Misawa fighter wing commander
emphasizes base security
By Wayne Specht, Misawa
bureau chief
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — Day-to-day operations are returning to normal, the
fighter wing commander told residents during a town hall meeting Tuesday night.
Some security measures, including a two-person, per-car rule during morning rush hours,
will remain, Brig. Gen. Chip Utterback said.
At least two people must ride in vehicles between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. on weekdays.
"It’s a terrible inconvenience, but we’ll continue to use it,"
Utterback said in response to a question.
The general cited several reasons why the pooling was instituted shortly after the
Sept. 11 terror attacks, most notably to relieve congestion at the base’s only open
gate.
Utterback said Japanese Air Self-Defense Forces are responsible for the majority of
daily traffic flow onto the installation.
JASDF officials placed a three-person-per-car rule in effect last month. However,
Utterback indicated it may be time to modify that rule.
"We can’t ask JASDF to carry all the burden … we’re at the point
where we can tell them to let in cars with two persons," he said.
Limiting the number of cars during peak traffic hours also helps abate reduced parking,
he said.
After the attacks, parking in front of many buildings on U.S. bases was prohibited as a
force-protection measure.
"Those who violate parking restrictions put people at risk and will have their
drivers licenses taken away for a few days," he said.
Utterback rejected one caller’s contention that Misawa was the only U.S. Forces
installation in Japan with a curfew.
"Kadena and Yokota still have curfews, and because of so many different factors,
curfews will vary from base to base depending on local concerns," the general said.
Asked if Misawa’s present curfew can be rolled back one hour in the morning,
Utterback said the curfew is needed "so our security forces can own the night to
focus on specific areas that need attention."
Asked if troops deployed from Misawa will return on time, Utterback assured listeners
that they would.
"I hope so," he said.
But "they are doing a job the nation told them to do," he said. "I would
plan to have them return home when they are expected to return."
He also said periodic exercises would resume soon "because we are here to defend
Japan, and must practice so we are ready to mobilize and deploy our troops at a
moment’s notice."
Other issues raised during the meeting:
- Army and Air Force Exchange Service officials said the interior of the base’s
Richard Bong Theater will be renovated, including a new screen and state-of-the-art
digital sound equipment.
- A Cinnabon and Seattle’s Best Coffee are expected to open in the main exchange mall
by January.
- Cellular telephone service sales will be offered beginning November.
- New equipment has been ordered for a new gymnasium in the base’s North Area. The
gym is slated to open in January.
- A recent commissary survey about store hours did not indicate a great demand to have the
story opened on Sundays, although it is an issue being considered.
- Eating beef off-base is a personal decision. A 35th Medical Group representative said
the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated a 1-in-10 billion chance
of catching mad cow disease by consuming beef.
Back to October stories
Page Two news roundup
Stories from September, 2001
Stories from August, 2001
Stories from July, 2001
Stories from June, 2001
Stories from May, 2001
Stories from April, 2001
Stories from March, 2001
Stories from February,2001
Stories from January, 2001
Stories from December, 2000
Stories from November, 2000
Stories from October, 2000
Stories from August and September, 2000
Stories from June and July, 2000
Home |
