Photo By Nika Nashiro | Ichino Kuba, the Camp Kinser community relations specialist, explains artifacts used...... read more read more
Subscribe
CAMP KINSER, OKINAWA, Japan – Students from the University of the Ryukyus visited the Battle of Okinawa Historical Display and were informed on the Marine Corps presence in Okinawa May 20 at Camp Kinser. A total of 52 students participated in this field trip as part of their political science class.
Representatives from G-7, Government and External Affairs, Marine Corps Installations Pacific explained the organization and capabilities of MCIPAC and III Marine Expeditionary Force and how they mutually support security and stability from Okinawa for the region. The session also provided information covering the Marines involvement with community relation activities and their efforts in supporting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in Japan and throughout the region.
“I did not know that the Marines from Okinawa supported the earthquake relief in Kumamoto in 2016,” said Toshifumi Nakamura, an Urasoe City native who is majoring in Economics. “I decided to participate in this school trip simply because it sounded fun. I am glad I had the opportunity to learn about how the bases in Okinawa operate.”
The brief was followed by a discussion and exchange session. Students asked questions about surrounding regional threats, relationships between Marine Corps camps and other bases in Okinawa, how operations and command structure works, future land returns, and the Futenma replacement facility at Camp Schwab.
"The purpose of school visits is to create opportunities for students to think about the presence of the Marine Corps on Okinawa,” said Ron Appling, the community relations officer with G-7, MCIPAC. “After every brief, we do a question-and-answer session to give students a chance to express their opinions and ask whatever they want regarding the Marine Corps here. During those discussions, I sometimes tell students not to let anyone decide for them what their opinion is regarding the bases. They need to do that on their own. To create an informed opinion, however, they need information. So I tell them to take what they hear from me, talk to those who oppose the bases, and then use that information to come up with their own opinions."
While half of the students were taking part in the discussion, the other half toured the historic display in the museum. Ichino Kuba, the Camp Kinser community relations specialist, provided in-depth histories behind multiple artifacts from the Battle of Okinawa.
“I am glad I was able to hear the U.S.’ approach to peace during World War II from a different perspective during the historical display tour,” said Kazuyuki Matsuda, a native of Urasoe City and a junior studying political science. “There are various ideas in this society, but in the end, everyone is aiming for peace.”
| Date Taken: | 05.20.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 05.30.2019 01:26 |
| Story ID: | 324457 |
| Location: | URASOE, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 196 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Okinawa University students learn about Marines, visit historical display on Camp Kinser, by Nika Nashiro, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
