WINDJAMMERAPRIL TO JUNE 2014

Remembering Sailors USS Emmons Memorial Dive table of WINDJAMMER contents April to June 2014 Fleet Activities Okinawa Commanding Officer USS Emmons Capt. Michael Michel The USS Emmons (DD457, DMS-22) Chief Staff Officer sits 138ft at the bow and 150ft at the Cmdr. Joshua Cohen stern on the sea floor, a nautical mile Command Master Chief off the northern end of Kouri Island CMDCM(AW/SW) Daniel J. Irwin Page 6 Public Affairs Officer Robert Purdy Journalists/Photographers/Layout Designers/Editors MC1(SW) Todd Macdonald MC2(SW) Benjamin Stevens Community Relations Specialists Hiroe Shiroma Shoji Kudaka Mail to: Editor, WindJammer PSC 480 Box 1100 FPO AP 96370-1100 Telephone PAO DSN 634-8434 MC1 DSN 634-8675 MC2 DSN 634-1987 Email [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

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First Class Symposium DEFY Graduation Agent of Change The Island-Wide Chief Petty Officer’s Association Today’s younger generation is faced with a myriad Fleet Activities Okinawa Unit Victim Advocates (CPOA) held a First Class Petty Officer (FCPO) of temptations and tests that could lead them in raised sexual assault awareness through differ- Symposium April 21-25 for Sailors on Okinawa to the wrong direction, DEFY helps keep them on the ent events during April, educating the military help prepare them for leadership at the next level. right path. community about sexual violence and how to prevent it. Emergency Training 11 Community Service 13 An Emergency C o m m u n i t y On the cover Operations Service projects Silhouette of a 20mm Anti- Center (EOC) are an important Aircraft gun mounted on the filled with 26 part of the USS Emmons. people is so Navy’s mission. Photo by Troy Williams unbelievably cold.

The editorial content of “WindJammer” is edited and approved by the public affairs office of Fleet Activities Okinawa, in accordance with SECNAVINST 5720.44B. This quarterly newsletter is an authorized publication for members of the military services stationed overseas, their families and civilian employees. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the U.S. Navy and do not imply endorsement thereof. “WindJammer” actively solicits contributions from personnel and commands. The editor, however, does reserve the right to edit/omit material to conform editorial guidelines. 1 | WINDJAMMER APRIL through JUNE | 2 0 1 4 Fleet Activities Okinawa Welcome’s Aboard CMDCM Daniel Irwin aster Chief Daniel Irwin is a native of the Western Pacific theater. While there he served as the Colorado Springs, Colorado. He enlisted Detachment Leading Petty Officer, qualifying as En- Min the Navy in June 1996 and reported to listed Surface Warfare Specialist, Safe-for-Flight and basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great advanced to Chief Petty Officer. Lakes, Illinois. After graduating, he reported to In June of 2007, he reported to Recruit Training Com- the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training, mand, Great Lakes, Illinois. There he served as a Re- Millington, Tennessee where he attended Aviation cruit Division Commander for eight divisions and as a Structural Mechanic (Safety Equipment) (AME) ‘A’ Fleet Quality Assurance Inspector. school with a follow-on school in Norfolk, Virginia In August 2010, he reported to Strike Fighter Squad- to attend the Navy’s E-2/C-2 specific aircraft training ron One Nine Two (VFA-192), homeported in Lemoore, ‘C’ school. California. During this tour, he served as the Line Divi- In December 1996, he re- sion Leading Chief Petty Officer ported for his first duty - as and Night Check Maintenance signment to Fleet Logistics Control. He was selected for the Support Squadron Three Command Master Chief Pro- Zero (VRC-30) Detachment gram while deployed onboard Five forward deployed to USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) Atsugi, Japan. During his in support of Operations Endur- tour, he completed numerous ing Freedom and New Dawn. deployments in the Western In June 2012, Master Chief Pacific onboard the USS nI - Irwin reported to Strike Fighter dependence (CV-62), where Squadron Four One (VFA-41) he qualified as an Enlisted as the Command Master Chief Aviation Warfare Specialist and then reported to his and advanced to Petty Offi- assignment as Command Master cer 2nd Class. Chief, for Fleet Activities Oki- In March 2001, he report- nawa (CFAO) in May 2014. ed to Executive Transport Master Chief Irwin is a gradu- Detachment (ETD), Kaneo- ate of the Senior Enlisted Acad- he Bay, Hawaii maintaining emy, Class 166 Gold Group, aircraft for COMPACFLT. a graduate of the CMC/COB While serving as the Lead- Course, class 102 and holds a ing Petty Officer and Quality Bachelors degree in Professional Assurance Representative he Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle advanced to Petty Officer 1st Aeronautical University. Class. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine In January of 2004, Irwin reported back to Fleet Corps Commendation Medal (5 awards), Navy and Logistics Support Squadron Three Zero (VRC-30) Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4 awards), Military Detachment Five in Atsugi, Japan making several Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and numerous deployments onboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) to unit and campaign awards.

