RULES FOR THIS THREAD:
This topic will be pinned, and will be on an ongoing discussion for Yokosuka Base only. 
Please write down anything you feel that should be looked into by the Yokosuka Base Commanders.
This is your opportunity to address outstanding issues, and suggestions towards things that need a second look...
This is not a COMPLAINT section.  Please state the problem and what you recommend that needs to be done to fix the problem.  I always feel if your going to complain about something, atleast have the facts in order to provide a solution.
So when you create your posts, please do so in this order.

Problem:
Solution:

** Comments about others problems/solutions may be allowed but please keep your comments professional. **

We need this to remain a professional thread so the base commander can read it and stay informed from the community about outstanding issues.  It does not need to be just a RANT session.  If anything begins to just go on and on, I will remove the posts.  If you want to complain about 1 specific topic, you can do so by creating a brand new post in the RANT ABOUT SOMETHING section.

Our Ombudsman, who goes to almost EVERY meeting for the last year, told me that he has NEVER mentioned this webs in any of his canned 5-minutes speeches he gives, then leaves without even staying to hear concerns.

They will never admit they use this as a resource until we get larger and larger. In due time, people need to realize, THIS WEBSITE is not going anywhere. We are here to stay and continue to grow and grow helping the community. 1 base does not make up japanbases.com... That's why you see I have added this same post and pinned it within every single bases category. This is a way for members to voice their opinions and explain to the base commanders what they feel is important. If the base commanders don't take action on it, its their loss for not caring what the community has to say.. Used: you sound very immature. I have been told they do read it from several people that I know and information is being used to help the base and the base pao's to collect information and stories. You can disagree but facts are facts.
www.japanbases.com

Sponsorship paperwork is taking too long.

ALL it takes is a simple signature, and so many lives would benefit from it.

I feel your pain Amber but it is actually much more than just a signature. Orders have to be funded and that money is funneled down monthly. Huge amounts of work go into facilitating and prioritizing. Unfortunately, like with most things, there's never enough to go around.

Blargh! We cant afford for me to be in the Navy Lodge for as long as it's gonna take for them to get the paperwork complete....

It's a sad situation you and your husbamnd are in Amber. Unfortunately one thing that many people joke about, that is true is that a family was not included in the seabag. Therefore anything dealing with family seems to get a lower priority. Unless of course it's abuse.

There is a approved forum for complaints for the installation commander its the Seahawk Actionline or you can sent a letter via mail to the commander. It is not this website if you are really seeking a response.

NavyPAO,

I think most people understand the other alternatives to voice their complaints.

I will write them down here:

1) Seahawk Actionline
2) Commanders corner - Call in and talk directly to CO
3) ICE complaints
4) Use your chain of command

** That DOES NOT mean they cannot use ***

5) JapanBases.com

From what I have seen, these issues are being address, maybe not verbally on this website, but I know they are getting seen. Thats the entire point. If the base commanders dont feel this is beneficial thats perfectly fine. No one said they have to look, but its still another outlet for people to voice their opinions and complaints.

All 4 of the above complaints, usually go unheard or unknown by the rest of the community.

I think we can all safely agree, this website HAS BROUGHT awareness to the community, and will continue to bring awareness in the future.

I agree.....I think this site will keep people on their toes.

That is inaccurate. CPT ALWAYS asks the group if they "have anything" for him. I have  heard ombudsmen bring up issues to him and he is always receptive.

I agree that this website is a great tool.  But I want people to know that there is a formal process.  Venting to each other doesn't get resolutions to a problem - it just lets off stream.

Sure there IS a formal process, but when you finally get an answer months later in the Seahawk, the answer is sometimes nonsense or half truths. Then what?

Like people complaining about Americable and the "formal" process sends it to Americable to draft the response! why would they do THAT? why don't one of these "formal process" people gather the information from Americable, verify its accuracy and then write the answer to actually answer the question that is being asked? Actually INVESTIGATE the complaint, right? I can get that crap answer directly from Americable when I call, the formal process should be able to get me the "real" answer or else it is useless.

Blacklabel, I don't think your helping.

NavyPAO... I do have a question though. If a place, such as this website, exists where a problem can be brought to light (and be verified to exist), why MUST a formal complaint be required?

Not here to "help" either side. Owner of this site says it helps to bring up things here, Navy PAO is totally discounting that. I am sure the real answer is somewhere in the middle. So PAO Dude (or Dudette) is saying this place here has no impact at all to get anything brought to attention or fixed and must use the formal process. Im saying if the formal process only gets you crap answers written by and from the point of view of the people being complained about, then why even use it?

Addressing grievances in a forum like this which is viewable to anyone might very well achieve more than just letting off steam. If these 'gripes' are viewed by individuals in the chain of command above the CFAY or CNFJ level, it could very well lead to embarrassing inquiries. There is also the media angle. If I were a Navy PAO working for CFAY, I wouldn't like this forum at all.

