MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Due to conduct detrimental to the relationship between Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and its host country as well as a negative reflection on the United States, a new liberty policy is now in affect.
According to Marine Corps Air Station Order 1050.5, all military members living on or off Station will have their liberty secured at 10 p.m. and will not be able to resume their liberty until 5 a.m. The policy will be enforced seven days a week.
"This is a sad, sad day when we can't go off base when we want to," said Sgt. Maj. David Allison, Station sergeant major. "For the past three to four months there have been several serious incidents and we just can't condone this behavior. Would you like it if the Japanese military was in America and acting this way? I really don't think so."
The order also says that military members who do reside off-base will be the only military personnel to leave the Station during the prescribed hours, but will be secured to their designated quarters. Service members are also authorized to enter and exit the Station between the stated hours while performing official duties. Commands will be required to give advance notice to the Provost Marshal's Office if such a situation arises.
The new policy further states while off-base liberty is limited to 10 p.m., those participating in Marine Corps Community Services sponsored trips or activities will be exempt from the rule. Service members who are officially signed out on leave, but are remaining within the limits of Iwakuni, will be subject to the guidelines of the order.
Those in violation of this order will face penalties under the Uniform Code of Military Justice or other administrative action, but Allison said the next step if the problem does not desist will be to secure all liberty.
"We are killing ourselves and the relationship we have with our host country. Japan does not deserve to be treated this way and the United States should not be represented in this form either," Allison said.