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Fitzgerald Joins FDNF in Yokosuka

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS041005-02
Release Date: 10/5/2004 9:24:00 AM

By Maria Lee, Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka Public Affairs

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) arrived at its new forward-deployed port in Yokosuka, Japan, Sept. 30.

Rear Adm. James Kelly, USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Carrier Strike Group commander welcomed Fitzgerald to the Forward-Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF).

"It is simply fantastic to welcome Fitzgerald to the FDNF team," Kelly said. "Being part of that team means being at the forefront of our nation's defense. It also means working in a challenging area of responsibility and enjoying a terrific quality of life that is unsurpassed in the Navy. I'm positive that every single member of the Fitzgerald crew will be as proud as I am that they are part of the FDNF team."

Before arriving in Yokosuka, Fitzgerald participated in a personnel exchange dubbed "Super Swap." In the DD-DDG cross-desk, Fitzgerald transferred 140 Sailors from USS O'Brien (DD 975) - previously forward-deployed to Yokosuka until May 2004 - and sent 95 of its own Sailors to help with O'Brien's Sept. 24 decommissioning.

"Many times, when a ship arrives at a new duty station, there is a long period of adjustment to new ways of doing business," said Commodore, Destroyer Squadron 15 Capt. Samuel Perez Jr. "Not with Fitzgerald; the crew swap that took place will enable them to quickly begin to operate at the high tempo FDNF is used to."

Forty-five percent of Fitzgerald's crew is comprised of former O'Brien Sailors, who continue to empower the Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF) with their first-hand knowledge of the local area, the Western Pacific, and "tip of the spear" U.S. 7th Fleet operations. Forty percent of Fitzgerald's crew remained with the ship.

"Everybody was really looking forward to getting here. It has been a long, busy summer in San Diego," said Cmdr. Bradley Smith, Fitzgerald commanding officer. "We did the entire ship's interdeployment training cycle over the summer. The goal has always been, here in Yokosuka with the FDNF, to be ready to work."