TORII STATION, Okinawa — The Kadena Air Base Family Advocacy Program is hosting an event Saturday to raise awareness about domestic violence in the military.

Planting Seeds … Harvesting Healthy Families — Family Fest 2008 will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Torii Beach on Torii Station, a release said.

According to the statistics cited by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, an estimated 1.3 million women in the United States are victims of a physical assault by an intimate partner each year.

The free event will feature costume contests, food, raffle prizes, live performances, cultural workshops, karaoke challenges and bouncy houses for kids.

Officials from the Air Force, Army and Marine Family Advocacy programs and other military support agencies will be on hand to share information about services and answer questions.

For more details call 634-0433.

U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa to host job fair for nursesCAMP LESTER, Okinawa — U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa is hosting a nursing job fair Oct. 28-30, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The hospital is looking for licensed registered nurses to staff its Labor and Delivery Unit, Special Care Unit/Critical Care, Medical/Surgical Ward, and Ambulatory Procedure Unit, a release said.

Interested nurses will have the opportunity to interview on the spot, the release said.

Candidates can also take hospital tours and speak with other nurses on staff.

The application package and information regarding the job fair is available at www.oki.med.navy.mil.

For more details call 643-7294.

Yokota to celebrate OktoberfestYOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — The 374th Force Support Squadron marks the close of a weeklong operational readiness exercise on base with its annual Oktoberfest on Saturday from 1-7 p.m. at the Sakura Shell on the east side.

The German-style bash will feature bratwurst and live entertainment. Visitors may buy draft beer during the celebration.

Youth activities on tap include game booths, contests and bouncy castles. Call DSN 225-3308 for more information.

Nominations sought for annual awardNominations are being accepted for the annual U.S.-Japan Navy Friendship Association Awards until Oct. 30, Navy officials say.

The awards recognize four enlisted members of both the U.S. Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force for their contributions in promoting friendship and mutual understanding, according to Navy officials. Nominations should be command endorsed and must include name of command, rank/rate, full name, birth date, specialty/hobby and name of spouse.

An enlisted board will forward selected nominees to the friendship association. Send submissions to Chief Laura James at laura.james@fe.navy.mil. For information call DSN: 243-3054.

Report: Troop abuse of prescription drugs upThe sharp rise in outpatient prescriptions paid for by the government suggests doctors rely too heavily on narcotics, a leading Army pain expert, Col. Chester "Trip" Buckenmaier III, of Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, told USA Today.

In response to six suicides and seven drug-related deaths among soldiers in Warrior Transition Units aggressive efforts are under way to manage prescription drugs, says Col. Paul Cordts, chief of health policy for the Army surgeon general.

These include limiting prescriptions to a seven-day supply and more closely monitoring use, he told the national newspaper.