MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The Station's Anti-terrorism Force Protection Office has once again raised the standards for the safety of residents here.
As of today, a hotline dedicated to AT/FP issues will be available for Station residents to call.
"The new hotline number will be 253-ATFP (2837)," said Andrew Samuels, Station's Anti-terrorism Force Protection officer. "We thought that would be an easy number for Station residents to remember since it is a new number."
The new hotline should only be used if there are any AT/FP emergencies, added Samuels.
"Instances that would be considered emergencies would be suspicious vehicles parked adjacent to important buildings, people taking pictures from off base or people trying to jump the fence to get on base," said Gary Saiki, emergency communications supervisor. "All other emergencies, like fights, should still be directed to either 119 or 911. It is important for people to remember that this is not a second phone line to report those emergencies to."
"Military police will now have to respond to 911 calls along with any AT/FP calls reported," said Samuels. "It is important that emergencies are reported to avoid tying up the Station's road units."
The new AT/FP hotline will be a phone call away 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
"When the hotline is dialed, the call will be received by three different locations," said Saiki. "Regardless of the time of day, someone will always be there to answer the call."
The idea of creating this new phone line was a team effort by the personnel at the Provost Marshal's Office.
"This new line has been in the making for a couple of months now," Saiki said. "I hope that people will feel safer knowing there is a hotline available to report suspicious actions to."
"The AT/FP hotline is a great way for the community to directly contact AT/FP officials regarding the safety of this installation, said Master Sgt. Rodney Redmon, Provost Marshal's Office AT/FP officer.