January in Yokosuka was welcomed in with the 2024 Yokosuka Countdown at Verny Park just outside Verny Pedestrian Gate. The City of Yokosuka announced more than 30,000 people visited the park to watch the mikoshi parade, eat, drink and enjoy the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s ships illuminate and sound their horns when the clock hit midnight.
January also featured Capt. Les Sobol and Command Master Chief, Master Chief Master-at-arms Anwar Blakely, announcing the launch of #WelcomeAboardYokosuka in the Giant Voice Podcast Season 2 opener. The campaign targets USS George Washington (CVN 73) Sailors and families, but also signals a refresh of the command’s Welcome Aboard package and command sponsorship program. That announcement was immediately followed by the release of the first of a three-part series focused on pets. CFA Yokosuka FFSC Relocation Assistance team continued the campaign push with an all-hands, in-person Sponsorship Training for the USS Benfold at Fleet Theater. They offer the same training every month during their scheduled class or may be able to provide a customized training for large groups and commands. Contact FFSCinfo@us.navy.mil for more information.
The month also saw CFA Yokosuka MWR invite JMSDF personnel to Club Alliance for the Keema Halberd 174 Curry Tasting. Yokosuka Region Legal Service Office assisted 7 Sailors and family members on their path to U.S. citizenship and opened a new office in the CRC. And we bid farewell to USS Antietam (CG 54) for the final time following 11-years of service to the Forward Deployed Naval Forces.
In other operations from around base, CFAY Public Affairs hosted a Navy Awesome Cafe giving 10 Japanese community members from as far as Kobe, Japan an opportunity to talk to Yokosuka Sailors and tour USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).
CFAY Security Forces also participated in an ITT drill that involved a simulated active shooter.
The month also gave us time to reflect. The New Year was devastating for thousands of families on Noto Peninsula following the Ishikawa Earthquakes. CFAY Religious Services Department led a donation effort collecting specific goods at the request of a local Ishikawa organization permitted to operate in Ishikawa Prefecture.
Images in the slideshow are available on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, also known as DVIDS.
And for USS John Finn families, don’t forget to subscribe to Destroyer Squadron 15/Task Force 71’s DVIDS page for near daily photos at sea available here.
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