Tour lengths change for Sailors serving in Marine units in Japan

All Hands, Dec, 2004

Corpsmen dental technicians, religious program specialists and personnelmen serving with Marine Corps units in Okinawa and Iwakuni, Japan, can now expect to serve longer tours.

Effective immediately, all unaccompanied Sailors serving with fleet Marine Force Units will do so under U.S. Marine Corps policy that requires a two-year tour. Sailors on accompanied orders will serve a tour of three years.

Under previous regulations, Sailors serving unaccompanied tours in specific units were only required to serve one-year tours.

Camp Fuji, because of its isolation, will remain a one-year unaccompanied tour.

"In the past, a DOD tour length exception was made for very isolated duty stations or those that didn't meet quality of life standards," said LCDR Denise Holdridge, assistant branch head for hospital corpsman and dental technician assignments at Navy Personnel Command, Millington, Tenn. "Dramatic improvements in living conditions and an overall improved infrastructure in Japan has begun, which will eventually eliminate ... the need for an exception to the policy?

In response to the policy change, Sailors who have not yet left detaching commands will receive an order modification that will lengthen their tours to two years.

Sailors currently assigned to the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) or Marine Corps Bases Japan (MCBJ) on one-year unaccompanied tours will have their current Projected Rotation Date (PRD) honored, as will Sailors who have orders to 3rd MEF or MCBJ and have already departed from their detaching command. Any Sailor who volunteers to stay for a second year may use the Overseas Tour Extension Incentive Program (OTEIP) to do so.

Married Sailors on their first enlistment serving a one-year unaccompanied tour may elect to change to a three-year accompanied tour, as long as they obtain command approval and sponsorship for their spouses.

Questions about the change in policy may be directed to Master Chief Hospital Corpsman (FMF) Denise Brown at denise.kbrown@navy.mil or by calling DSN 882-3806 or commercial at 901-874-3806.

Story courtesy of the public affairs office, Navy Personnel Command.