SPonsorship is a long process and i am speaking of this on behalf of the enlisted side. I have seen how it actually works its not just a simple signature. Orders do have to be funded and signatures outside of the command, including the command he/she is going to. It took about a month for mine to go through and I found out the result when I called PSD at the gaining command, not my present command.

Addressing grievances in a forum like this which is viewable to anyone might very well achieve more than just letting off steam.

I agree. Issues sometimes go unnoticed by people, because they dont feel they are real issues, and just the norm for how things are SUPPOSE to be done. Once someone brings them to light, people can make their own judgment if they have a case to complain about.
The website is about AWARENESS, more than it is about finding an official response.
Awareness for the community, and Awareness for the base leaders, so they know what the community has to say.

Bottom Line: If I'm concerned about something to the point where I send the base commanders correspondence, I expect an answer, not some garbage tiptoe-around-the-issue carefully worded response. I've seen plenty of the "official" responses, and all they do is deflect away from the aforementioned issue and make it sound like policy rules over all, instead of taking people's concerns into consideration. And the part about this not being a valid forum to voice your complaints is pure garbage. I keep the base commander's channel on while I'm at work, And I've seen at least 3 instances THIS YEAR of slides that were added which were obviously in response to something posted on this website.

I agree. I think the commanders do pay attention to some of the gripes in here. Although I think some people just like to gripe there are some valid points people make. I also think the ICE system should be used to compliment those folks and agencies on base that ARE doing well. A basewide recognition of that helps reinforce the importance of good customer service and a lack of positive comments can also speak volumes about an agency.

I think the problem with command sponsorship is not the process it has to take, with the funding and approved signatures. Its the fact, if your husband is alraedy here and filing the paperwork for it, not two people will tell him/her the same, correct form in which to file. Second, the paperwork seems to sit at desks and often gets lost. Third, the enlisted have to call themselves to 'push' and remind them the packet is there and its just as important them as any other issues that chief or officer have on their desk too.
Solution: If certain people know that they are dealing with these sponsorship approvals process, then they should all try to atleast get on the same page as far as telling the enlisted what they should do as far as updating page 2, needing to stop bah, signing up for housing on the standyby list, etc. etc.

My husband struggled a lot with ours. My sponsorship approval was done, but the flight approval was at a dead stop because medical over at Balboa had to re-write his name in the place where mine was! A simple mistake that white-out could have taken care of. He decided to fly me hisself because waiting for that approval would put me past my 28th week of pregnancy and would not be able to fly. Upon arrival, needing to see OB right away, I needed to switch my Tricare. But a folder my husband had in his possesion, was not only NOT supposed to be in his possesion, but had to be sent to PSD by someone else NOT him. I had in my hand what we both thought was my sponsorship approval letter, only to find out from Tricare that it was not. They then sent me to PSD to speak to YN1 Kline where she told me that I was NOT supposed to have that folder and then proceeded to say, 'well this was already approved' and that she had the sponsorship letter ready to sign.
So if I hadnt gone to Tricare, found out I didnt have the letter, gone to see her, my husband and I would still be waiting on the flight approval, I would not have been here, they would have stopped me from flying, and my husband would have missed his first daughters birth. All because there was a mistake on Admin/PSDs part in handing him the folder, telling him he was done and I was approved. When in reality, it should have never gone to him, but to PSD. NOW, who is at fault here for the long process? Why isn't anyone ever on the same page, giving the enlisted the run around? Maybe lack of communication slows down the process, a process that maybe shouldnt have to take that long, even with the funding and all of that good stuff.
I still owe them for my sponsorship. Thank you Navy, but please, please get on one page. It would make the lives of the enlisted much easier, and the wives and family members more at ease knowing that their paperwork will not get lost or just be thrown onto a pile of other things needing a review.

Navy PSD's never cease to amaze me. They screw up their job almost on a daily basis, affecting countless peoples' lives, with almost no repercussion, or remorse. The rest of us, on the other hand, get held up to the fire for the tiniest screw-up.

NEW TOPIC:

It is TOO COLD to turn off the heat in the towers next week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got my sponsorship letter on Monday, only after having my ombudsman help me out by calling my husband's CMC on the ship and he was irate that this was taking so long, and he must have called some people, because we called him last week, and I got the sponsorship monday, and we are getting into housing next Monday. :3

Yokosuka Base Commanders,

This is my first time recommending something, so please do something to fix this problem.

The hawks onbase are a very big problem. Please put signs up near the Gazebo's to NOT FEED THE HAWKS.
These sailors feel its a fun activity to throw food up to the hawks, when their are children right next to the Gazebo they are in, and parents of course are getting pissed off, but what can they do about it? There are around 40-50 guys standing their drinking, and going over there threatening does nothing. To them, they arent doing anything wrong.
The only sign there, is the NO GLASS BOTTLES/CONTAINERS ALLOWED..

This is just an incident waiting to happen. Do we really want to be responsible for a young child being grabbed by one of these hawks, leaving physical harm?

If you dont feel its a problem, please read this below link, and it will discuss several incidents on Yokosuka Naval Base.

http://www.japanbases.com/home/foru...14321.aspx

Thank you, and please put the signs up. The community should not have to deal with idiots throwing food up to the hawks when they have little ones right next to worry about.

