YOKUSKA, Japan –
The multinational Key Leadership Engagement seminar offers a unique opportunity for Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Yokosuka, Japan, leadership to share its logistics’ knowledge and expertise.
Navy Cmdr. Allen “AJ” Rivera, commander of DDYJ, welcomed and hosted the United States Forces Japan J4 logistics leadership to include Marine Col. Michael Taylor, Director of Logistics & Installations as well as Japan Joint Staff & Logistics, Rear Adm. Satoshi Abe, Director General J4 JJS Feb. 28. The USFJ and JJS group comprising of 11 members received a command brief and tour of the DDYJ Distribution processes and operations.
The USFJ is an active subordinate unified command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command. USFJ is commanded by the Commander, U.S. Forces, Japan, who is also dual-hatted as commander of the Fifth Air Force. COMUSJAPAN plans, directs and supervises the execution of missions and responsibilities assigned by the Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. COMUSJAPAN establishes and implements policies to accomplish the mission of the United States Armed Forces in Japan and is responsible for developing plans for the defense of the country. The Japan Joint Staff Office is one of the Japanese administrative agencies and is a special agency of Japan Ministry of Defense with the purpose of operating the Land, Sea and Air Self Defense Force as a unit and it is equivalent to the Joint Chiefs of Staff of Foreign Armies.
Navy Lt. j.g. Myda DeLaCruz, presented the command brief to the USFJ and JJS leadership. At the conclusion of the brief, the group was invited to tour the DDYJ buildings where the DDYJ directors and branch chiefs representing Receiving, Storage, Packing & Preservation and Freight Terminal sections highlighted the DDYJ center’s core operations.
The USFJ J4 and JJS J4 leadership observed firsthand the DDYJ operation and were briefed on how DDYJ provides progressive storage and distribution solutions, through the strength of its diversified workforce, and an uncompromising focus on safety, to all U.S. Department of Defense services in the Pacific, as well as supporting our Japanese allies through the Foreign Military Sales program.
The guided tour walked through the DDYJ historical buildings to include Building J-39, which was used to store and maintain The Imperial Japanese Navy submarines during World War II. The building served as one of the main buildings on Yokosuka Naval Base, formerly known as Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, when the Japanese Navy operated the base through August 1945.
Concluding the day’s events, the exchange of questions and answers among the different command groups was positive and made for a very interesting day.