2 0 1 4 | APRIL through JUNE WINDJAMMER | 2 Story and Photos by Mass Communication First Class Specialist 1st Class Todd Macdonald Symposium Gives FCPOs ‘Inside’ Look at Chief leadership role in six had I known going into Phase 2, weeks, as the original would have helped me through the CPO induction dic- process,” said Corpsman tated, was hindering Chief Petty Officer Geraldine Kirk, them in becoming as Manpower Chief and Personnel Of- successful as possible. ficer for 3D MLG. It was at that time he Most of the students in atten- implemented the CPO dance are Chief Board eligible, and 365 training process the facilitators hope the personnel that would afford Sail- record review will help prospective ors a longer period of Chiefs in getting selected to the next time to train. rank. CPO 365 is a year- Master Chief Petty Officer Don- long development and ald Schrader, Command Master he Island-Wide Chief Pet- training for FCPOs that includes Chief of 3D MLG, III MEF, said ty Officer’s Association two phases, the first of which begins T(CPOA) held a First Class in September each year and Phase “It’s all about sharing Petty Officer (FCPO) Symposium Two of training which begins when April 21-25 for Sailors on Okinawa CPO selectees are announced at the knowledge and making to help prepare them for leadership end of July and concludes with the everyone else better.” at the next level. chief pinning ceremony on Septem- The Symposium consisted of ber 13th. their goal is to enhance the oppor- classroom instruction, team build- Hospital Corpsman Chief tunity of the FCPOs attending the ing events, personnel records re- Lorenzo Basilio, Group Surgeon symposium a chance to make CPO view, and a seven-member Master Chief for the 3D Marine Logistics and make their packages they are Group (MLG) said he was part of sending to the selection board as The role of the Chief the first group to go through CPO competitive as possible. 365 Phase 2 on Petty Officer (CPO) has Okinawa and long been an integral said the things part of the U.S. Navy. he learned then are the things Chief question and answer board. he and the other The role of the Chief Petty Of- facilitators are ficer (CPO) has long been an inte- teaching the FC- gral part of the U.S. Navy. When POs now. Master Chief Petty Officer of the “Our goal is Navy (MCPON) Mike Stevens to provide more took office in 2012, he recognized insight to Phase that training Chiefs for their new 2, things that

3 | WINDJAMMER APRIL through JUNE | 2 0 1 4 “We don’t want a deserving Sail- the gaps and make him better as a or to lose out on an opportunity to whole. be promoted to Chief Petty Officer Shimasaki added that although based on a technicality,” he said. he has been in the Navy only a short Electronics Technician First time and although he is not up for Class Adam Harris, who works at CPO yet, he felt this symposium Naval Computer and Telecommu- will help him do the things that will nications Station (NCTS) Far East, advice to other FCPOs is to start now. He said even though he is not eligible for Chief, there were sev- eral issues with his ‘future’ package that he would not have seen without the guidance of some of the CPOs in this program.

