Navy to conduct attitude surveys in Japan

[unhappycamper]

Navy to conduct attitude surveys in Japan
Kyodo News Agency
Posted : Wednesday Apr 30, 2008 7:12:53 EDT

TOKYO — The Navy in Japan will start conducting a survey on the life attitude and mental state of about 20,000 of its military and civilian personnel in May, following a spate of crimes including the murder of a taxi driver allegedly by a sailor in March, military sources said Tuesday.

Such a background check will be the first conducted by the U.S. military in Japan. After analyzing the effectiveness of the survey, the U.S. Forces Japan will examine the possibility of conducting similar surveys on members of the Air Force and Army, as well as Marines, the sources said.

The move apparently reflects the Navy’s bid to rein in public backlash that is expected to grow ahead of the planned deployment in August of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George Washington.

The survey is part of the troop management program that has been implemented by the U.S. military as a crime prevention measure and aimed at sorting out those who misbehave or have violent personality traits.

Subject to the survey will be a total of 20,000 people — all military and civilian personnel belonging to the U.S. Navy Forces Japan, as well as those of the 7th Fleet who are stationed in Japan.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/04/ap_navy_backgroundjapan_042908/