by the Japanese Police....I wonder if they are putting all those incidents that were dropped because of lack of proof that a crime was committed in the first place is put into these figures.

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Why are some people excusing the military personnel who committed crimes? Why are some people comparing the crimes committed by the locals and the military personnel? It's two separate issues. Also, discrimination is not on topic because military personnel are not committing crimes due to discrimination. Wait...maybe they are???

As a student from school days, students are taught to be on your best behavior when going on a filed trip. I guess that does not apply to some military personnel or by some posters. Please don't be emotional about the subject which can overrule common sense or logic.

@Junnama, it's more than just culture. It's also common sense and responsibility even if an accident were to happened when the military personnel is likely at fault. Doing the right thing even if the person is in the wrong. If the military personnel are committing crimes think about if they were back at home. Those behavior would not be tolerated.

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Its funny how all the "should be kicked out of Japan" or "should not ne able to drink alcohol" or "shouldnt be able to leave their home or go out at night" type people are so quick to apply that to a group that THEY dont belong to. How would you feel if the group that YOU are in was being targeted in that manner? Would YOU accept that being forced upon YOU just because you were a member of some large group of people you had no control over?

EVERY gaijin in EVERY category has the potential to create crime. (And hey Japanese actually commit crime too). So the way you deal with it is through education as a deterrent and punishment of offenders. You dont think these military guys get punished when they do stupid stuff? They cant just run away back to their country like some others can, they get the full extent of punishment allowed when, and only when they are found guilty FIRST.

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it's more than just culture. It's also common sense and responsibility even if an accident were to happened when the military personnel is likely at fault. Doing the right thing even if the person is in the wrong. If the military personnel are committing crimes think about if they were back at home. Those behavior would not be tolerated.

I was actually being sarcastic with my comment.

Do you guys really think that crime is tolerated by the military? That's jut insane.... Almost like saying the police tolerate crime because despite their best efforts to eradicate it, there is still crime everyday.

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Of course crime is not tolerated by the military, police, or the citizens.

Define the problem then define the solution. On this forum there is a lack of consensus as to what the behavior of the military personnel should be. Without defining the problem the solution would be lacking.

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Another way, is to reduce the amount of COLA (cost of living allowance) given to the military, they don't spend much of it and without it, would get drunk on base instead of off base.

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@vulcan-I agree with many of your comments here, but that last one is a bit overboard, you think?

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Once again I ask where vulcan gets his stats from. He must have really been done in by someone. 80%? Get real.

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Another way, is to reduce the amount of COLA (cost of living allowance) given to the military

if they are short of money, i think there will be more crimes like stealing from taxi driver and etc. remember the murder incident in yokosuka.. the sailor killed a japanese woman for money.

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Use shaming tactics for those caught for minor offenses to perform community service such as picking-up litter, etc. around various neighborhoods around the base. They should wear a sign around their necks stating they are repenting for their trangressions against the locals. Serious crimes need to be dealt with so they have double jeapardy, time in Japanese prison as well as the brig when they come out. I guarantee crimes committed by the military and their families will go down significantly.

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Chotto: "Get rid of all the US troops in Japan. They are not needed here..."

Heck, even the DPJ Foreign Minister Okada says they're needed.

"... The only thing Japan needs stationed here is a nuclear dterrent and a few US personnel manning the warheads. Other than that, the rest of them should be just kicked out."

As Curly of City Slickers would say, "Jesus Christ."

"... all the military I've met/seem here are utter twats"

Obviously you don't have the guts to say that to their face.

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We need to categorize the crimes and apply appropriate resolution to each crime. More over, the historical position of the US presence gives the soldiers a theme that they are on the occupied island and can do whatever they wish and go away sliding the trial. They need to be well taught about the reality. Another report published a few days ago on JT that the statistics of crimes by the marines has been hiding by the JPolice due to its rising figure year by year.

If no due punishment is not given or no attempt to resolve the cause of crime is taken, this will continue to increase.

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The same thing should be done to them as for any crime. Punish them normally.

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It's very very simple. Don't let them step off base.

Now if we're trying to be realistic rather than absolutely prevent crime 100%, then sure we can let them off base but that needs to be limited. In Korea they're pretty strict about where soldiers can go, and it helps if you enforce the existing no drinking policy.

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"no drinking policy" - where? Not in Korea.

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Use shaming tactics for those caught for minor offenses to perform community service such as picking-up litter, etc.

@nihonryu: Great idea in theory and I would like to see it but I think low life military who commit offences would where such an event as a badge of honor. In the US, its cool to be the guy getting in trouble.

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bdiego: would you happily go along with your suggestion if YOUR group was told to do so? Would you "take one for the team" and stay in your home because YOUR group had a few bad apples? If you were told to leave Japan because a few in YOUR group acted up would you pack your bags and leave today? There is no excuse for bad behavior and crime....period. I would love to see the response to my questions from others who gave suggestions such as yours.

