PACFLT Visits Fleet Activities Yokosuka

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Peter Burghart, Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka Public Affairs

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Adm. Scott Swift visited Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY), July 22, as part of a three-nation area familiarization tour of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

The trip to Yokosuka was Swift's first visit to the base since assuming command of U.S. Pacific Fleet (PACFLT), May 27.

During his visit to CFAY, Swift met with Fleet Activities (FLEACT) and Commander, Navy Region Japan (CNFJ) representatives, as well as Japan Self-Defense Force officials.

"This trip provides me with a great opportunity to visit Japan and reacquaint myself with the issues from the Japanese perspective in the region," the admiral said.

As PACFLT, Swift is responsible for the largest naval command in the world, with an area of responsibility that covers almost half of the world's surface.

Swift said that he is intimately familiar with the area, having previously served a tour in Yokosuka as the U.S. 7th Fleet commander on the amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), from September 2011 to July 2013.

During Swift's visit, he held an all-hands call, met with local officials, and held a town hall meeting for both service members and their families. The admiral discussed his goals for the Pacific Fleet and took time to answer Sailors' questions during both events held at CFAY's Fleet Theater.

Swift discussed topics and issues ranging from the continued rebalancing of forces to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, to possible changes in the Department of Defense retirement plan and many other issues that have a potential impact on Navy personnel and their families.

"The Sailors here stand on a heritage of service forward," he said. "My focus as the Pacific Fleet commander is on Sailors and their families, as well as the civilian work force that supports us."

CFAY provides, maintains and operates base facilities and services in support of U.S. 7th Fleet's forward-deployed naval forces, 83 tenant commands, and 24,000 military and civilian personnel.