MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Dr. Robert D. Eldridge, Marine Corps Bases Japan deputy assistant chief of staff, G-5, gave two periods of instruction in the Building 1 auditorium here Oct. 27.
The first period of instruction discussed and gave examples of the security alliance between Japan and the U.S.
“I thought the first (class) was really good,” said 1st Lt. Theresa Campobasso, Marine Aircraft Group 12 intelligence officer.
“Unfortunately it was a little bit over my head as far as having background knowledge to really get the most out of it, but I have such a better understanding now of a lot of the protest, why people feel a certain way and the history of the agreements.”
Eldridge’s second period of instruction focused on current Japanese government members and their attitudes toward the U.S. forces in Japan.
“Japanese politics are very personality based. There’s going to be a lot of changes and upheavals based on personalities. So it’s important to understand the personalities of Japanese politics,” said Eldridge.
The second class especially caught the attention of Marines and sailors whose jobs have a connection with Japanese nationals, politics or the Japanese government.
“The second (class) was my favorite. He actually went into individual people to do a political analysis. It was very interesting,” said Campobasso. “It definitely made us, as an intel shop, want to do more research later more to interact with the Japanese on a oneon- one basis, so they can get to know us,” said Campobasso.
Eldridge also maintained that knowledge of the host nation will help overall decision making during an overseas tour and help troops understand the reasons behind political debates and decisions.
“If the Marine knows more about their host country, he or she can become a better ambassador for the U.S.”
Although this wasn’t Eldridge’s first Iwakuni appearance, he said he has witnessed different reactions to his periods of instruction every time.
Eldrige said most of the Marines tell him the classes help put into perspective a past experience they’ve had, and for others, the classes give them an explanation of why certain political ideals exist or why some political figures act a certain way.
“As members of the U.S. forces in Japan, it is really important for us to have an understanding of our history with Japanese nationals and to have a thorough working knowledge of their government because it affects our work and our existence here,” said Campobasso.
Before serving with the Marines, Eldridgewas a tenured associate professor of Japanese political and diplomatic history at Osaka University’s Graduate School of International Public Policy in Osaka, Japan, and the acting director of the university’s Center for International Security Studies and Policy.
Eldridge is a frequent visiting scholar at Okinawa International University’s Institute of Law and Politics and Hosei University’s Institute of Okinawan Studies.
“Within Okinawa, I give this brief on a regular basis both on the alliance as well as the politics,” said Eldridge. “The alliance has a long history, and it has served the mutual interest of both countries. It’s a relationshipthat’s evolved and deepened over the years.”
Eldridge is currently researching a book on the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, coediting another book in Japanese on Japan’s future security choices, and working on a sequel to his first book on Okinawa entitled “The Road to Reversion: Okinawa in Postwar U.S. – Japan Relations, 1952 – 1972.” down the road.”
Throughout both classes, Eldridge highlighted the importance of Marines getting Japan’s community and growing familiar with its government.
“His overwhelming feeling was we need to do more to interact with the Japanese on a oneon- one basis, so they can get to know us,” said Campobasso.
Eldridge also maintained that knowledge of the host nation will help overall decision making during an overseas tour and help troops understand the reasons behind political debates and decisions.
“If the Marine knows more about their host country, he or she can become a better ambassador for the U.S.”
Although this wasn’t Eldridge’s first Iwakuni appearance, he said he has witnessed different reactions to his periods of instruction every time.
Eldrige said most of the Marines tell him the classes help put into perspective a past experience they’ve had, and for others, the classes give them an explanation of why certain political ideals exist or why some political figures act a certain way.
“As members of the U.S. forces in Japan, it is really important for us to have an understanding of our history with Japanese nationals and to have a thorough working knowledge of their government because it affects our work and our existence here,” said Campobasso.
Before serving with the Marines, Eldridge was a tenured associate professor of Japanese political and diplomatic history at Osaka University’s Graduate School of International Public Policy in Osaka, Japan, and the acting director of the university’s Center forInternational Security Studies and Policy.
Eldridge is a frequent visiting scholar at Okinawa International University’s Institute of Law and Politics and Hosei University’s Institute of Okinawan Studies.
“Within Okinawa, I give this brief on a regular basis both on the alliance as well as the politics,” said Eldridge. “The alliance has a long history, and it has served the mutual interest of both countries. It’s a relationship that’s evolved and deepened over the years.”
Eldridge is currently researching a book on the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, coediting another book in Japanese on Japan’s future security choices, and working on a sequel to his first book on Okinawa entitled “The Road to Reversion: Okinawa in Postwar U.S. – Japan Relations, 1952 – 1972.”