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STANDARDS AND DISCIPLINE (memo to U.S. military personnel on Okinawa)
Lt. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson, Okinawa Area Coordinator · 2026-10-06
@IIIMEF (III MEF Marines):
Lt. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson, Okinawa Area Coordinator and commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force, issues the following message to all U.S. military personnel on Okinawa regarding standards, discipline, and our responsibilities while serving in Japan. https://t.co/Kc4RR1pWPF
PHOTO: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HT84VW4WkAAJOS0.jpg
date: Tue Oct 06 13:36:47 +0000 2026
url: https://x.com/IIIMEF/status/2107465093801775266
likes: 655 retweets: 180 replies: 48
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OKINAWA AREA COORDINATOR
UNITED STATES FORCES, JAPAN
FPO AP 96371
6 Oct 26
From: Okinawa Area Coordinator, U.S. Forces, Japan
To: U.S. Military Personnel, Okinawa, Japan
Subj: STANDARDS AND DISCIPLINE
On Oct. 4, a U.S. Marine was arrested by Japanese authorities in connection with the death of an Okinawan woman in Naha. These allegations are extremely serious, and we will continue to ensure full cooperation with Japanese authorities throughout the investigation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim's family and friends.
Incidents like this demand we pause for reflection. We speak often about standards and discipline. Standards are what we expect, and my standards are clear: be accountable for your actions; do the right thing, especially when no one is looking; and always be guided by our core values that govern our conduct at every rank.
Discipline is our foundation – the habits we develop and demonstrate in our daily actions. Discipline is the individual and collective commitment to make sound decisions, look after one another, and always do what is right.
Serving on Okinawa comes with responsibility. We live, work, and socialize alongside the people of Okinawa; their home is our home. Every interaction with our neighbors either builds or undermines the trust that is essential to our team. When that trust is damaged, it affects the strength of our alliance and the security of this region. Accordingly, we will take time to think hard about discipline, standards and our alliance responsibilities.
From 1200 on Wednesday 7 October through 1200 on Friday 9 October 2026, I am directing a Period of Training during which all U.S. military personnel on Okinawa will execute a 48-hour operational pause. During this 48-hour period, we will cease operations and we will not allow off-base liberty, including a complete prohibition of alcohol consumption on or off base. This will provide time for Commanders and Senior Enlisted Leaders to lead training with all service members on standards, discipline, and our responsibilities as members of the Okinawan community.
Leaders will use this time to engage their personnel deliberately and meaningfully, setting clear expectations and reinforcing the standards that define our profession. This Period of Training will include discussions on liberty policy, enforcement mechanisms, alcohol awareness, Okinawan culture, and alliance responsibilities. Every member of this force must understand that individual conduct has consequences.
Following this Period of Training, beginning on Friday 9 October, we will transition into a 30-day Period of Reflection. During this period, we will implement restrictions on liberty to remind all U.S. Military Personnel that liberty is a privilege and a collective responsibility. During this period, we will implement a curfew in which liberty will expire at 2400 for all hands, meaning you must be back on base in your assigned quarters or at your off-base domicile from midnight to 0500. We will also implement enhanced supervision at the gates across all installations on Okinawa. We will use this Period of Reflection to conduct a more deliberate review of our liberty policies and procedures, with recommendations to be briefed to the Okinawa Area Coordinating Committee for decision.
Liberty is a mission, and like any other mission it requires discipline, trust and teamwork to complete it successfully. Take care of your teammates. Hold one another accountable. Live up to the high standards that come with the uniform you wear. That is what I expect – and what our Nation and our Allies rightly expect of us.
BENJAMIN T. WATSON
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