Official: Focus on duty helps stop offenses

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Official: Focus on duty helps stop offenses
By Teri Weaver, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Friday, February 29, 2008

Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt. Craig Deatherage, the top enlisted servicemember for U.S. Forces Japan, spoke last week about the work ahead for the task force and about reinforcing current policies to prevent sex crimes. When asked what else the military could do to prevent such offenses, he said:

“We are a reflection of society. There will always be that one or two people who do something that we find extremely disappointing. Their misconduct will highlight us in negative ways. I don’t think we can fix human nature.

“I think a relentless focus on our programs and our people and the focus on professionalism and their duties and responsibilities helps us to mitigate a lot of that. Statistically, in the last 20 years, we’ve seen an incredible improvement. But to eliminate every bit of it would be an unrealistic expectation.

“Certainly, we’re embarrassed every time one of our people’s misconduct highlights us. I guarantee you there are a lot of senior enlisted people out there right now, very focused on the conduct and behavior and what their people’s plans are for the weekend and talking to them about duty and responsibility and the fact that they are the face of our service to the Japanese people.”

In 2003, Okinawa police reported 112 crimes by people living on the island under the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement. In 2007, that number dropped to 63 crimes.


Article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52923