U.S. Army Garrison Okinawa’s command safety program administrator, Akiko Fukai, right, and Christine McNeace, left, Army school liaison office, educate Amelia Earhart Intermediate School students on marine safety during a Career Day at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, May 2, 2024. (Natalie Stanley, U.S. Army Garrison Okinawa Public Affairs)
TORII STATION, Okinawa – U.S. Army Garrison Okinawa’s command safety program and Army school liaison office participated in a Career Day on Thursday at the nearby Amelia Earhart Intermediate School.
Career Day is a counseling standard in the Department of Defense Education Activity that promotes student learning by developing competencies in three interrelated areas: academic development, career development, and personal social development.
Akiko Fukai, USAG Okinawa command safety program administrator, and Christine McNeace, Army school liaison office, took this opportunity to educate students at the Kadena Air Base school on marine safety, just one important aspect of the safety program.
“It is very important to represent the safety office at events like Career Day,” Fukai said. “It allows us to encourage more participation and basic curiosity from the young, while getting the safety message out there so service members can safely enjoy their time on island, especially during the upcoming summer months.”
The presentation gave students and staff a closer look at the unique and often dangerous marine and land creatures that live on Okinawa including the Habu snake, sea snake and stonefish. Fukai and McNeace also taught the students what to do if they encounter or are harmed by these creatures and provided information resources on how to safely enjoy Okinawa.
“These events provide the safety program office access to more military personnel and their families in a fun atmosphere,” Fukai said. “Doing this in a relaxed setting allows for more interaction between those we support and our office.”
Volunteers from numerous careers, such as Fukai and McNeace, were recruited from the community months in advance by the AEIS Career Day team.
“It takes many people working together to make something this big happen,” said Karen Griffis, AEIS and Ralph Stearley Primary School counselor. “Success is apparent in the wonderful, willing presenters, who take time off work to share their careers with the students.”