make him more competitive and to know what to look for as far as mis- takes go in his record. Basilio added that the facilita- “Then I can pass that on to my tors want to pass on the knowledge peers and junior Sailors and help and experience they have gained as them in their career,” he said. “It’s Chief Petty Officers or Master Chief all about sharing knowledge and Petty Officers to the future CPOs making everyone else better.” in the room and get them into the Schrader said the intent of the mindset of a CPO. symposium was to bring all the FC- Hospital Corpsman First Class POs together from around the island Kadian Jones, the Leading Petty to stimulate discussion and under- Officer for the Medical Distribu- standing between them to help them tion Team’s 3 Supply Battalion of network and to not only work like the Combat Logistics Regiment of a CPO, but to start thinking like a the 3 MLG said with all the Chiefs, Senior Chiefs, and Master Chiefs “We want them to work “Now, I have plenty of time to together and rely on work on getting my personnel re- each other just like the cord straightened out before I take Chief’s Mess does.” the January 2015 Chief’s exam,” he said. who have given up their time to Hospital Corpsman First Class come and share with and mentor Brian Shimasaki, who works in the CPO. the FCPOs has shown her that it is Naval Hospital Okinawa Emergen- “Besides the training, we want all about giving back. cy Room, said he has learned how to provide a way for them to net- “In the future, someday I will be to properly put a package together, work and work together as FCPOs in their shoes and I will be doing which he had never done before be- that will help when they are CPOs,” the same thing for a junior Sailor,” cause he too is not board eligible, Kirk added. “We want them to work she said. “Hopefully I can be the but he said it helped him learn about together and rely on each other just positive influence that gets them to things he didn’t know and to fill in like the Chief’s Mess does.” the next level.”

2 0 1 4 | APRIL through JUNE WINDJAMMER | 4 DRUGEDUCATIONFORYOUTH Story and Photos by Mass Communication Steers Youth in Right Direction Specialist 1st Class Todd Macdonald oday’s younger generation is faced with a myriad the Bullying Class offered him the most help because Tof temptations and tests that could lead them in the it made him realize how to deal with it if he came wrong direction. The Drug Education for Youth (DEFY) across it. program, started by the Department of Navy and the “Before taking the class I didn’t know much about Department of Justice 20 years ago for kids ages nine bullying because I haven’t really seen it, but through through 12, can help youth make an educated decision the class I can now identify it and try to stop it, or get when they are at a fork in the road down the path of life. the person help who is getting bullied.” On May 10th, at White Beach Naval Facilities’ Port Fourteen year-old Junior Staff member Sydney of Call Club, 39 Medina, who students received went through their graduation cer- the program just tificates for success- last year here in fully completing the Okinawa, said 9-month program. she likes being According to with kids and Duane Brinkley, feels comfortable Operations Coordi- around them so nator for DEFY in it seemed like a Okinawa, it is a free good fit for her to program that is pro- volunteer. active rather than “I wanted to reactive, and offered stress to these to Department of kids about drugs, Defense youth, ages because it really 9-12. isn’t talked about “I am proud to say much in my high CFAO has continuously offered and administered DEFY school,” Medina said. “Here they learned about allthe for the past 18 of the 20 years the program has been in dangers of drugs and how to get away from the nega- existence,” he boasted. “We are tied for the longest run- tive influences of it.” ning DEFY program in the Military world-wide.” “They taught us about drugs in a fun way that didn’t Brinkley said there are two phases to the ‘camp’ that feel like you were being taught,” Sloss added. “Plus, limits the classes to 45 students, but has taken on as I got to make friends along the way so that was good many as 50 depending on funds and youth applications. too,” “There is an eight day Phase I camp which is classroom Brinkley said the youth also become involved with based and meets Monday through Friday the first week cultural connections and community relations, where and Monday and Wednesday the following week,” Brin- focus is put on Drug awareness and education by kley said. “Phase II starts during the fall and meets one teaching the youth about the consequences of their ac- Saturday each month until graduation that following tions and the dangers of risky behavior. May.” “A lot of people who hear about the program think The program offers guidance and lessons on topics it won’t work for them, which may be true, but peo- such as peer , bullying, gang resistance, internet ple really don’t know until they try it,” Brinkley said. safety, leadership and teamwork . “Honestly though, I think it can help everybody in For recent DEFY graduate, 12 year-old Noah Sloss, some way or another.”

