Reagan Sailors and families,

There has been a recent increase in liberty incidents involving service members, family members, and contractors living and working in Japan. These events have included allegations of sexual assault, burglary and multiple DUI incidents, including a severe motor vehicle accident June 5. The common thread for these alleged incidents is alcohol. This type of behavior negatively impacts our community relationships and alliance with Japan. This conduct is incompatible with the U.S. Navy's core values. In addition, it degrades readiness and our ability to maintain a strong, ready, and able forward Naval presence.

We are keenly aware that the vast majority of our Reagan Sailors and family members do not participate in disruptive behavior. However, we are all accountable for the behavior of the entire force. We all have a duty to each other and the U.S. Navy to prevent and mitigate instances of misconduct wherever and whenever we anticipate them. While liberty misconduct is perpetrated by a small fraction of our Navy community, together we must ensure that everyone in Japan maintains the highest standards of personal behavior.

The following changes are effective immediately:

* Alcohol consumption. Alcohol consumption for all uniformed military personnel is hereby prohibited until further notice. This order applies on and off base, including private residences, and is in effect 24 hours a day.

* Liberty. Every command forward deployed to Japan has been directed to complete liberty remediation training. Liberty curtailment has been directed and will remain in effect until every Sailor has received this training. During this period, uniformed military personnel may only travel from home to work and engage in required administrative actions such as childcare drop off and pick up, trips to the grocery store, gas station, and the gym. After the curtailment period and upon the reinstatement of liberty, all uniformed military personnel operating in Japan in any capacity shall submit a liberty plan to be approved on a daily basis by the first O-5 commanding officer in their chain of command. The existing curfew will continue to apply.

* We encourage family members to abide by these restrictions in solidarity with uniformed Navy members.

The intent of this order is to safeguard the vital relationship we have with Japan and bolster military readiness in order to more efficiently meet our obligations under the treaty of mutual cooperation and security that increases our ability to defend Japan and provide regional stability.

Please continue to make the right choices and remember that liberty is a mission. We remain focused and ready to ensure the U.S. Navy's success in this mission area, and appreciate -- as well as count on -- the support that you provide to our Sailors that enable us to execute our mission.

Buzz Donnelly
Commanding Officer
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76)

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