New islandwide curfew transparent to Kadena residents

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  • By 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Last weekend, American Forces Network viewers may have noticed a new commercial in which Lt. Gen. Terry Robling, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force commander and senior commander on Okinawa, talks about a new liberty policy that started June 11.

The new policy states that servicemembers island-wide are prohibited from patronizing off-base bars and clubs, or any establishments where primary business is the sale or consumption of alcohol between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m.

If this sounds familiar to Kadena Airmen, there's no need to worry.

As it turns out, a policy that has been in effect for Air Force members on Okinawa since June 2008 is in line with the new policy now being applied to other Marine Corps installations.

"The change in the Marine Corps' liberty policy applies primarily to Marines stationed on Okinawa, but it is a good reminder to Air Force members that we are also required to follow a similar General Order 1, issued by the 18th Wing commander," said Col. Kirk Davies, 18th Wing Staff Judge Advocate. "In fact, the new Marine Corps curfew hours are the same as what the Air Force has been following for some time."

A joint task force comprised of all services on the island has also recommended expanding courtesy patrols in typical trouble spots, but no decision has been made about exact locations. Courtesy patrols consist of teams of three or four servicemembers in uniform. The teams patrol areas frequented by Status of Forces Agreement members on weekends and holidays to ensure liberty policy enforcement.

Additionally, Kadena Airmen must follow their own liberty card program, outlined in General Order 1, which can be found here.

(3rd MEF Public Affairs contributed to this article)