Lack of designated motorcycle parking spaces at the Exchange, Commissary, Bank, Fleet parking, etc., bais against motorcycles used by service members and DOD in general.

Ed,

Here is a post/info to backup your claim on "Lack of motorcycle Parking"
http://www.japanbases.com/home/foru....aspx#4696

It would be nice to have base officials chime in on hot threads to squash the "sea lawyers" and "I heard from my friend" replies. This way we could get an answer with some official weight behind it. Whether you agree with the answer or not is beside the point, but it makes it easier to hold people accountable when the answer is public. Base officials can link guidance from higher authority or instructions so you can read it for yourself. There have been many threads on command sposorship and Tricare on this site. I have only seen one time where a rep from one of these orgs has replied.

The solution: Base officials get proactively involved with the community by any means. How many people view this forum? How many people attend the Ombudsman meetings?

Posted By Ed Wijers on 05-17-2010 6:26 PM
Lack of designated motorcycle parking spaces at the Exchange, Commissary, Bank, Fleet parking, etc., bais against motorcycles used by service members and DOD in general.

I hear ya brother, but the CO is anti-motorcylces & the safety officer told the CNIC, "We try to discourage people from riding over hear." (Quoted verbatim).

The powers that be are against it, so I wouldn't expect anything to change.

Maybe if they weren't too scared to get on a bike & ride then things would change. I'm sure if they rode a motorcycle they would enjoy it.

But, until they stop living in fear, nothing will ever change.

Posted By NoNeed4aName on 01-18-2011 8:20 AM
It would be nice to have base officials chime in on hot threads to squash the "sea lawyers" and "I heard from my friend" replies. This way we could get an answer with some official weight behind it. Whether you agree with the answer or not is beside the point, but it makes it easier to hold people accountable when the answer is public. Base officials can link guidance from higher authority or instructions so you can read it for yourself. There have been many threads on command sposorship and Tricare on this site. I have only seen one time where a rep from one of these orgs has replied.

The solution: Base officials get proactively involved with the community by any means. How many people view this forum? How many people attend the Ombudsman meetings?

Unfortunately, it won't happen. They will just tell you, if you want to have a say in something, attend the town hall meetings.

So, you attend the town hall meeting, bring up an issue & get told, "Hmmm, that's interesting. We'll look into that."

You can submit to page two of the Seahawk, but all you will get is an answer that quotes a regulation stating the rules, with no real answer, leaving you with no real reason as to why things are the way they are.

That's just life on CFAY. It's the typical response (implied), "Suck it up.  Be part of the solution, not the problem."

No Need for a Name - Your points are well taken, however, there are those who would prefer this type of unofficial forum to feel the issues out before putting their necks on the line. You are correct in pointing out that people can't automatically assume that official action will be taken on these postings. However, I am convinced that much of the brass reads these posts, even though they are not required - repeat - required - to respond. Many people fear retaliation for their military careers or for their spouses. I hope I am not one of the "sea lawyers" you alluded to. Most of the questions people post here are administrative in nature and if someone needs legal advice I will be the first to recommend they do so. BTW, interesting name you have there!

Unfortunately, it won't happen. They will just tell you, if you want to have a say in something, attend the town hall meetings.

I agree, this website is not affiliated or endorsed by the DOD. Its an unofficial website, so they have no responsibility to participate in the discussions. It still continues to be a great place for people to exchange information. Even though the answers are not official, we can still point people in the right direction for information and answers.

I attended the last Yokosuka Town Hall Meeting. Here were the results:
http://www.japanbases.com/forums/aft/4794.aspx

You can see a post mid way down, with all the issues that were brought up at the meeting. The discussions that took place there, are not what you see on a day to day basis on JB. People of JB share experiences, guidance, and advice, which you wont get in a 1 hour session at a Town Hall Meeting.

I want the issue of Americable addressed. Every time a query is put in to the SeaHawk or to CFAY no answer is ever provided as to why Americable has a monopoly on base. The service is not great and they don't provide what you are paying for in regards to internet speed. The worst part is if you live off base you can get super fast internet at about the same price you pay for the higher internet they charge those who live on housing bases. Why can't this be fixed or at least be addressed with having some other type of cable provider for housing residents?

PROBLEM: It's very dark around the Navy Federal Credit Union making it unsafe to walk.

SOLUTION: Either cut down the huge bush and trim back the tees by the bus stop or put in more lightning around the earea.

>
>>
>

PROBLEM: Very bumpy sidewalks, very thin sidewalks and no ramp sidewalks. I travel mainly from the hospital, PSD, NFCU and NEX. They are not safe for high volume pedestrian traffic and strollers. I'm very irritated when I'm pushed off the sidewalk because sailors won't walk single file. Or when I get yelled at by security to get on a sidewalk when my stroller won't fit on the sidewalk due to trees, cracks in the sidewalk, not wide enough or too much pedestrian traffic.

SOLUTION: Fix the sidewalks and make sure to add ramps.