Thursday, April 26, 2001

By David Allen, Okinawa bureau chief

David Allen / Stars and Stripes New signs on Marine bases on Okinawa will remind Marines to behave when they're off-base.

CAMP HANSEN — Be nice. Look sharp. Act like a Marine.

Based on a suggestion by an Okinawan politician, the first of six motivational messages went up Monday on Okinawa, designed to remind Marines they are representatives of the United States. The signs will be placed at the gates of all Marine bases here.

"Remember, your conduct counts. You are our ambassadors," read the sign unveiled during a brief ceremony at Camp Hansen’s main gate on Monday.

Lt. Gen. Earl B. Hailston, commanding general of Marines in Japan, attended the unveiling, accompanied by officials from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Defense Facilities Administration, the Okinawa Prefectural Government, Okinawa Police and local municipalities. He said the idea for the signs came from Onna Mayor Hideki Oshiro.

"The messages on these signs, (Oshiro) said, should serve as a reminder to my Marines and sailors that when they leave our camps and go out into the local communities, they are ambassadors from the United States to Okinawa," Hailston said.

Oshiro said, "I am very glad that my idea was put into practice. I have a great expectation that these signs will help to enhance good relationship between the Okinawan and U.S. military communities."

A committee formed by Hailston solicited suggestions from each of the six major Marine bases on the island. Each base submitted 12 suggestions, and the best six were selected.

Since the beginning of the year, Hailston has apologized several times for the off-duty behavior of Marines. The most serious incident was a lance corporal’s torching of four bars in Chatan, near Camp Foster, in January.

Response to the motivational signs was favorable among Marines interviewed Wednesday.

Lance Cpl. Justin Blackmun, of Camp Foster, said he thought the signs will help.

"But maybe they should be stronger worded," he said. "I think they should say something like — if you do wrong out in town, this is what’s going to happen to you."

Some of the other slogans Marines will see as they leave the camps are:

• "Marines, a force for peace. Serving with pride and acting responsibly."
• "Respectable Behavior — Honorable Neighbor."
• "Preserve our honor with your responsible conduct."
• "Once off-base you are U.S. ambassadors. Act accordingly."
• "As a goodwill envoy for peace, you are never off-duty."

Staff Sgt. William Condon, also from Camp Foster, believes younger Marines lose track of these ideas when they go off base.

"It’s good to remind them to conduct themselves appropriately while on liberty as well as at work," he said. "… maybe the signs will remind them that they’re Marines, 24/7."

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