Why do we have troops in Japan?

I want to know archangel if you believe the Japanese people want US troops there. If they want us there, do they want us there as dogs, to be locked up ? I work in the electrical field and have not known many Japanese but those Japanese engineers that I have met seem arrogant and superior. Perhaps I took this to be a reflection of the Japanese people and perhaps I am wrong.

You advocated the deaths of innocent children because of their nationality. I can live with my little bouts of judgment when I stand next to your proclamations of ethnic cleansing.

Because they blame the wrong people for it. Blame the parents who sent their kids out yet hat rusty boat

You're making no sense. People take ferries every day, and this day was supposed to be no different. That you blame it on the parents, and are okay with the innocent children dying a horrible, frightening death, tells me you are a terrible person. Not only that, but you were in favor of more deaths, so fuck you. Just fuck you.

Military and civilian are much more closely related there. Not to mention I worked closely with the active duty people all day every day. I knew all the official info and all the unofficial gossip.

The goal post moved again.

I'm sure those harassed/annoyed by drunken sailors/marines want us gone.

I'm sure those working at the ship repair facility want us to stay.

Yes there is an undertone of racism and superiority, but you will find that in any country where most of the population is native to that country and not immigrants of descended from immigrants.

No, that's not the reason - but nice try.

Yeah you keep believing that.

I know people like to pretend young military guys doing stupid shit is just them "acting a fool", but that shit doesn't fly anymore. Yeah, back in 1927 when you were in Korea no one did anything when you got drunk, puked on the floor and sexually harassed everything with a pair of tits, those days are gone...and honestly...good riddance.

Welcome to 2014.

So I did those things in Korea? Were you there with me the whole time? I seem to have misplaced my diary - please fill me in on all the details of my daily activities - or just continue to talk out your ass.

Yeah, because your reply isn't basically you bragging about being that guy with your "stories".

Do any of my stories/anectdotes involve sexually harassing or otherwise antagonizing/harming Koreans?

They do tend to imply that, yes, though I would agree that none of them have made an explicit statement.

I don't like Korean women - they almost all smoke. Smoking is a deal breaker for me.
Theft and corruption isn't harming them, since that is part of their culture. Anyone who served there can tell you all about that.

*waits for Anna to chime in, since, IIRC, she was recently stationed in Japan and has the most recent experience.*

Several friends of mine have been on Okinawa. The son of a friend of mine (1371 - Combat Engineer) left for Okinawa last week.

Yeah. They're on a tight leash. Why? Because they've been robbing, raping, killing, and doing everything else to the population since at least the 1970's, which is when I get my earliest first-hand accounts of conditions on the island. One of the officers I know used to remark that it felt more like a prison because the Security Forces faced in. They were there to keep people on base rather than keeping people out because so many bad apples were screwing it up for everyone.

Some facts from someone who was actually stationed there:

1) we stay there because it's the fastest place to respond to korea and/or China from. Originally we occupied them to make sure the Japanese wouldn't create another Army, but they're no threat now.

2) Okinawa has the largest anti-military sentiment, but with all the Marines there that cause trouble I can hardly blame them.

3) on that vein, no the Japanese don't want us restricted to base, at least around Yokosuka where I was stationed and they see a lot more of our That, and they see more Americand close up and fewer of 'em buy into the Americans are Devils sentiment.

4) Stop drinking. Seriously.

That is all.

^Damn, I wish I could "like" that post a dozen times!

An acquaintance of mine, a CT1, is attached to the CVN there (George Washington). He echoes that sentiment as well. He is even engaged to a Japanese woman.

Oh, and 5) the curfews were implement by the American military, not Japanese government. As Elwood and Archangel correctly point out, too many sailors have given the whole miltary there a bad name--not all....not even most, but enough where we get fucking 2300 curfews and have alcohol banned from the exchanges at one point.

Granted, Japan ( and I'll bet now Spain with their foward deployed fleet coming together) is one of the hardest duty stations to be on aside from the sandbox, but damn. Why be the asshole that makes it that much harder for everyone else?

Here's a thought for our braniac military leaders - instead of taking away everyone's fun and freedom, why don't they just punish the ever-loving dogshit out of the idiots who can't behave themselves?
But to ban drinking? Whatever. Guarantee that fucking doesn't apply to the high ranking upper leadership echelon. Not selling alcohol on post will only hurt the locals who buy boatloads of it under the table and sell it to their neighbors. The military tolerates the local hires at the post stores selling alcohol to unauthorized civilians all day long (with that alcohol being resold at astronomical profit once it's taken off-post) but we wouldn't want to sell it to Private Smith, for his own good. But General Jones' mistress is involved with black market booze, so you know he's not going thirsty.
Yeah, that's how things really go down folks. There's an underworld in the military you wouldn't believe - nothing is at it seems to the uninitiated.

Yes, I'm sure that's exactly how it's all going down.

How many decades have you been out now? Your info probably isn't exaclty current. Also, since your reply is likely be "my son tells me this stuff"

Well most of us know the accuracy of enlisted "scuttlebut".


You sound exactly like the bitter and disgruntled junior enlisted people I've talked to. Cause all their own problems then do nothing but blubber about how the rules only apply to them and everyone else is getting away with everything.

Have you ever actually served in the military? The higher rank you are, the more you get away with because it takes more to bring you down. In the military's defense, they have more invested in you, thus it's harder to just get rid of you. BTW I got out in 2006 with 22+ years Air Force and Army. My son is active duty Army, my son-in-law is active duty Navy (as was his father) and his brother is Army Reserve (or maybe guard) and my wife's nephew is active duty Navy. There are more, but these are the ones I know personally. Just sayin'

Yes, I served active duty navy, and I know what you're "just saying". It's massively exaggerated bullshit.

Like I said, you sound just like a junior enlisted sitting around bitching about things they have no clue about.

But I'm not really surprised that's how you think since you're a supporter of young military going to foreign countries and being jackasses.

So, Anna. Could you take a week's leave and spend your days traveling around Japan staying in hotels, or would you still be under restrictions on leave? We have military stationed in other countries and they don't have the restrictions like that there.

Perhaps your experiences were different than mine (and everyone I served with). So how many years did you serve? BTW I also work with Army NCO's every day so I'm pretty in touch with what's happening. But I'm sure your vast experience puts my dick in the dirt.

10 years active and another 12 years working working with Officers, Senior, and Junior enlisted pretty much every day on dozens of ships and submarines and bases.

But do go on trying desperately to establish some kind of superior credentials over me, it's kinda funny.

Plus there is the lesson the military fails to learn. They coop people up and place restrictions on them, treating as children. Then they expect them to act like responsible adults. I think the married guys had it easy. They could go home and switch off. 5+ years living in the dormitory was enough for me. I can't imagine what that must be like with tougher restrictions. Did they ever think that those sailors might drink too much because it helps them deal with living in a prison.