YOKOSUKA, Japan – The U.S. 7th Fleet (C7F) Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF) Manning Conference ended after three days of discussions and sessions to improve the process by which U.S. Navy manpower distribution meets C7F FDNF.
The conference was held 19-21 July 2017 at various locations around United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka. This manning conference was to ensure C7F assets receive active, reserve and civilian personnel.
A group of senior leaders, from Navy Personnel Command to Commander Surface Forces, got to hear from 7th Fleet Command Master Chief, Sailors, and the Ombudsman on the need for this realignment and redistribution of manning to C7F’s FDNF, and it was an opportunity for local command leaders to meet with the Navy leaders who can make needed changes.
“The FDNF forces are at the tip of the spear and they have to be ready to fight tonight, and we have to make sure that they are manned correctly so that they can do that”, said Rear Adm. Richard Brown, commander, Navy Personnel Command. “In reality, the FDNF forces are always on deployment, so we have to make sure that we increase their demand signal so that they hit those manning marks, and they stay at those manning marks”.