iii marine expeditionary force and marine corps bases japan JULY 30, 2010 WWW.OKINAWA.USMC.MIL Travel safe, know rules Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Denny OKINAWA MARINE STAFF CAMP FOSTER — Service members fly in and out of Okinawa every day, but some don’t make their flight because of prohibited items in their baggage. There have been incidents recently where Marines flying on a commercial airline were stopped by security because they had prohibited items in their bag- gage, said Lloyd M. Logan, U.S. Military Customs inspector with the Provost Marshall Office for Marine Corps Bases Japan. A U.S Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier with Marine Attack Squadron 542, assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Maj. Gen. (select) William Beydler, Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force, takes off from the new runway aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, commanding general for 1st Marine Japan, July 24. VMA-542 has deployed multiple aircraft to Pohang, Republic of Korea, in support of Exercise Aircraft Wing, said Marines need to Invincible Spirit. Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Burke understand the importance of following rules and regulations for carrying items on a commercial aircraft. Exercise shows readiness, capability At no time are government ammuni- tion, weapons, chemicals, explosives, 1st Lt. Jordan R. Cochran July 25-28 to demonstrate Republic in order to hone its expertise in flammable materials or compressed con- OKINAWA MARINE STAFF of Korea-U.S. Alliance resolve, rapidly deploying Marine forces tainers allowed on a commercial flight, capability and interoperability, to expeditionary locations, ac- said Logan. POHANG AIRFIELD, Republic of as well as the U.S. commitment cording to Col. John M. Jansen, Weapons can be anything from a bayo- Korea — Approximately 300 Ma- to regional security. assistant chief of staff, G-3, 1st net, pocket knife, sword or anything with rines and sailors from 1st Marine III MEF leadership chose to MAW, III MEF. a sharp edge to a handgun, paintball gun, Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expe- move some of its 1st MAW organic In a span of eight days, Marines shotgun or anything that fires projectiles, ditionary Force, participated in assets from forward-stationed and sailors of 1st MAW planned Logan explained. the readiness exercise “Invincible bases on Okinawa and mainland and executed a self-deployment “Any Marine that has government Spirit” in and around the East Sea Japan to the Korean peninsula SEE INVINCIBLE PG 5 ammunition in his possession is guilty of stealing,” said Beydler. “You are taught it in all entry level schools; you don’t leave ranges with ammunition.” ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ reviewed on island “Having ammunition in baggage is counter to everything the Marine Corps is Department of Defense Comprehensive Review readiness, military effectiveness and unit cohesion, about, and that’s security of our citizens,” Working Group recruiting/retention and family readiness. Beydler stated. “You put people at risk by Three one-hour forums will be held in the Camp diverting attention to somebody who’s Service members now have the opportunity to voice Foster Theater Thursday. Service members who are supposed to hold the highest of standards, their opinions and concerns at the upcoming Informa- randomly selected will receive notification to attend and now they are consuming a resource tion Exchange Forum when members from the DoD the IEF through their command. Personnel can also that could be applied to those that mean Comprehensive Review Working Group visit Marine volunteer to attend. If interested in participating, us harm.” Corps Bases Japan/III Marine Expeditionary Force, contact your supervisor or your command’s Inspector “Marines need to focus on what we are Thursday. General Office. One forum will be available to spouses supposed to do, and that is defend life and For the last few months, the Comprehensive Review of any rank, who need not attend with their spouse. No liberty,” he added. Working Group has been conducting IEFs at military one will be allowed in without a valid military/family “These actions put people at risk and it installations around the world as a means to obtain the member identification card. sends exactly the wrong message of what input of service members and their families on issues The working group encourages participants to we are about as Marines,” Beydler associated with the proposed repeal of the “Don’t Ask, engage in open and honest discussions. Participants SEE TRAVEL PG 5 Don’t Tell” law, including impacts, if any, on military SEE DADT PG 5 READY TO PROVIDE AID STRONG CONFIDENCE Marines and sailors conduct exercise