Survey to stress zero tolerance of violence - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Survey to stress zero tolerance of violence

TOKYO — The U.S. military will conduct a survey of health-related behaviors at the Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, from May 19 to 30 as part of the Defense Department’s annual survey on about 20,000 active-duty service members at over 60 military installations worldwide, a spokesman for U.S. Forces Japan said Wednesday.

Master Sgt. Terence Peck, media relations chief at the headquarters of U.S. Forces Japan at Yokota Air Base, denied a Kyodo News report released earlier in the day that the Navy will start conducting a survey on the life attitude and mental state of its military and civilian personnel in May as part of the troop management program that has been implemented by the U.S. military as a prevention measure following a spate of crimes including the murder of a taxi driver in March, for which a Navy seaman has been indicted.

“The survey will assess service members’ lifestyle behaviors and provide an opportunity to the Department of Defense and each service to improve programs and policies, and to strengthen military personnel healthy lifestyle knowledge and choices,” the spokesman said.

The survey has no connection with the recent incidents of U.S. military personnel misconduct, he said.

The Navy in Japan is now implementing a program aimed at re-emphasizing the “zero tolerance” policy against violence and providing newly arrived sailors and those who are already in Japan with anti-violence prevention information, education and training, he said.

“After analyzing the effectiveness of the program, the U.S. Navy in Japan will make a proposal to the commander of U.S. Forces Japan to implement it USFJ-wide as a program for anti-violence awareness,” the spokesman said. “The U.S. Navy values its relationship with Japan and continues to urge its sailors to behave in a responsible fashion.”