5 | WINDJAMMER APRIL through JUNE | 2 0 1 4 Remembering Sailors USS Emmons (DD457, DMS-22) Memorial Dive the sides and bottom of the ship. to honor the men, both American Descending deeper into the blue and Japanese, who gave their lives water, vivid lines start forming the fighting for their countries. outline of the ship. As you close in Sunk by five Japanese the view is surreal. on April 6, 1945 the Emmons sits You set your to hover above the ship making sure not to stir up the years of sediment that have accumulated. You slowly swim toward the stern trying to he USS Emmons (DD457, imagine what the Sailors aboard DMS-22) sits 138ft at the were doing and thinking the mo- bow and 150ft at the stern on ment the ship was under attack by T kamikazes. You see depth charges the sea floor, a nautical mile off the northern end of Kouri Island, Oki- still in place ready to be deployed, nawa Japan. The arrives peacefully on the bottom of the sea to the anchor buoy which is tied to floor, thefinal resting place for U.S. the ship, the anticipation to see a fa- and Japanese Sailors alike. Kurt Re- mous WWII ship, 69 years after it ese, Site Manager for the Underwa- was sunk by ’s, well up in ter Egress Trainer on Camp Hansen your stomach. and official videographer for the You drop over the edge of the USS Emmons memorial dive said, boat backwards, finding the ropes “U.S. and Japanese divers conduct that lead down to the Emmons. De- a memorial dive every year and try scending to 30 foot, looking down to do it as close to the date of the you see faint lines that make out guns with rounds still loaded, you sinking as possible.“ can picture the Sailors devotion to “We feel it’s more appropriate to fight for their doomed ship. do the dives on the actual anniver- The aft of the ship is torn away sary date if possible. Obviously scattered across the sea floor. Pro- they will vary from year to year as ceeding back to mid-ship, you no- weather has the final say when it tice a buoy line and see what nature comes to when we do the dive.” and time have done to this vessel. It is then that you are overcome by what an honor it is to commemo- rate the Sailors who gave their lives defending her, before time and na- ture takes it completely. A wreath is placed above the builder’s plaque, the American flag unfurled by four divers who place it under the Builders and Sailors Plaque. They pause for a moment

2 0 1 4 | APRIL through JUNE WINDJAMMER | 6 USS EMMONS (DD-457) Photo by Troy Williams

April 6, 1945, The USS Em- mons and her sister ship, the USS Rodman, were on duty to provide fire support for Anti-Mine sweeping unit 11 northwest of Okinawa in the Iheya Rhetto Channel. While the ships were en route to their assigned areas, the Japanese were preparing to launch the first of their kamikaze attacks. Most of the aircraft com- mitted to the defense of Okinawa were naval planes under the com- mand of Vice Admiral Matome Ugaki, commander of the Fifth Air Fleet. Four hundred and fifty planes were committed to the main attacks which took place on April 6, with 296 of them being kamikaze air- craft. Sometime after 3 p.m. that af- ternoon, the Rodman and Emmons, 75 enemy aircraft. Bettys, Tonys, about four miles apart, while ap- Vals, and Zekes were identified and proaching the northern tip of Oki- had the ships surrounded from dis- nawa, fell into the sights of the ka- tances of 20-70 miles. By this time, mikaze aircraft. At 3:32 p.m., three Marine Corsairs and Hellcats had planes dove out of the clouds to at- joined the fight and were shooting tack the Rodman. Despite heavy down the Japanese aircraft attempt- fire from the Rodman and Emmons, ing to crash the ships. The Rodman one plane crashed the forecastle and Emmons scored hits on enemy of the Rodman which started huge planes which escaped the Marine fires. pilots. A bomb landed nearby, ruptur- At 4:30 p.m., the first direct at- ing the hull of the Rodman causing tack on the Emmons was initiated by flooding of forward compartments. a “Betty” diving out of the clouds. On the Emmons, Capt Eugene Foss The plane missed and came around turned and headed towards the Rod- again as the Emmons took evasive man to lend fire support. The Em- manuevers. Smoking after being mons began to circle the Rodman at hit, the plane missed the starboard 25 knots to provide maximum fire 40mm Gun Mount by three inches support against an estimated 50- and crashed into the water near the

