State Department lifts voluntary departure order Published April 15, 2011 By 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- On 14 April, the U.S. State Department lifted the voluntary departure order. At this time, Joint Support Force is working out the details and will announce specifics as soon as Department of Defense guidance is finalized. In the meantime, entitlements previously described will continue. Family members will soon receive instructions on how to obtain return flights and proceed from their selected locations. We want to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible for our family members and are working to reunite them with their loved ones as soon as we can. We ask for your patience as details and arrangements are worked. Please do NOT obtain any travel arrangements until authorized to do so. Family members at their designated safe havens should let their military sponsor know whether they intend to return so command officials can be notified. Stay tuned for more information. We will release details as soon as they become available. To view the official U.S. State Department travel alert click here.