III MEF CG, Okinawa Governor Meet JGSDF Praises US Support As Marines Reposition
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iii marine expeditionary force and marine corps bases japan APRIL 15, 2011 WWW.OKINAWA.USMC.MIL III MEF CG, Okinawa governor meet JGSDF praises US support as Marines reposition Spc. April de Armas U.S. ARMY JAPAN Lt. Gen. Kenneth J. Glueck Jr., left, Okinawa Area Coordinator, III Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general CAMP SENDAI, Japan — The and Marine Corps Bases Japan commander, meets with Hirokazu Nakaima, governor of Okinawa, April 13 at the leadership of the Joint Force Land governor’s office in Naha. Glueck discussed U.S. military relief operations during Operation Tomodachi on mainland Component Command transferred Japan. Nakaima expressed appreciation for the relief efforts by U.S. forces following the March 11 earthquake and from the Marine Corps to U.S. Army tsunami. Photo by Cpl. Patricia D. Lockhart Japan in a ceremony here April 7. USARJ is now leading the U.S. military support of the reconstruc- tion phase of Operation Tomodachi in the Tohoku region following the Exercise Balikatan 2011 commences March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Lance Cpl. Anthony Ward Jr. Lt. Gen. Eiji Kimizuka, Joint Task OKINAWA MARINE STAFF Force Tohoku commander, said he was full of conflicting emotions CAMP GENERAL EMILIO AGUINALDO, QUE- as the III MEF repositioned itself, ZON CITY, Philippines — The Armed Forces but felt happy that USARJ would of the Philippines and U.S. service members remain to continue reconstruction. kicked off Exercise Balikatan 2011, an annual “This country suffered a great joint exercise between the U.S. and the Republic loss with the earthquake and tsu- of the Philippines, with an opening ceremony nami,” said Kimizuka. “The U.S. here April 5. was the first to respond, and they U.S. Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr., am- provided relief as well as life sup- bassador to the Philippines, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. port, and now we can even see signs Personnel with U.S. forces and the Armed Forces of the Francis J. Wiercinski, commander, U.S. Army Philippines prepare for the posting of the colors during the of reconstruction.” opening ceremony of Exercise Balikatan 2011 at Camp General Pacific, and Undersecretary Erlinda F. Basilio, The Marines and sailors of III Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines, April 5. The color the acting secretary of foreign affairs for the MEF were among the first respond- guard is representative of the interoperability and “shoulder- Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic ers on scene offering assistance in to-shoulder” emphasis of Balikatan. Photo by Lance Cpl. Anthony Ward Jr. SEE BALIKATAN PG 5 SEE REPOSITION PG 5 Commandant announces next sergeant major of Marines Sgt. Michael S. Cifuentes set to take charge as the senior enlisted Marine in the Marine Corps. HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS He is scheduled to succeed Sgt. Maj. Carlton Kent, the current ser- geant major of the Marine Corps, during an appointment and relief WASHINGTON — Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. ceremony, and Kent’s retirement ceremony held at Marine Barracks Amos announced the next sergeant major of the Marine Corps April 11. Washington June 9. Sgt. Maj. Micheal Barrett, 1st Marine Division’s sergeant major, is SEE SERGEANT MAJOR PG 5 COATS OF RED AND BLUE MOVING WITH RYTHYM The III Marine Expeditionary Force Band Dancers put their moves on display and The President’s Own United States at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma THIS Marine Band performed together. dance competition. ISSUE PG. 9 IN PG. 12 okinawa marine | OPINION & EDITORIAL | April 15, 2011 2Early intervention, resilience key to alcohol abuse prevention Around Vernon B. Harris alcohol-related problems prior to entering the the military. Corps pril is Alcohol Awareness Month, a Any one of these factors coupled with the perfect time to discuss alcohol abuse fact that the military tends to attract young Aprevention. risk takers can contribute significantly to Alcohol abuse is any use of alcohol abusing alcohol while stationed on Okinawa. that leads to inappropriate personal con- Since protective factors reduce risk, an duct, debilitates performance or results in important prevention task is helping individ- legal problems. A particular challenge for uals and communities identify and support understanding alcohol abuse prevention anything personal and/or environmental that in a military population is distinguishing encourages responsible use, or non-use of alcohol abuse from alcohol related inci- alcohol. dents. An ARI occurs when an individual’s Fortunately, most of the people we see at commanding officer determines alcohol use SACC possess several personal protective was a contributing factor to misconduct. factors, such as being goal-oriented, high Lance Cpl. Chad Cessna, left, a radio operator An individual could be an “alcohol abuser” achievers, having strong moral values and a attached to the Embedded Partnering Team, Combat