7 | WINDJAMMER APRIL through JUNE | 2 0 1 4 port quarter of the Emmons. Two The second hit came from a Val, men were killed or missing in ac- others attacked, missed, and crashed which crashed the Emmons’ mine tion. near the ship after being hit by Anti- sweeping cable reel just below and Firefighting was attempted, Aircraft (AA) fire. During the next aft of the #3 Five Inch Gun at the but due to sustained damage to the hour, the attacks continued with Emmons stern. water mains and firehouses, it was many planes crashing after missing The third hit was just below tough going. Several attempts were their targets or being hit by AA fire the Emmons’ bridge in the vicinity made to take the ship under two so and crashing into the ocean. of the radio shack on the starboard it could be taken to the Keramas The first of five hits on the -Em side. A few seconds later, the fourth anchorage for possible salvage and mons took place at 5:32 p.m. A hit came in at the port side of the repair. None of these attempts were fighter plane got through the AA fire CIC or Combat Information Cen- successful. and crashed into the fantail of the ter. Captain Foss was blown from The Emmons continued to drift ship. Fires were started, the steer- the bridge and landed, badly burned towards enemy held Motobu penin- ing engine room was destroyed, and and temporarily blinded in the wa- sula when the decision to sink it was the rudder was rendered useless. ter. announced. At 2:30 a.m., The USS All hands in the Combat Infor- Ellyson, another , received mation Center were killed. The fifth word to sink the Emmons so that it and last plane hit at the starboard would not drift into enemy territory. bow. Aviation fuel from the planes The Ellyson approached the Em- was burning below decks, setting of mons and opened fire with her Five the ammunition for the # 1 and # 2 Inch Guns. Ninety-Six rounds of five inch guns, which were now out 38 caliber AA common were shot at of commission. All five hits took the Emmons. At 3:18 a.m. on April place within two minutes. Sixty 7, 1945, the USS Emmons capsized and sank in 150 feet of water off of Kouri-Jima. (Kouri island).

BUILDER: LAID DOWN: 14 November 1940 LAUNCHED: 23 August 1941 DISPLACEMENT: 2,050 Tons COMMISSIONED: 5 December LENGTH: 348 Ft 4 in (106.17m) COMPLIMENT: 208 1941 BEAM: 36Ft 1 in (11m) ARMAMENT: RECLASSIFIED: DMS-22, 15 DRAFT: 15Ft 8in (4.78m) 4 x 5in (127mm) DP guns November 1944 PROPULSION: 50,000 shp 6 x 0.5 in (12.7mm) guns FATE: Sunk by Kamikazi, 6 April (37MW) 6 x 20mm AA guns 1945 SPEED: 35 knots (65 km/h) 10 x 21 in (53cm) torpedo tubes CLASS & TYPE: Gleaves-class RANGE: 6,500 Nautical miles at 6 x projectors Destroyer 12kt (12,000 km at 22 km/h) 2 x depth charge tracks

