CAMP KINSER, OKINAWA, Japan -- Urasoe City representatives toured Camp Kinser July 3 to better understand the logistical importance of the installation to the rest of III Marine Expeditionary Force.
Col. Edmund J. Bowen met with Urasoe City Mayor Tetsuji Matsumoto and members of the Urasoe City assembly and led them on a four-stop tour around the installation. Bowen is the camp commander of Camp Kinser and commanding officer of Combat Logistics Regiment 37, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III MEF.
Bowen and Matsumoto focused on increasing the city representatives’ knowledge of the duties Marines and sailors have on the installation which includes providing communications, food services, landing support and terminal operations, as well as security support to III MEF and other elements of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force.
“This is a good opportunity to understand what the Marines do on the base,” said Matsumoto. “(The tour) helps us gain a mutual understanding.”
Urasoe City representatives first stopped at the Intermediate Maintenance Building, where Bowen demonstrated how Marines replace, rebuild and refurbish Marine Corps transport vehicles, which is one of Camp Kinser’s support capabilities.
“He brought his assembly members on (Camp Kinser) today to understand what we do on the camp and why the camp is important to (III MEF),” said Bowen. “(We helped them) understand how important (Kinser) is to all the forces on the island.”
The visitors also toured CLR-35’s Supply Battalion Building, which holds all Class IX consumables that 3rd MLG uses to supply its subordinate commands. Class IX consumables are repair parts and components to include kits, assemblies and subassemblies required for maintenance support of all Marine Corps equipment on Okinawa.
The tour gave the city representatives insight about the logistical systems used around Camp Kinser, according to Matsumoto. The visit also brought the two communities together, and the mayor plans to organize future exchange programs that will allow Okinawa citizens and their children to meet and interact more with their Marine neighbors to promote better understanding and strengthen the bond between them.
“A goal of Mayor Matsumoto is to expand and increase our already good relationship,” said Bowen.
Last year, Bowen and Matsumoto signed a limited humanitarian access agreement, which gave Okinawa emergency personnel vehicular entry to the Makiminato service area of Camp Kinser potentially save Okinawan lives in an emergency.
According to Matsumoto, Urasoe City and Camp Kinser will continuously work with one another continuing to bring both Marines and Okinawa citizens together as one unified community.