Why I'm not suprised that a vending machine exploded on base today.
Right before lunch today (5 minutes before I started writing this) my husband E-mailed me and told me not to go on base for lunch today because there was word going around that a vending machine "exploded". At the time of writing that is all any of us knew about what really happened so whether or not it was a terrorist act or a can of Coke exploded in someone's hand I don't know. Regardless it made me think of some of the security problems we have had around here lately. (Update - it really did explode....more in the last paragraph so read on)
Ever since I've been here, the American military bases have been contracting their gate guards out to a Japanese security company. Or maybe they just hire random Japanese citizens, I'm not sure. Usually there isn't a single Marine at the gate. The Marines are there if an exercise is going on. The Air Force usually has a higher ratio of airmen guarding the gate but they too use Japanese guards. Why do we do this? Because American bases are on Japanese soil therefore we owe it to the locals to provide them with jobs otherwise we would be evil Americans in their eyes or whatever. Ya, exactly...Whatever!
About a month ago some idiot had the bright idea to post the 100% ID check sign 24/7 but does my ID card ever get checked? Never. The only people who really have to show an ID are people with Japanese plates. Then they have to show credentials but it is widely known that Japanese people get on base with no credentials whatsoever if they are friends with the guards. Then these people go to the PX and buy out the stock to sell it in the black market but that's a different story.
What do these people have vested in our bases besides their paycheck? They aren't married to someone on base, they don't put their kids in our daycare, oh and THEY ARE NOT FROM THE US AND THEREFORE CANNOT FEEL OBLIGATED TO PROTECT A US BASE! The Okinawans hate having us on their island and hold protests outside of our gates yet we hire them to protect our bases? Flash these guys a sweet smile and you can get on base. If you have people in your car who are not SOFA status (in other words, legit) half of the time they just look at your base sticker and wave you on. Some locals get on base just to cut through to the other side of town because it is quicker than driving around the bases. Anyone can get access to the base and plant a bomb.
The Americans are obligated to hire a certain number of locals to work on base and they all make tons of money whether they are fry cooks, translators or if they work in admin offices. They all make about 50,000-75,000 a year though I'm not sure of the exact amount. Still that's more then my husband makes on active duty and he has been in for 14 years. I'm glad to hear that we are able to give out jobs but I just don't think this should extend to the gate guards. It just doesn't make sense.
Okay I finished this about an hour later (went to lunch) and he still hasn't heard anything about the vending machine. If I hear I will post what happened - don't want to leave y'all hanging after all :)
Amendment: ( 4 hours later) On my way home tonight I entered the main gate and guess what? Everyone was being carded. It's about God damned time. It took a vending machine blowing up for decent security measures to take effect. On the way towards my house I passed by a huge E.O.D. truck and a couple of strange looking cars with a yellow "A" sticker on the window. When I got home my husband told me it was real and that only the officers really knew anything about it but as soon as we turned on the TV there was a scrolling message that read, "An AAFES candy vending machine exploded on Camp Foster this afternoon causing numerous injuries. Until the cause has been determined all vending machines on base are off limits." Most people I have spoken with think it was an angry American who was trying to make a statement but since we will let any schmo work on base I highly doubt it.
Ever since I've been here, the American military bases have been contracting their gate guards out to a Japanese security company. Or maybe they just hire random Japanese citizens, I'm not sure. Usually there isn't a single Marine at the gate. The Marines are there if an exercise is going on. The Air Force usually has a higher ratio of airmen guarding the gate but they too use Japanese guards. Why do we do this? Because American bases are on Japanese soil therefore we owe it to the locals to provide them with jobs otherwise we would be evil Americans in their eyes or whatever. Ya, exactly...Whatever!
About a month ago some idiot had the bright idea to post the 100% ID check sign 24/7 but does my ID card ever get checked? Never. The only people who really have to show an ID are people with Japanese plates. Then they have to show credentials but it is widely known that Japanese people get on base with no credentials whatsoever if they are friends with the guards. Then these people go to the PX and buy out the stock to sell it in the black market but that's a different story.
What do these people have vested in our bases besides their paycheck? They aren't married to someone on base, they don't put their kids in our daycare, oh and THEY ARE NOT FROM THE US AND THEREFORE CANNOT FEEL OBLIGATED TO PROTECT A US BASE! The Okinawans hate having us on their island and hold protests outside of our gates yet we hire them to protect our bases? Flash these guys a sweet smile and you can get on base. If you have people in your car who are not SOFA status (in other words, legit) half of the time they just look at your base sticker and wave you on. Some locals get on base just to cut through to the other side of town because it is quicker than driving around the bases. Anyone can get access to the base and plant a bomb.
The Americans are obligated to hire a certain number of locals to work on base and they all make tons of money whether they are fry cooks, translators or if they work in admin offices. They all make about 50,000-75,000 a year though I'm not sure of the exact amount. Still that's more then my husband makes on active duty and he has been in for 14 years. I'm glad to hear that we are able to give out jobs but I just don't think this should extend to the gate guards. It just doesn't make sense.
Okay I finished this about an hour later (went to lunch) and he still hasn't heard anything about the vending machine. If I hear I will post what happened - don't want to leave y'all hanging after all :)
Amendment: ( 4 hours later) On my way home tonight I entered the main gate and guess what? Everyone was being carded. It's about God damned time. It took a vending machine blowing up for decent security measures to take effect. On the way towards my house I passed by a huge E.O.D. truck and a couple of strange looking cars with a yellow "A" sticker on the window. When I got home my husband told me it was real and that only the officers really knew anything about it but as soon as we turned on the TV there was a scrolling message that read, "An AAFES candy vending machine exploded on Camp Foster this afternoon causing numerous injuries. Until the cause has been determined all vending machines on base are off limits." Most people I have spoken with think it was an angry American who was trying to make a statement but since we will let any schmo work on base I highly doubt it.
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