Marine Lance Cpls. Alize Reyes, left, and Austin Walker, check IDs at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, March 27, 2024. Sobriety checks are scheduled at all Marine bases in Japan on July 12 and 13, 2024. (Brody Robertson/U.S. Marine Corps)
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — The Marine Corps is imposing 100% sobriety checks Friday and Saturday evening at its bases in Japan following complaints from Japanese leaders about recent charges against U.S. service members for alleged sexual offenses.
The gate checks at Marine bases are a prelude to changes across the board for the U.S. military, according to an opinion piece from III Marine Expedition commander Lt. Gen. Roger Turner and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel.
The op-ed, emailed by III MEF to media outlets Friday, states the U.S. military will “introduce one set of liberty time rules across all branches of the armed forces, so that every service member, regardless of branch, follows the same rules of conduct and behavior.”
No further details about liberty changes or other restrictions on U.S. troops were available Friday, according to U.S. Forces Japan spokeswoman Lt. Col. Mindy Yu.
“Everything right now is in discussion at this point,” Yu said by phone.
Kadena Air Base, on Okinawa, has not instituted 100% gate checks, but will continue “upholding the highest standards of conduct including sobriety checks at gates,” 18th Wing spokeswoman Col. Erin Dick wrote in an email Friday.
“Appropriate leadership are evaluating the current liberty policy and procedures,” Dick said.
Increased sobriety checks at Marine Corps gates began July 6 and 7, Marine Corps Installations Pacific spokeswoman 2nd Lt. Kelsey Enlow said Friday by phone.
Enlow said the sobriety checks will increase to 100% Friday and Saturday, but she could not say how long they will continue. A notice was also posted on the installation command’s Facebook page.
Military and civilian personnel will be subject to the checks, Enlow said. Drivers should “plan extra time for their commute,” the statement said.
“Ensure you have your ID, tier card and liberty buddy (as applicable), and driver’s license on hand, and be prepared for sobriety tests,” the statement reads.
The sobriety checks and increased military patrols in Okinawa’s nightlife districts are the first sign of a crackdown following complaints from Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki and other prefectural officials to Emanuel, U.S. Forces Japan commander Lt. Gen. Ricky Rupp, 18th Wing commander Brig. Gen. Nicholas Evans and others over two recently disclosed indictments.
An Air Force member assigned to Kadena Air Base, Senior Airman Brennon R. E. Washington, 25, was in Naha District Court on Friday, where he denied charges of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a minor in December. The indictment, filed March 27, only came to light June 24 after prosecutors scheduled Washington for court.
In a second case, Japanese prosecutors on June 17 charged Marine Lance Cpl. Jamel Clayton, 21, with attempting to sexually assault a woman May 26 in Yomitan village.
In their op-ed, Emanuel and Turner wrote: “It’s clear that our current protections and procedures are not meeting the standards we set for ourselves.
“While we continue to support local law enforcement efforts as the Japanese legal process runs its course, we are seizing this moment to rethink how we can better embody our core values as Americans and allies.”
