KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Sitting in an empty conference room Lt. Col. Peter Pollock, 18th Mission Support Group deputy commander and head of the Kadena Disciplinary Action Program, awaits his first case of the day.
After reviewing the files he finally calls in the family where he asks two simple questions, would you like to talk about the subject in question and were you in fact involved in the alleged offense, he then begins the hearing.
Since 1945, the U.S. military has shown good ambassadorship at Kadena Air Base through its respect, discipline and high standards. KDAP helps all of the non-military status of forces agreement members do the same.
"KDAP handles any misconduct committed by any non-military SOFA personnel," said Pollock "That includes any civilians, contractors, and any dependents regardless of age that are under SOFA."
KDAP is designed to deter misconduct and to educate our SOFA status members. They conduct hearings for all offenses to include driving under the influence, assault, selling or using drugs, stealing, and curfew violations. After the hearing a penalty will be given, usually consisting of community service.
"I sit down with every client and we talk about what happened," Pollock said. "I am like a human lie detector test, so I ask a lot of questions."
Teenagers make up almost 50 percent of the cases that KDAP receives. It is important to educate them on the rules and help them understand why it is important to follow them. Pollock said he tries to use California's, three strikes and you're out law, but sometimes incidents are too severe to do that.
"If people don't want to act properly and follow the little things then we don't want them here; Brigadier General James Hecker our commander doesn't want them here, and I will recommend barment," he continued.
If recommended for barment from the base then the individual barred would not be allowed on any Department of Defense installation in Japan; that could mean they may potentially have to move back to the states leaving their families behind.
"A lot of the teens who are barred from base have to do online school, go to an expensive private school, or go back to the U.S. and live with a relative," Pollock said. "My most important goal is to keep the base community safe," Pollock said. "Unfortunately, if that means getting rid of a few bad apples to keep the community safe, then I will."
KDAP is not just a disciplinary tool; it is also a preventative measure. For example in the most recent school year KDAP held educational briefings about the harmful effects of spice, as a result spice related cases among teenagers have dropped 80 percent.
KDAP has proved to be an effective way to encourage non-military SOFA members and their families to show good ambassadorship in a way that reflects well on the U.S. military.