Drunk Driving in the American Military: The Danger of Soldiers Who Can’t Follow the Laws

[unhappycamper]

http://watchingamerica.com/News/196667/drunk-driving-in-the-american-military-soldiers-who-cant-follow-the-laws-in-danger/

Drunk Driving in the American Military: The Danger of Soldiers Who Can’t Follow the Laws
Ryukyushimpo, Japan
Translated By Stephanie Chiu
14 February 2013
Edited by Lau­rence Bouvard

n Okinawa, both American soldiers and civilians in military employ are getting arrested one after another in rear-end collisions caused by drunk driving. The majority of the perpetrators are in their 40s. Instead of thinking “again?” the question “is there nothing we can do?” stands out first in our hearts. Many Okinawans are stunned by these incidents.

Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima has asked, “What’s happening to the effectiveness of military decisions?” but there’s no institution more at risk than one whose members don’t even follow the law.

A 41-year-old senior master sergeant of the United States Air Force was found having an alcohol level six times the legal limit and was arrested under suspicion of driving under the influence. The time of the accident was before midnight, and there is a possibility he was breaking curfew.

On top of drinking at home, he stated that he also drinks on the way to work. If we interpret the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement at face value, which favors U.S. military members, he would still have been drinking and driving on duty if he was commuting at the time.




Previous articles in the military rags on American misbehavior; I only went back 10 days:

2/12 --> http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/bad-behavior-in-the-pacific/air-force-e-8-on-okinawa-suspected-of-drunken-driving-causing-accident-1.207579
2/14 --> http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/okinawa/one-year-sentence-sought-for-airman-who-punched-okinawa-teen-1.207901
2/19 --> http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/bad-behavior-in-the-pacific/okinawa-marine-arrested-after-allegedly-jumping-roof-to-roof-1.208576

[Victor_c3]

1. Judging by the age thing mentioned above, I wonder if it is a generational thing?

Drunk driving used to not have the stigma that it has now. Also, from what I understand, the "old" Army used to have much more of a drinking culture than it does today.

When I was in ('97-'07) a DWI was a major blow to your career.

[unhappycamper]

2. When I was in (63~73), A DUI would get you out the door.

In today's military, a rape may not get you out the door. They have lost their way.

I've been seeing articles on a fairly recurring basis; it is a big deal in Japan and Okinawa.

[Victor_c3]

3. our military's actions in Japan has been disgraceful

I can't blame the locals for getting mad.

Meanwhile, Japan and China seem like they are eager to escalate tensions between each other. I doubt Japan would be as willing to escalate if they didn't have the US military in their back pocket. It might be a bit of a stretch, but our excessive military spending and our eagerness to make allies out of anyone who is against our "foes" has enabled other countries to become much more major players in the world than they would otherwise be. Enabling is making the world more unsafe and more volatile as a result of our spending and presence. Didn't Japan spend only something like 1% of their GDP on their military last year?

Republicans don't like the idea of people freeloading off of the government yet they are eager to keep our military spending as high as it is and allow other countries to freeload off of us.

[WooWooWoo]

4. there are more severe penalties in the army for pissing hot for weed than for driving drunk

Piss hot once, get article 15, 45 days extra duty, loss of pay and rank, eventually kicked out.

Drive drunk - if the command likes you - get swept under the rug.

Seen it happen a hundred times (well, more like a dozen).