YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — To be “CAF-ed” should not be a teenage bragging right, Yokosuka’s commander said in an open forum Tuesday at Negishi Housing Area.
“For some kids, it’s almost like the number of times they have gone to CAF is something to laugh about. ‘You went four times? I can beat that, I’m going to go six times,’” said Capt. Daniel Weed, talking about appearances in front of the base’s Civilian Administrative Forum.
But “those days are over,” he said.
As a result of a recent vehicle vandalism case at Negishi involving seven high school students, Weed said he is looking at using the stricter punishments allowed by the forum, which permits the base to assign “corrective measures” for low-level misconduct committed by civilians and dependents.
Such punishments include talking to parents of repeat young offenders and sending more of the offenders back to the United States, he said.
Other remedies CAF can dole out range from community service and counseling to revoking base services like shopping at the Navy Exchange.
Another option is total debarment from the base.
People have been debarred a “handful” of times in the last few years, said Lt. Cmdr. Chuck Le Moyne, the base’s staff judge advocate.
As for the recent vandalism case, Dale Duncan, a civilian who works at Yokosuka, wants an apology and his car fixed.
One night in April, seven students egged his car, slashed the tires and carved up the hood while it was parked outside his Negishi home, he said. To date, he has received only two apologies, he said.
“I’m a very forgiving person,” Duncan said in an open forum last week. “I just want an apology and for them to pay for the damage done to my car.”
The CAF system is “obviously flawed” in terms of the level of involvement for victims of civilian misconduct, Duncan said. Victims don’t weigh in during the hearing and aren’t allowed to know who committed the crime against them.
Duncan filed a Freedom of Information Act request to get more information, he said.
“It is difficult to have closure when we are not given information about the crime,” Duncan said. “There should be an advocate for victims of on-base crimes, someone who can explain ‘the system.’”
But he appreciates the efforts that Weed is making, Duncan added.
In general, the base is looking at “creative ways to make the process more responsive to the community,” Le Moyne said.
Stars and Stripes reporter Chris Fowler contributed to this report.