to Bodybuilder overcomes lifetime of maintain readiness in support of natural weight issues, now strong enough to THIS THIS disaster or humanitarian relief. win competitions. ISSUE IN IN PG. 9 PG. 10 2 okinawa marine | OPINION & EDITORIAL | july 30, 2010 CALLfill INyourG ALL seats CARS Gunnery Sgt. J. L. Wright Jr. only to find out he had never been offered a OKINAWA MARINE STAFF ride in the three months he had been here. This Texas-born Marine told me he was uring my career, I’ve had the privi- having some difficulty getting snapped into lege of serving on the drill field, his new job and asked for my advice on recruiting duty, and at Officer Can- how he could make a better impression on Ddidate School. Each of those duties had its his leadership. I offered him some words of unique mission; however, each presented a advice, and he seemed to really understand similar theme to those being trained – Ma- what I was saying. rines take care of their own. By offering this young Marine a ride I While Marines are doing a great job of was able to do what Marine leaders are fa- implementing this trait in mous for: probe Marines to find out what’s EDITORIAL U.S. MARINE CORPS HISTORY DIVISION combat, I think we are giving going on in their lives, ensure they have up an opportunity to do the same here in the correct information to make a sound July 31, 1950: Masan and Chinju, South garrison. judgment call and offer some Korea, fell to the Democratic People’s As I drive around the various camps on input on how they can tackle Republic of Korea Army during the Okinawa, I always notice two things that their issues. Korean War. really bother me: first is the number of Ma- Everyone has their reasons August 1, 1944: After nine days of rines hailing a taxi or waiting on a bus; the for joining the Marine Corps. fighting in a battle termed “the perfect second is the number of cars that drive right Some people volunteer amphibious operation of World War II,” past them. because it is a fam- Maj. Gen. Harry Schmidt, commander Being on Okinawa presents leaders with a ily tradition to serve; of V Amphibious Corps, declared the is- unique set of challenges. Most of the young others join because land of Tinian of the Northern Marianas Islands secured. The combination of Marines are on their first enlistment and they want to learn surprise, heavy pre-assault bombard- serving their first tour secluded from fam- a skill; and some ment, and effective logistical support ily and the typical state-side luxuries. This want to build a was responsible for Tinian’s recapture usually translates into homesickness and solid foundation with a much lower casualty rate (344 low morale. that will set them killed and 1,550 wounded) than had been experienced in previous landings. We as leaders should seize every opportu- up for success in nity to reach out to these young Marines and the future. August 2-3, 1950: 1st Provisional look out for their well-being. Offering them a Regardless of Marine Brigade arrived in Pusan, South short ride is a perfect chance for us to do so. why individuals Korea during the Korean War. Not only does this give us an opportu- enlist or get commissioned, August 3, 1950: Eight Corsairs of Ma- nity to demonstrate we are willing to help every Marine learns up rine Fighter Squadron 214, the famed one another, but it also gives us a chance front it is our moral re- “Black Sheep” squadron of World War to reach out and provide some counsel or sponsibility to look out for II, launched from the USS Sicily and words of encouragement to these young one another. I challenge executed the first Marine aviation mis- Marines. every noncommissioned sion in the Korean War in a raid against enemy installations near Inchon. After Recently, I picked up a young man who officer, staff NCO and of- the Vought F4U Corsairs delivered their was tasked with driving four 7-ton trucks ficer to accomplish this in incendiary bombs and rockets on their from Camp Hansen to Camp Foster. Each a less conventional way. targets, the Marines concluded their time, he dropped the vehicle off at the mo- Stop driving your empty greeting to the communist troops with tor pool and had to walk to the bus stop seven-passenger minivans a series of strafing runs. near the exchange to catch the bus back to around base, and fill the seats August 5, 2004: A cease-fire signed Hansen. with those who need our help. in June between members of radi- I offered the young private first class a ride Wright is the press chief for the Okinawa cal Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s and had a brief discussion along the way, Marine. Muqtada Militia and Iraqi officials in Iraq ended when the militia launched attacks against Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Iraqi security forces in Najaf, Iraq.