MOU Strengthening Joint Security Training
Story Number: NNS030710-08
7/10/2003
By Journalist Seaman Nick Flabi, Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka Public Affairs
YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- Since Sept. 11, 2001, the U.S. Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) have worked side-by-side in a variety of force protection training exercises and operations.
As a means to tighten that bond and provide a written codification for future joint training, Vice Adm. Takashi Saito, JMSDF commandant, Yokosuka District (COMYD), and Capt. Michael Seifert, commander, Fleet Activities, Yokosuka (CFAY), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) June 23 at the JMSDF Commandant Yokosuka District Headquarters.
"It puts in writing how we want to do business," said Seifert. "The MOU is an agreement... as to how we will conduct guarding operation exercises in the Yokosuka area. Because of the close proximity between the JMSDF base and our base, some common procedures were needed so that our forces could understand what each other were doing and be able to communicate effectively. This MOU codifies what we can do in training exercises."
The MOU had been in the negotiation phase for two years to ensure the final product was just right.
"Both sides worked very hard to bring this to fruition," said Seifert. "It takes a lot to put together an MOU like this between two maritime forces, and to be able to work to get the wording right so both sides can understand it."
Under the MOU, an elevation in the threat condition could prompt CFAY and JMSDF COMYD to work together, and as the threat condition changes, so would security procedures.
"At Bravo, there are certain things security would do; at Charlie there are additional measures that security would take. As the level increases, different events would take place," said Seifert. "We want to do a daily information exchange between the two of us when the threat condition reaches the appropriate level, so that on a daily basis, we each know what the other is doing."
Seifert commented that with the signing of the MOU, there is now a solid framework for future force protection exercises between CFAY and JMSDF COMYD.
For related news, visit the Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cfay.
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