YOKOSUKA, Japan – Sailors assigned to U.S. 7th Fleet ships forward-deployed to Fleet Activities Yokosuka participated in the U.S. Navy’s operational pause Aug. 23.
The operational pause was directed by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson Aug. 22 in response to recent operational incidents in the western Pacific. Adm. Scott Swift, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, discussed the operational pause during a visit to Singapore this week.
“Each command will take a full work-day dedicated to this operational pause,” said Swift. “I expect this pause to be led by each of you with full participation by the chain of command. There can be no bystanders. Bystanders become weak links and need extra attention and leadership. During this pause, focus on fundamentals – both individual and team.”
In Yokosuka, commanding officers, officers, chiefs and watchstanders participated in the operational pause, led by instructors from Afloat Training Group Western Pacific. Topics included bridge resource management, communications, radar fundamentals, operational risk management and case studies of previous maritime incidents.
Rear Adm. Charles Williams, commander, Battle Force 7th Fleet, Task Force 70, Carrier Strike Group 5, stressed the importance of constantly refining technical proficiency and operational readiness.
“In the Pacific, every aspect of our training and operations support our preparedness for winning a challenging high end fight,” said Swift. “Per my Commander's Guidance, when called upon, our mission ultimately is to decisively prevail in all contingencies from war to peace. We cannot complete this mission without first mastering – and continually re-mastering – the basics of our profession.”
U.S. 7th Fleet is the largest of the U.S. Navy's forward deployed fleets. At any given time there are roughly 50-70 ships and submarines, 140 aircraft, and approximately 20,000 Sailors in the region. Seventh Fleet’s area of operation spans more than 124 million square kilometers, stretching from the
International Date Line to the India/Pakistan border; and from the Kuril Islands in the North to the
Antarctic in the South.