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JMSDF Junior Officers Visit Fleet Activities Yokosuka

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100519-03
5/19/2010

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Mike Mulcare, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West Det. Japan

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- More than 90 newly minted ensigns from the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) visited Commander Fleet Activities, Yokosuka May 17-18.

The JMSDF training ships JDS Kashima (TV 3085) and JDS Yamagiri (TV 3515) arrived at nearby JMSDF naval base for a port call before embarking on a world tour training deployment. Making the most of their visit, the JMSDF junior officers spent two days with their American counterparts.

Over the two day visit, they were afforded the opportunity to meet with the Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Vice Adm. John Bird, and received a tour of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) for ship familiarization training.

Bird spoke with the future JMSDF leaders about their opportunities as junior officers, similarities between the U.S. Navy and JMSDF and the importance of the alliance and interoperability shared between the two navies.

"Nowhere is our alliance stronger than in our navy-to-navy relationship," Bird said. "Literally not a day goes by that our two fleets are not somehow working together -- whether training or participating in an exercise, sharing information, coordinating operations, or planning for contingencies."

"This is an alliance built on more than words… it is built on actions that we take each and every day," he said.

Many of the JMSDF junior officers expressed their appreciation for Bird coming to speak to them.

"It's such an honor to have the admiral come out here and speak to us," said Ensign Kotaro Kitahara. "The admiral is an important figure and for him to speak to us and tell us he wants our two nations to work closer together means a lot to me."

After having the 7th Fleet commander share his insights and advice, the officers and crew of Harpers Ferry shared their ship with the visiting officers, giving them a glimpse of living quarters, mess decks and operational areas of the Sasebo based dock-landing ship.

"The bridge on this ship is really nice," said Ensign Aiko Hayashi. "It is an amazing view and just the thought of navigating the ship from up here is exciting. I now understand better how the U.S. Navy works. Before the tour, I only heard about the differences between our navies, but being able to see the ship firsthand is eye opening."

While it was a good experience for Hayashi, Harpers Ferry crew members found the interaction an equally enriching experience.

"Doing these tours is a good thing for us as well as the Japanese sailors," said Lt. j.g. Alex Crowe of Nashville. "This is a two-way process. I think this is a good way to engage the two navies, and I feel that in the future, events like this can work to dispel some of the misunderstanding we may have about each other."