CAMP KINSER, OKINAWA, Japan - New employees with the Urasoe City Office toured Camp Kinser April 4 to better understand the relationship between the camp and community.
The employees visited Camp Kinser as part of their newcomers’ orientation for the city office.
The tour helped the employees broaden their understanding of the roles of Camp Kinser and the service members stationed there, according to Ichino Kuba, a community relations specialist with Camp Kinser, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, Marine Corps Installations Pacific.
“A lot of people really don’t know what goes on at Camp Kinser or what the Marines are doing there,” said Kuba. “I think this is great for (the employees) to be able to see how the Marines work and go about their day-to-day lives. I want the employees to understand Camp Kinser, so they can open their hearts and minds. I think it is very beneficial for them to be here today.”
The tour started with a visit to Camp Kinser’s Gate 5, an area of land scheduled for return to the government of Japan as part of the U.S. military’s and Japanese government’s Okinawa consolidation plan.
“I took the employees to the landing zone to give them a view of the entire camp, and allow them to see the land (near Gate 5) they will be working with in the future,” said Kuba.
The employees viewed more areas slated to be returned to the government, as well as day-to-day operations taking place across Camp Kinser.
“I learned about the facilities of Camp Kinser,” said Shigeyori Taira, an Urasoe City Office employee, “as well as the functions of the camp and how it contributes to support III Marine Expeditionary Force.”
The guided tour left the employees with a better understanding of the camp further strengthening an already strong relationship between the Marine Corps and Urasoe City, according to Taira.
“It was very beneficial for us to be here today,” said Taira. “It was an extremely meaningful visit.”