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Mike Oxlong wrote:Where are you reading that Choko? I have seen nothing other than military posting followed by contractor with SOFA.
Mike Oxlong wrote:Gonna need more than that dude. No news report has stated anything other than being posted here as a marine followed by the contractor job with SOFA. Zero credible info about him returning to the US nor about a J-visa. A look at his linkedin page TC provided shows SOFA jobs.
wagyl wrote:Moreover, discussions about fine details of how he came here are not really the issue. There is a strong perception in the area the victim came from, being exposed to crime committed by outsiders, that they are suffering more than they bargained for due to the presence of the bases. Whether that is an accurate perception or not is not the issue. You can hardly go five kilometres on that island without a base being in your way. Large numbers of 18 to 25 year olds in the military because there were no opportunities elsewhere, and who have disposable income and free time but limited avenues to spend it, are going to cause problems in a community wherever it is, whether Okinawa or Norfolk Virginia. Whether it is an employer issue or not, the perception remains, and that has to be addressed as much as anything else.
matsuki wrote:I agree that is the real issue. This dude, however, is a 32yo father of who's married to a local and lives off base. I'm not "pro base" but if you want to take shots at the base, this isn't the best case to launch attacks from. Really not much else anyone can do to prevent nutjobs like this from suddenly acting out unless they have a history.
Samurai_Jerk wrote:matsuki wrote:I agree that is the real issue. This dude, however, is a 32yo father of who's married to a local and lives off base. I'm not "pro base" but if you want to take shots at the base, this isn't the best case to launch attacks from. Really not much else anyone can do to prevent nutjobs like this from suddenly acting out unless they have a history.
You're wrong because people's reaction to this has absolutely nothing to do with niggling details about his employment or immigration status. Any attempt by the military to distance themselves will only make things worse. Even if this guy wasn't a former Marine and was an ex eikaiwa teacher who'd been living in Okinawa for years before landing a job on the base, he'd be tied to the military in the minds of the locals who are fed up with their presence.
matsuki wrote:In the court of public perception, especially in Okinawa, I realize association/blame is inevitable. No argument from me there. I'm also not debating the statements were a wise PR move.
...but I'm not in the military PR biz and not talking about perception. Just saying it's not exactly sound reasoning to look at this incident and say it's the base's fault, get Obama on the phone, we need to lodge a complaint!
U.S. Forces Japan officials referred questions about Shinzato to Okinawan police, but did say Shinzato is not a member of, or an employee of, the U.S. military, nor is he a Defense Department civilian worker.
“While living in Okinawa, he was hired by a company contracted to provide services to U.S. military installations on Okinawa,” Hoffman wrote. “He was granted SOFA status through his employment with the contracted company.”
According to Shinzato’s LinkedIn profile, he was in the Marines at least from 2008 to 2012 and served as a postal clerk in the 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines mailroom and a combat marksmanship coach, then worked for the Defense Department in various capacities through 2014.
The profile also states he is enrolled in college courses at the University of Maryland University College.
Mike Oxlong wrote:I consulted with my military and retired mil contacts, and according to them, SOFA employees have a SOFA "visa", allowing them to work and reside in Japan legally, while being under the direction and protection of the US govt. They work for on-base companies or the govt/mil directly. Non-SOFA contractors work for private off-base companies, and need the usual work permit issued by Japanese immigration. One may not have both SOFA and a Japanese issued visa.
wuchan wrote:Mike Oxlong wrote:I consulted with my military and retired mil contacts, and according to them, SOFA employees have a SOFA "visa", allowing them to work and reside in Japan legally, while being under the direction and protection of the US govt. They work for on-base companies or the govt/mil directly. Non-SOFA contractors work for private off-base companies, and need the usual work permit issued by Japanese immigration. One may not have both SOFA and a Japanese issued visa.
you can if it's a spouse/child visa.
matsuki wrote:wuchan wrote:Mike Oxlong wrote:I consulted with my military and retired mil contacts, and according to them, SOFA employees have a SOFA "visa", allowing them to work and reside in Japan legally, while being under the direction and protection of the US govt. They work for on-base companies or the govt/mil directly. Non-SOFA contractors work for private off-base companies, and need the usual work permit issued by Japanese immigration. One may not have both SOFA and a Japanese issued visa.
you can if it's a spouse/child visa.
Legally?
That's what he supposedly had/has.
Takechanpoo wrote:i dont intend to cover up for the dude. but......
native okinawa ppl's crime rate is more than twice as high as the crime rate of US mil guys there.
who is more dangerous for okinawa natives is okinawan themselves, NOT US mil guys.
its not too much to say this fact over and over.
Mike Oxlong wrote:Takechanpoo wrote:i dont intend to cover up for the dude. but......
native okinawa ppl's crime rate is more than twice as high as the crime rate of US mil guys there.
who is more dangerous for okinawa natives is okinawan themselves, NOT US mil guys.
its not too much to say this fact over and over.
It's interesting how stats work. Similarly, the crime rate of Okinawans on-base is quite a bit lower than that of Americans on-base, and the overall Okinawa crime rate. If we include on-base crime stats with crimes committed off-base (total crimes committed by Americans on Okinawa, not just the off-base subset), we see a rate of American crime much more similar to local Okinawans, though somewhat higher. The gates and razor wire are to keep Americans in, not to keep locals out.
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