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Nihonryu-

They should wear a sign around their necks stating they are repenting for their trangressions against the locals

I like your idea :)

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exactly, it is really easy to recommend restrictions of the personal freedoms of OTHER people who aren't in YOUR group. Thats ok though its not always going to be the military, sooner or later the group that you who are coming up with these judgemental ideas are in will be next. Then I am sure you will be trying to distance yourself and say that you are different from all the others in your group and that restrictions shouldnt apply to you

Basically, dont revel in the misfortune of others, because it comes back around.....

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When I first came to Japan almost 30 years ago, you had to go through a strict overseas screening, and they were a little pickier then about who they let come to Japan. They need to go back to the old standards, and after they arrive, any member that steps out of line needs to be sent back stateside after a first offense, no second chances.

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Maybe uncle sam can start paying to their soldiers more, the dollar is so cheap that buying stuff in J with an american salary sounds dificult to me.

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Well here we go again but I for one am not going to go through all this song and dance anymore. Although to humor the question a bit there are things in the short term which can be done. For what little crimes military personal do commit there needs to be more severe penalties. Like maybe automatic court marshal perhaps? A sort of boot camp mentality would be quite effective in these situations. Maybe a loss of privileges for everyone on base?. This would make people think twice in how they conduct themselves off base and police themselves better or pay the piper. I understand the inherent problems in keeping track of some 40,000 military personnel at all times. Although If a tough love policy is what is necessary to get the point across then so be it.

If it were not for the fact of all these unfortunate innocents taking place over the years. Maybe then there would have been a different attitude amongst the general population in regards to the base issue. On the flip side though there no doubt needs to be clearer language between military Brass and Japanese authorities. This way it would help minimize unnecessary red tape, moving the process along in a timely manner with minimal conflict. US and Japanese authorities need to get together and work out a policy which is acceptable to both parties. I doubt this has been done yet and would seem as an acceptable first step towards a more long term policy.

Another option which I strongly support is allowing military personnel who wish to relocate elsewhere be able to do so!! In this situation I would rather have people here which respect Japan laws, customs and culture then someone who didn't really want to come here in the first place. This would help eliminate the few bad apples from those who actually like being here and accepting the Japanese way of doing things. Living off base should be a privilege as well and not a right. Many foreigners who live in Japan accept this and the same should apply to the military as well. In closing a little tough love doesn't hurt anyone and I would expect this no less from our fighting forces.

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Start by training our Marines, especially the ranks of E-3/4/5 to be more culturally sensitive. To some personnel, especially those from the south, we are still fighting WW2. Better leadership by senior enlisted and commissioned officers would help.

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Patrick Smash: Most end up doing a stint in one of the "zones" anyway. Screening and just NOT putting individuals here that don't want to be here would put a little dent in the issue. No system is perfect. Screens sometimes have holes.

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The military should dole out harsher punishments, as well as fine them for the damage when the personell that commit crimes. Nothing speaks more to them when they find their paychecks cut or completely gone because of their own criminal actions.

We could go as far to say in serious criminal charges such as rape, murder, of course aside from handing it over to the US justice system/Japanese justice system depending on the case, take away all that they worked for because they obviously negated their rights by commiting such crimes.

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lord, again it seems that the majority of those posting have no idea or concept about the subject. Those rare military individuals who commit crimes (which by JT's own article the figures are less than 1%) they ARE dealt with and punished accordingly. Often, they face double punishment. First by the local Japan authorities, jail, fines, etc, then usually more severe punishments within the Military, usually getting kicked out and/or sent to prison.

Community service? They have been doing this for years.

No drinking AND not allowed to go off the base? lol, think about that for a minute, seriously.

Some of these replies are just hilarious. They (military) are here to insure Japans continued freedom, so is it fair to strip their freedoms just because of a VERY FEW rotten apples?

Why stop at military? Why not all foreigners in Japan? I wouldn't be surprised if the crime stats for civilian foreigners in Japan is higher than military.

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Is this question SERIOUS? SCREEN the people coming into Okinawa. WOW! You would not believe how much I think this would help. I'm pretty confident that people who are retarded enough to commit the crimes they have here didn't become stupid overnight. If you see someone committed robbed a taxi driver in the states, DONT let them come to Okinawa. I don't know, is this making too much sense?

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@societymike: I agree with you 100% Gotta remember though.... not everyone has common sense, and is not a bigot.

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The crime rate by US service members is always a lower percentage then they represent population wise. I used to read the news from North Korea and Okinawa sounds just like it.

Whats considered a service member related crime here in Okinawa, J walking, military vehicles making uturn's in parking lots. I just don't have much respect for this kind of reporting.

U.S. service members here in Japan but largely in Okinawa get their careers ruined over stupid crap like staying out passed curfew or some other military infraction. And god help the service members that commit actual crimes because after the Japanese are done with them then they go to military prison and get punished much more harshly then they otherwise would. There will never be 0% crime, thats a fantasy. But the percentage of service members that commit crimes versus their percentage of the population means that if all US service members left Japan its crime rate would actually go up.

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@porter "In the US, its cool to be the guy getting in trouble." Ummm... No. We call them dipshits and house them in prison.

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