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WW2, will not be forgotten”. ship and not worry about seeing the Russell Lemasters, Product Spe- whole thing at once. He said there is cialist at Tsunami Scuba for Camp plenty to see and its best done over Hansen’s Marine Corps Communi- multiple dives. Divers who plan on ty Service (MCCS), participates to staying down for any length of time pass on the memories of those that have should have some type of tech- have gone before us so they remain nical certification. immortal and their legacy continues “You can easily see the whole ship to live on. from 110 feet, but there are several It was discovered by a team of div- “It’s an honor and a privilege ev- interesting artifacts on the sea floor ers in 2001, 150 feet below the sur- ery time I am invited to go,” Russell around the ship,” Reese added. face, littered with anchors from lo- said with a smile. “All the divers He urges anyone interested in div- cal fishing vessels. She now serves participate for different reasons.” ing the Emmons to ask others who as an artificial and grave site. The USS Emmons Association have visited the site for any input Though it lay silently on its side, the holds an annual reunion with the and to gather as much information memories from the survivors live. surviving crew members, their chil- as possible in regard to conditions The ceremony commemorates the dren, and their grandchildren. The around the ship as currents can get personnel who perished that day photos and videos taken on the dive swift in that area. by placing a wreath made every are given to them to show at the re- year by Susan Gada. She said this union, keeping the survivors up to is her way of paying respect to the date. The memorial dive also raises men that made the ultimate sacrifice money for the survivor’s scholar- Story and Photos by Mass Communication with their lives so she could have ship fund which is given to the chil- Specialist 2nd Class Benjamin Stevens her freedoms today. dren and grandchildren of Sailors A U.S. flag and a banner are placed attached to the ship during its years near the Builder’s Memorial plaque of service. that lists those killed or missing in Reese encourages divers to be ad- action. Reese said the divers com- vanced certified with deep-water memorate the ship to honor the specialties to dive the site, as the memory of the men lost that day. depth they will go is not for begin- “Through our actions we ensure that ners. Reese also recommends if they, and their contribution to the divers are going for the first time, defeat of tyranny during the days of they should focus on one area of the

9 | WINDJAMMER APRIL through JUNE | 2 0 1 4 Agent of Change Against Sexual Assault ationally, Sexual Assault (SARC) Hospital Corpsman Chief inney, who was at Kadena Gate 4 Awareness Month (SAAM) Tremayne Tuck said this also lets passing out air fresheners, first aid Noccurs in April and com- victims know that they aren’t by kits, stress balls and lanyards with mits to raising awareness and pro- themselves. the sexual assault prevention and moting the prevention of sexual vio- “We are here for them, we will response hotline phone number on lence in the military through the use stand with them, and we are not go- them, said getting the word out and of special events and public educa- ing to give up,” he said. making people aware of Sexual tion. Tuck added that SAAM pro- Assault Awareness is a topic that vides an annual opportunity to cre- shouldn’t go unnoticed. ate an environment in which sexist “Everyone has a mother, or a behaviors, sexual harassment, and sister, or a wife, or girlfriend,” Tuck sexual assault are not condoned, tolerated, or ignored. Tuck said it all starts in the lock- er room, conference room, or office space where sexist, sexual, or inap- propriate comments take place. He said it has to be stopped there. “We have to be professional and Locally, Fleet Activities Oki- show that we will not tolerate that nawa Unit Victim Advocates raised kind of behavior,” he said. “Because awareness through different events if we don’t, then we are saying it is during the month, educating the o.k. and not sending the right mes- military community about sexual sage.” violence and how to prevent it. The 2014 Sexual Assault Aware- Information Systems Technician ness Month (SAAM) campaign fo- 2nd Class Petty Officer Denise cuses on healthy sexuality to have Duplessis, a Unit Victim Advocate, knowledge and power to express said. “When you put it into context said SAAM is important because sexuality in ways that enrich our that it could happen to them, then it is a time when the advocates can lives. It’s about every person being people might look at it differently.” deliver much needed information able to make consensual, respectful, Many people say that sexual as- on how to prevent and respond to and informed choices. sault is something that can never be sexual assaults and how together, Seaman Yeoman Taneisha Mck- stopped, Tuck added, that no matter the military as a whole can change what is done, it will still happen. the culture of violence. But he says people have to get “It gives us time to reflect on over the negative thoughts and how we can each do our part to beliefs that sexual assault cannot help someone in times of need and be stopped. “Until we change that lets victims know that there is help way of thinking, we won’t be able available,” she said. to change anything,” he said. Fleet Activities Okinawa’s Sex- Story and Photos by Mass Communication ual Assault Response Coordinator Specialist 1st Class Todd Macdonald