even though they have not yet experienced willingness to reduce their drinking or ab- Logistics Battalion 8, 2nd Marine Logistics Group an ARI. staining from alcohol use if they clearly see (Forward), II Marine Expeditionary Force, watches as The majority of personnel referred to the the connection to negative consequences. an interpreter helps a soldier from the 5th Kandak of the Afghan National Army take notes during a Substance Abuse Counseling Center after However, there often seems to be a per- communication course at Forward Operating Base their first ARI do not have drinking histories ception about the environment that prevents Delaram, Afghanistan, April 4. The monthlong course or related problems that meet the diagnostic some from tapping into their protective covered setting up radios, troubleshooting and proper threshold for alcohol abuse or dependence. factors. Phrases like, “There’s nothing to do radio etiquette. Photo by Sgt. Rachael K. A. Moore However, these individuals are good candi- here but drink”, “Everybody in my barracks dates to receive early intervention. drinks like an alcoholic,” and “My com- Problems arise when commanders wait to mand really doesn’t care if I drink a lot,” are refer individuals until they experience one often heard. We can do more on a personal, or more ARIs. This is important to under- professional and community level to respond stand because what we want to prevent is the to the perceived risk while also significantly abusive use of alcohol, not just the results of increasing awareness and support of protec- drinking abusively. tive factors. A best practice in alcohol abuse preven- Resilience is the key. Resilience is the pro- tion is identifying risk factors and protec- cess in which an individual interacts with tive factors. A risk factor is anything that their environment, and circumstances that increases the likelihood someone will either promote well-being or protect them begin abusing alcohol. A protective fac- from the overwhelming influence of risk Families of the Marines and sailors of Company L, 3rd tor is something that reduces risk. Alcohol factors. Resilience is not just reducing risk; it Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, is actually thriving in a bad situation. This is prevention research has identified the I Marine Expeditionary Force, say final good-byes to following as risk factors: family history of something military personnel do extremely loved ones loaded on buses to deploy in support of substance use problems, low education level well on a daily basis. Operation Enduring Freedom April 6, on Marine Corps or socio-economic status, minority ethnic- Upon retiring from the Marine Corps, Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. ity, mental and/or emotional instability and the first job I had was with Semper Fit as a Photo by Lance Cpl. Sarah Anderson high susceptibility to peer pressure. health promotion specialist. I was intrigued In addition to personal risk factors, en- by the upbeat and positive focus on preven- vironmental risk is even more important to tion, and it seemed like everyone was excited consider with military personnel. Personal to hear the latest health tip. Whether it was and environmental risk factors can interact to lose weight, body build or just get a higher to create a situation in which alcohol abuse score on the PFT, Marines love to work out is more likely for a particular individual and overcome physical challenges. My hope in a certain environment. Therefore, when is that military personnel on Okinawa get prevention specialists discuss risk factors, excited about overcoming emotional and they encourage individuals to self-assess behavioral challenges that all too often result how safe it is for them to drink in a particu- in abusing alcohol. Let’s not just settle for re- lar situation. ducing alcohol-related incidents; let’s address An example would be someone reporting the behavioral health and environmental Cpl. Jerrell E. Chance, a black belt martial arts instructor to Okinawa who has a family history with challenges that lead to abusive drinking. with Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps drinking problems. It may be wise for them Harris is the clinical program director at Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., supervises as one student to consider closely monitoring their alcohol the Camp Foster SACC and a doctoral candi- executes a face rip from the guard move on another use or abstaining completely. The same ap- date in Counselor Education and Supervision during a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program black belt plies to individuals who have already had at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va. course April 7. Photo by Lance Cpl. John Robbart III COMMANDING GENERALMaj. Gen. Peter J. Talleri OKINAWA MARINE NEWSPAPER H&S Battalion MCB PAO PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTOR Lt. Col. David M. Griesmer Unit 35002 PRESS OFFICER 2nd Lt. Evan A. Almaas FPO AP 96373-5002 The Okinawa Marine is published by Marine Corps Community Services Marine Corps, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D.