OKINAWA, Japan - Changes to the Liberty Campaign Order went into effect today for all Marines and sailors in Japan assigned to III Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Bases Japan.
Lt. Gen. Terry G. Robling, commanding general of III MEF and MCBJ, signed change 3 to the Liberty Campaign Order today.
The changes to policy are the result of recommendations made to Robling by a joint task force comprised of all the U.S. services that conducted a comprehensive internal examination of policies and procedures that govern conduct and discipline on and off duty. The joint task force was created in late March due to a number of off-base vehicle accidents and alleged misconduct by service members.
The U.S. military and its commanders take very seriously all incidents and allegations involving misconduct by service members, especially those that impact the host nation community.
“These liberty policy changes are designed to promote good order and discipline and reduce off-base misconduct,” said Robling. “These changes to policy will ultimately serve our interest in reaffirming the trust, confidence and rapport with our local community.”
Robling, who serves as the Okinawa Area Coordinator and senior U.S. military commander on Okinawa, worked with all senior service leadership on Okinawa to modify and improve existing liberty policies for all service members on Okinawa.
The liberty policy change applicable to all service members on Okinawa is the prohibition against patronizing off-base bars and clubs or any establishment where the primary business is the sale and consumption of alcohol after midnight. This change is applicable to Marine Corps red and gold card holders and is being implemented because the majority of off-base liberty incidents involving service members exercising poor judgment with alcohol occur between midnight and 5 a.m.
“Gold card holders can no longer patronize bars and clubs after midnight,” said Col. Leo Falcam, chief of staff for Marine Corps Bases Japan, who worked with the joint task force.
Alcohol consumption off base still secures at 2 a.m. for gold card holders except when in an off-base private residence.
Red liberty cards for sergeants and below who live in the barracks will now be kept by unit commanders until liberty has sounded and returned at conclusion of the liberty period.
The change to policy is applicable to all service members assigned to III MEF and MCBJ issued a red or gold card while in Japan.
The Joint Task Force also recommended that all the services examine the possibility of expanding courtesy patrols to focus on additional areas of concern.
However, no decision has been made yet with regards to exact locations. Courtesy patrols consist of teams of three or four service members in uniform. The teams patrol during weekends and holiday liberty periods in areas frequented by Status of Forces Agreement members during liberty hours.
Personnel departing Marine Corps installations during late hours are routinely required to show their liberty card and military identification at the gates to ensure that all personnel abide by the liberty policy and other regulations. As a result of changes to the liberty order, people entering Marine Corps facilities will now be checked for identification and liberty card.
Liberty training and orientation will be improved so that all new members of a unit will be better prepared for liberty. Improved liberty training will include practical application at small-unit level and an emphasis on liberty events supervised by staff non-commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers. In addition, service members will be required to demonstrate knowledge of liberty policies before receiving liberty privileges.
In addition to liberty policy changes and as a result of tactical vehicle accidents on Okinawa, the Marine Corps will work to improve the safety of tactical vehicle operations by way of mandatory route reconnaissance planning, development and use of video that shows most common tactical vehicle routes, mandatory use of some form of communication for all tactical vehicles such as government provided cell phone or two-way radio, and development of a tactical vehicle simulator training curriculum for Okinawa.
The Liberty Campaign Order is designed to provide simple guidance and expectations of military members assigned to III MEF and MCBJ while in an off-duty status. The order addresses leave and liberty regulations, the off-base liberty card program, the liberty risk program, liberty buddy policy, the courtesy patrol program, prohibited activities, civilian clothing regulations, and the alcohol abuse and de-glamorization policy.
Over the next few months, the Okinawa Marine newspaper will publish a series of stories about various aspects of the order to highlight what Marines and sailors should know.
The MCBJ/III MEF Order 1050.7 Change 3 Liberty Campaign Order can be accessed on-line at the Camp Butler adjutant SharePoint homepage at the following CAC-protected site: https://wss.mcbbutler.nmci.usmc.mil/G1/Adjutant/default.aspx. Look under “Announcements” for a link to the Liberty Campaign Order.