Wednesday, March 21, 2001

By Jan Wesner Childs
Okinawa bureau

Jan Wesner Childs / Stars and Stripes Pvt. Michael Williams, left, and Lance Cpl. Donnike Willis scrub pots and pans Tuesday at the Camp Foster Mess Hall. Their tasks will soon be turned over to local civilian employees.

CAMP FOSTER — Marines stationed in Japan will no longer have to pull mess duty.

Mess hall jobs such as washing dishes and serving food are being handed over to local civilians, a move that will create 231 new jobs on Okinawa this year. The change will also create 64 new jobs at Iwakuni Marine Corps Air Station and Camp Fuji, two other Marine bases in Japan.

The new jobs were announced Monday by Lt. Gen. Earl Hailston, the top Marine commander in Japan.

Hailston said the move will cost about $10 million, but will allow Marines to concentrate on their military training rather than extra duty. Marines ranked E-3 and below pull mess duty up to 60 days a year.

"This took him away from the responsibilities that he had on a day-to-day basis and no one was there to do his job," Hailston said.

"I’m trying to free Marines up to be Marines."

He said the change also brings mess halls here in line with those at stateside bases, which are already run by civilians.

The money for the new hires is coming from the Marine Corps. This year, Hailston said, the money was pulled in smaller amounts from different parts of the budget.

He expects the program to be fully funded by the Marine Corps next year.

"This is a process that’s been in the works for several years," Hailston said. "It’s hard to come up with $10 million."

The program was approved in December and the first hires came on board in January. So far, seven people have been hired on Okinawa and 10 at Camp Fuji. Another 25 are expected to be hired on Okinawa within the next 30 days. All of the positions are expected to be filled within a year, Hailston said.

The average salary is between $33,000 and $34,000.

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