"You are ready"--Jones salutes WestPac Marines

Sea Power, Oct 1999 by Brill, Arthur P Jr

Gen. James L. Jones's first trip to the Western Pacific (WestPac) as Marine Corps commandant was a nostalgic adventure. Sandwiched between two 8,300mile, 24-hour plane rides were eight whirlwind days of briefings, diplomatic visits, and meetings with Marines.

Jones's primary focus was to reaffirm the Corps' commitment in the region, meet with his field commanders, and introduce himself and his "partner," the new Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Alford McMichael, to the 18,000 Marines forwarddeployed in Korea, Japan, and Okinawa. "This is the most dangerous spot on earth, and you are the tip of the spear," Jones reminded hundreds of Marines in a hangar at the Corps' air station in Iwakuni, Japan. "You are ready, and I thank you."

Iwakuni is 300 miles from the demilitarized zone that separates South Korea from its unpredictable neighbor to the north. Earlier, Jones toured the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom. Poised nearby were 11,000 North Korean artillery pieces and much of its one million-man army. While the world focuses on the Balkans, the Marines in WestPac maintain their focus on the Korean peninsula. "Nothing is more important than our operational forces," Jones told his Marines. "Your presence here stabilizes the region, promotes democracy, and allows the American economy and its culture to flourish."

Jones's return to Okinawa was particularly nostalgic-his uncle fought there in World War II. Jones himself commanded several infantry units on the island during earlier assignments in his career.

"Don't think things can't happen," he reminded a rifle company training in the Corps' rugged Jungle Warfare Training Center. "In every one of my deployments here, my unit was called to a real-world contingency. Remember where you are, who you are-and enjoy your tour!" Jones and McMichael then visited Marines of the 31 st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Sailors aboard the amphibious-assault ship USS Belleau Wood during exercises off Okinawa.

Despite the sweltering heat, Jones and McMichael tirelessly addressed large and small groups of Marines at mess halls, clubs, and theaters, and in machine shops, office spaces, and training areas. When possible, they plunged into the crowd to shake hands, answer questions, and pose for photographs. The pair was warmly received at every stop. They also visited Marine Security Guards at the U.S. embassies in Tokyo and Seoul, and flew two hours to meet 500 Marines in Pohang, Korea.

"Because we have a quality Marine Corps, we should trust each other to do the right thing," said Jones, who often stressed the themes he outlined in his Commandant's Guidance earlier this summer. "Enjoy your time as a Marine and always focus on your unit before yourself. Good things happen to people in good units."

Frequently donning his diplomatic hat, Jones met with two U.S. ambassadors, the Japanese foreign minister, and other highlevel foreign and U.S. military officials. He also reaffirmed the Corps' warm bond with the commandant of the South Korean Marine Corps.

Jones was impressed with the quality of life his Marines enjoy in facilities built at Japanese expense at both Iwakuni and Okinawa. However, the relocation of the Corps' air station at Futenma remains an unresolved issue. When Jones met the governor of Okinawa, 75 Japanese reporters attended the politically charged but highly cordial session. The day before, Jones flew over the prospective relocation sites for the station.

Jones was upbeat regarding relations on the island. "Our relationships here have never been better," he told Marines at Futenma.