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An InsideChaos Look at Incident Managment Team Training n Emergency ageable level. Things are O p e r a t i o n s about to get hot. ACenter (EOC) The class is a three-day filled with 26 people is Incident Management so unbelievably cold; Team training, combin- wearing a jacket is a ing classroom instruc- necessity. There is a tion, video presentations, hushed silence amongst and simulated real-world the participants of to- scenarios provided by a day’s training event team of instructors who where everything but traveled all the way from the kitchen sink will be Norfolk, Virginia. thrown at them in re- Mike Crockett, Com- sponse to some kind of mander, Navy Installa- man-made or natural di- tions Command Shore saster taking place on White Beach Naval Facility in- Operations Training Group Chief, lead facilitator and volving the Secretary of Defense and Fleet Activities Okinawa’s (CFAO) own Commanding Officer. What begins with a simple radio commu- nication to the Oper- ations Section Chief, will crescendo into a level so loud that not only will you not be able to hear your- self think, but it will cause the Command Duty Officer to -bel low, “Attention in the a retired Navy Commander said the purpose of the EOC!” to bring the real life scenarios is to train the CFAO team of watch noise down to a man- standers in their EOC and leave them better prepared to

11 | WINDJAMMER APRIL through JUNE | 2 0 1 4 respond to disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis at the Regional Legal Service Office for CFAO, and the that are prevalent in this area. assigned Command Duty Officer for the exercise who He added there are unique challenges facing the Navy was responsible for quarterbacking the EOC during the scenario, said training like this gives the team the ex- perience, knowledge, and practice needed to maintain a high level of proficiency and preparedness to respond to any emergency situation. “We have a group of very hard working, very talented people, and this training showed us once again what a great team we make when we all come together,” he added. Rochelle Blount, Fleet Activities Okinawa’s newly appointed Emergency Management Officer felt the ex- ercise was realistic in what the team would have to do and how they would need to respond. As the ‘new kid on the block’ she said she was floored at how well they worked together as a team. “It proved to me that when a tragedy hits this island, in Okinawa, the first; Okinawa is in a high typhoon threat area, and second the joint environment involving the Air and Marine elements on island. “It is a mission critical role for the Incident Manage- ment team to be able to handle any situation, to support the Air Force as well as the Department of Defense, and the local Okinawan partners, without affecting the Navy’s mission,” Crocket said. Fleet Activities Okinawa’s Commanding Officer, Captain Michael Michel said the Incident Management Team training is important to him and something he feels strongly about. “I hope I’m wrong, but this Emergency Operation Cen- ter will stand up at some time or another,” he said. “It could be an aircraft crash, natural disaster, or man-made disaster, so this is extremely valuable training that will the teamwork CFAO has, will enable us to respond ef- affect everybody.” fectively,” Blount said. Lieutenant Geoffrey Gillespie, Staff Judge Advocate Crocket added that CFAO provided his training team with not only a packed class of 26 people, but of pri- marily senior people who will be the ones manning up the EOC, so the training, in his opinion, could not have been more appropriate. “Rarely do we receive such a great reception as we have received here,” Crockett added. “CFAO pack- aged our class with knowledgeable students that gave us wonderful feedback and provided us with positive and informational open discussions in class that was extremely valuable.”

Story and Photos by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Todd Macdonald

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1. Sailors enjoy a Karate performance at Busy Bee School. 2. Sailors participate in English through play exchange at the Heshikiya Community Center. 3. Sailors participate in English through play exchange at the Heshikiya Community Center. 4. Sailors participate in a Hijagawa-no Sato retirement home birthday party. 5. Sailors participate in English through play exchange at the Ayahashi Elementary school for the end of the academic school year. 6. Sailors participate in English through play exchange at the Yara Youth Center. 7. Sailors participate in English through play exchange at the Heshikiya Community Center. 8. Sailors join in for a game of dodgeball at Kadena Youth center near Kadena Air Base. 9. Sailors participate in an English through play exchange at the Heshikiya Community Center. 10. Sailors participate at Ayahashi Elementary school end of the academic year exchange play dodgebee (dodgeball with Frisbee). 11. Sailors help set up candles at Lamplight of Peace to commemorate the Battle of Okinawa. 12. Sailors sit and talk with local school kids at Busy Bee School. 13 | WINDJAMMER APRIL through JUNE | 2 0 1 4 Service 8

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