Takano is a retired Japanese schoolteacher who for the past twenty years has visited the US naval base in Yokosuka, her hometown, to practice her conversational English with American military spouses. Until a few years ago, the process was fairly simple. She simply showed her passport to the security guard at the base entrance and the guard telephoned her sponsor (teacher) who came to the entrance to escort Takano to the sponsor's home.
Several years ago the process changed. Japanese nationals were required to obtain special passes to enter the base. Takano and her sponsor applied for and received a pass that allowed Takano to visit the base three days a week for six months. Takano did not wish to visit the base more than once a week. She selected the three days she was most likely to visit in light of her own and her sponsor's schedules. To apply for a pass, Takano and her sponsor were required to complete a two-page application and submit it to the Pass Office at the main gate. They Pass Office clerk looked at Takano's passport and the sponsor's military ID card and asked them to return to the Pass Office no sooner than three days later to obtain the official pass. The pass itself was created when Takano and her sponsor returned to the pass office no sooner than three days later; the clerk took Takano's photograph, checked their identification once again, and updated the computer record. The security personnel might have spent the intervening three days researching Takano's non-existent criminal history.
This was the process in place when I arrived in Japan. The only suggestion I would offer for improving that process would allow applicants to visit the Pass Office once rather than twice. The sponsor would submit the application form electronically and not have to waste 10-30 minutes looking for a parking space near the Pass Office. Someone forgot to teach military accountants that time is money. Time as money will be a recurring theme in this blog. Don't say I didn't warn you.
New regulations for "teaching English on board Fleet Activities (FLEACT), Yokosuka" were issued on June 25, 2010, the same day CAPT David Owen assumed command. (The regulations are signed by CAPT Owen but another commanding officer here tells me they were prepared for and initially signed by the outgoing base commander, CAPT Daniel Weed. Some people considered CAPT Weed a mean-spirited megalomaniac. I think he is deserving of pity but I have made up the name Takano just in case those other people are right.)
Besides commanding the Yokosuka navy base, CAPT Owen and CAPT Weed also share the distinction of serving here unaccompanied by a spouse. I believe CAPT Owen is unmarried. I know CAPT Weed is married but his wife chose not to spend more than a few months in Japan with him. The current second in command is a female Navy captain married to another Navy captain who works for the Seventh Fleet. The relevance of these biographical snippets is simply that none of the current or recent decision-makers has the benefit of testing their ideas, hare-brained or otherwise, on a spouse who could offer practical insights. Someone like me, for instance.
Takano was granted a new six-month pass a few days before the new regulations were signed so we did not have to worry about them until it was time to apply for another pass at the end of January. These are the hoops I subsequently jumped through in an effort to be a good citizen. (This is what I was thinking while I was jumping through those hoops.)
I had to know the new regulations in order to follow them so I searched for the base website. My computer told me "There is a problem with this website's security certificate" and recommended that I close the webpage and not continue to this website. Holding my breath, I opted to "Continue to this website (not recommended.)" (Dear Pentagon, please get a security certificate issued by a trusted certificate authority. It is beyond ludicrous for you to constantly tell me to check this website for typhoon and other emergency information and then not allow me to access the website.)
The next message to appear on my computer screen says "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage." (*#!%! I'd give up right now if I didn't love Takano so much. She loves to travel but her parents are in their late eighties and for the next few years visiting the U.S. military base will be her only chance to experience an international adventure.)
Maybe I can open the CFAY website by following the link on the Seventh Fleet website. Nope. The link doesn't work. So I try the link on the Pacific Command and U.S. Military Forces, Japan websites. Those links don't work either but I discover that CFAY's parent command, Commander Naval Forces Japan (CNFJ), has the same security problem. This bugs the heck out of me.
Maybe I can find a link on JapanBases.com, the informative non-governmental website CAPT Weed and his subordinates briefly succeeded in shutting down last spring by threatening to end the government contract with the employer of the civilian who created the website.
No working link there either but I discover I am not the only one blocked from the CFAY website. There is a forum devoted to this issue. I copy the following advice:
Your browser is looking for a DoD Root Certificate, which is a digital document providing the identity of a web site or individuals. You can download and install the certificate using the directions below.
Fixing the Certificate Error (Windows OS only)
CA Certificate Download: http://dodpki.c3pki.chamb.disa.mil/rootca.html
1. Open Internet Explorer and go to the CA Certificate download page.
2. Click the link called "Download Root CA 2 Certificate." A popup will appear.
3. Click "Open." The Certificate Window will appear.
4. In the left frame, open the subfolders until you see the the "Certificates" folder. The frame on the right will display a list of certificates.
5. Double-click on the "DoD Root CA 2" certificate. You'll probably see two of them, so double-click the first one. A popup will appear.
6. Click the "Install Certificate..." button. The Certificate Import Wizard will open.
7. Select the "Place all certificates in the following store" and click "Browse."
8. Choose "Trusted Root Certification Authorities" and click "Ok."
9. Click "Next"and "Finish."
10. Click the next two "Ok" buttons and close the Certificates window.
ThaiGuy, a forum member, is a kindred spirit. He notes that CFAY has succeeded in creating a website only hackers can access.
Look for Chapter Two after I work my way through the 10-step program . . .
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