Q: The Friendship days that we have on base are great events. However, I am concerned about the secured parking throughout the base. If parking is secured to the facilities and buildings that we frequent for regular business then why not close the services. I attempted to get some items taken care of but I could not find parking. I know we need to have these open-base events in order to build better community relations, but first and foremost we need to take care of our Sailors and their families. 質問：基地開放イベントは素晴らしいと思いますが、基地の至るところが駐車禁止になることに疑問を持っています。普段業務で使用する駐車場が利用できないのなら、いっそのこと当日は営業を取り止めるべきです。ちょっと必要なものがあり出かけたのですが、駐車場を見つけることができませんでした。地域社会とのより良い関係を構築するためにもこの種のイベントが必要であることは理解できますが、何よりもまず水兵やその家族の生活が優先されるべきではないでしょうか。

A: Thank you for your question. Fleet Activities hosts three open-base events a year in conjunction with the city of Yokosuka. These events help the base in achieving one of our strategic goals of positive engagement with our Japanese hosts. At the same time we try and balance the need to take care of our Sailors and their families. During the three open-base events we design the layout to provide the best venue possible while ensuring the smallest impact on the base services. For these large events closing the parking lots in the vicinity of Kosano Park is the logical choice to ease of access for the local community and allowing us to provide the maximum range of services. Closing the services in the vicinity of the open base events is an option, but we feel that it is better to continue to provide services for our Sailors and their families. During our open-base events if you need to use one of the services near the event we would recommend that you utilize the base shuttle bus or the on-base taxi service as an alternate means of transportation. Taking care of our Sailors, their families and engaging the local community on a daily basis are and will continue to be our top priority. 回答：ご意見を賜り誠にありがとうございます。横須賀基地では横須賀市と共同で年に3回の基地開放イベントを開催しております。これらのイベントは、私たちの戦略的目標の一つであ By U.S. Forces Japan Headquarters Safety should never take a rest. Although the 101 Critical Days of Summer Campaign continues through Labor Day, each of us needs to ensure that we apply its principles throughout the year. Although we have historically seen a higher rate of injuries and fatalities sustained by our personnel during summer off-duty activities, the loss of even one life, at any time, in a preventable off-duty activity is a tragedy. Unfortunately, in May 2007, separate motor vehicle and motorcycle accidents during the early morning hours claimed the lives of three of our own assigned to United States Forces in Japan. We all know safe driving is an absolute must. Make it a personal commitment and continue to get the word out to everyone across the command – keep your speed down, wear seatbelts, protective equipment, don’t drink and drive and adhere to established procedures to prevent accidents. We have a responsibility to take care of each other – on and off duty. Do the right thing – if a person has only one drink, call someone for a ride, take a train, or take a taxi. In Japan, even Safety First, Last and Always one drink will put a driver over the minimum .03 blood alcohol content (BAC) level for driving under the influence. This level is much lower than the U.S. standard. Every year Japanese police conduct Traffic Safety Campaigns. Police are out in force checking for traffic violations and setting up sobriety check points. Even if a person has one drink and registers the minimum .03 BAC for driving under the influence, drivers can, and have been charged significant fines. In addition Japan has changed its Road and Traffic law so that passengers riding in a vehicle could also be charged for allowing the driver to drive after drinking alcohol. Time off to enjoy recreational activities is important for our morale and mental well-being. While we are enjoying some welldeserved down time, it is essential that we keep in mind the importance of safety and risk management. We effectively use risk management on that job every day by assessing the risks, considering the options and taking appropriate action. Applying these same proven on-duty risk management principles to our off-duty lives will go a long way towards keeping us all safe this summer. る、日本の皆さんとの積極的な関わりの構築に多いに役立っています。また同時に、私たちは水平の皆さんとそのご家族の生活を尊重、配慮すべくバランスを取るように手を尽くしております。イベント当日の3日間は、基地内各サービスに及ぼす影響を最小限に、なおかつイベントが最も効果的な結果を生み出すように計画しています。このような大型イベントの折は、コサノ公園周辺の駐車場を封鎖することが、地域社会の皆さんのアクセスをより簡単にするには理に適っており、最大限のサービス提供も可能になるのです。確かに、基地開放イベント当日の各種営業業務を停止することも選択の一つではありますが、水兵の皆さんとそのご家族の方々のためにも営業を続けることが適切と判断しております。基地開放日の各イベント場所に近いサービスが必要であれば、輸送手段として基地内シャトルバスやタクシーのご利用をお願い申し上げます。日々水兵の皆さんとそのご家族を支援しつつ、地域社会との関わりを持つことは私たちにとって現在そしてこれからも最とも重要な問題であります。