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Marine Corps' IG tunes into Station residents' concerns

4 Apr 2006 | Lance Cpl. Lukas J. Blom Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

The Inspector General of the Marine Corps, Maj. Gen. David F. Bice, held a town hall meeting at the Station’s Marine Memorial Chapel March 27, giving Station residents an opportunity to pose questions or issues on Station life directly to the highest ranking inspector in the Marine Corps.

The IG greeted residents with news from around the Marine Corps, speaking on behalf of the Commandant of the Marine Corps about issues ranging from housing to the Global War on Terrorism.

“We hold these town hall meetings all around the world, and what we’re interested in is gaining your perspective on what’s affecting your life here in Iwakuni. We carry that information back to the commandant and the Secretary of the Navy and look for ways we can improve on what’s going on out here,” said Bice.

The IG closed his informal speech on the welfare and state of the Marine Corps by discussing an increasing problem throughout the Corps; casualties of improper safety measures and off duty accidents.

“I talk to young Marines around the Corps, but there was one articulate lance corporal from Barstow who summed up our safety concerns. He told me, ‘General, you guys just don’t get it when it comes to our safety. The colonel comes down and yells at us, the sergeant major comes down and yells at us and the gunny even threatens us, but they all go home at the end of the day. We’re left here by ourselves. They’re not with me when I drive out that gate.’ We have to find a way to figuratively be with them when they drive out that gate, and that’s going to take a lot of good leadership,” said Bice.

Following the IG’s speech, it was the Station residents turn to take the floor.

One by one, Station residents with inquiring minds stood to address the major general with their questions ranging from wireless Internet connections to Child Development Center improvements.

“I felt like (Bice) answered the questions honestly, and when he didn’t have an answer he was willing to look into it,” said Jeanne Zalucki, Station resident and native of Hollywood, Calif.

Zalucki’s question to the IG revolved around Montgomery GI Bill benefits for dependents of active duty service members.

“I had heard that other branches of the service were opening GI Bill benefits to spouses. I was just wondering if the Marine Corps had any plans for adopting a similar plan,” said Zalucki.

Although Bice did not have an immediate answer for Zalucki, he assured her that he and his team would bring the issue up when they returned to headquarters Marine Corps.

“I got the impression that (Bice) was very honest and forthright with all the questions today. It’s going to be interesting to see how the Marine Corps will implement solutions to our concerns,” said Staff Sgt. Edward Zalucki, Marine Aircraft Group 12 communications operations chief also from Hollywood. “Meetings like this are very important to me. As a father and a husband, I need to know that my family is being taken care of when I have to deploy.”

The IG fielded dozens of questions on other topics such as housing safety, non-combatant evacuation operations, gas masks for dependents, the former base newspaper, American Forces Network channel lineup, base cable service, wireless internet service, products offered by Marine Corps Community Services, commissary products, CDC improvements and questions concerning the Global War on Terrorism.

When the IG’s audience ran out of questions, Bice had one more message to Station residents.

“I want to thank you on behalf of the Commandant of the Marine Corps and certainly the American people for what you’re doing over here,” said Bice, while closing the event. “My message to you all is that the way we have done things in the past will change, we have to look forward to the future. My advice is to stay flexible and stay tuned in.”