Cnic // Commander Fleet Activities Sasebo

CFAS Sailors Observe Earth DaySASEBO, Japan (April 27, 2012)—Sailors assigned to Commander Fleet Activities Sasebo (CFAS) gathered together to participate in a base-wide clean up and 5K run to observe Earth Day on April 27.

USS Germantown Participates in Reunion of Honor CeremonyIWO TO, Japan (NNS) – Thirty two Sailors from the forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42), along with elements of the III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) attended the Reunion of Honor ceremony on Iwo To, formerly known as Iwo Jima, on Mar. 14.

Air Combat Element Embarks Aboard EssexSOUTH CHINA SEA – The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) successfully embarked aircraft and aircrews from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit's (MEU) Air Combat Element (ACE), March 5

Germantown Returns to Sasebo upon Completing Cobra Gold 2012SASEBO, Japan (NNS) – The forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) returned to Sasebo after participating in Cobra Gold 2012 (CG12), Mar. 5.

USS Defender Trains with Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and French Marine NationaleSASEBO, Japan – USS Defender (MCM 2) joined JS Amigiri (DD 154) and FNS Vendemiaire (F 734) for a passing exercise Feb. 27, off the coast of Kyushu, Japan.

USS Germantown Builds Relationship with Thai SchoolLAEM CHABANG, Kingdom of Thailand– Sailors assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) participated in a community service (COMSERV) project at a local school Feb. 23 during a scheduled port visit to Laem Chabang.

Germantown Arrives in Thailand For Port VisitLAEM CHABANG, Kingdom of Thailand– The forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42), with embarked elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), arrived in Port Chabang for a scheduled port visit Feb. 21 after completing the multinational exercise Cobra Gold 2012.

USS Patriot Visits Hakodate, JapanHAKODATE,Japan–Mine countermeasures ship USS Patriot (MCM 7) arrived in Hakodate, Japan, Feb. 14 for a port visit.

Germantown Conducts NEO Exercise; Ship TourSATTAHIP, Kingdom of Thailand– The forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) served as the staging area during the Non-combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) off the coast of Sattahip here Feb. 12

NIOC Misawa Sailors Tour USS PatriotHACHINOHE, Japan – Sailors assigned to Navy Information Operations Command(NIOC)Misawa visited mine countermeasures ship USS Patriot (MCM 7) for a tour of the ship Feb. 9.

Commander ESG 3 Visits Essex to Talk Hull SwapSASEBO, Japan (Jan. 23, 2012) – Rear Adm. Gerard P. Hueber, commander Expeditionary Strike Group 3, visited the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) Jan. 23, to discuss with Essex leadership the upcoming hull swap with USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6).

Essex Thanks JRMC Sasebo through LuncheonUSS Essex (LHD 2) hosted a lunch for over 100 personnel assigned to the Japan Regional Maintenance Center detachment Sasebo (JRMC) Jan. 18. The lunch was held to thank the JRMC detachment Sasebo team for their services to Essex for over 11 years of being forward-deployed to Sasebo, Japan.

USS Essex Hosts Year’s First Sasebo Navy League Business MeetingSASEBO, Japan (Jan. 17, 2012) – Sasebo’s Navy League held their first business meeting of 2012 during a dinner held onboard USS Essex (LHD 2) Jan. 17.

Chief of Navy’s Chaplain Corps Visits USS EssexSASEBO, Japan – The Chief of Navy Chaplains, Rear Adm. Mark L. Tidd visited the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), Jan. 6.

U.S. Consulate Fukuoka Visit USS EssexSASEBO, Japan -- The Republic of Korea Consulate General Cho Jung-Won and Principal Officer U.S. Consulate Fukuoka Jason R. Cubas visited forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), Dec. 29.

CFAS Sailors attend Christmas celebration at Kusuzumi DaycareSASEBO, Japan- The Christmas spirit is alive and well at Kusuzumi Daycare thanks to Sailors from Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo (CFAS). Approximately twenty Sailors attended a Christmas celebration, put on my CFAS’s religious ministries, at the daycare right outside of Sasebo, Dec. 16.

Japanese Artist Gives Thanks to Essex Through ArtworkSASEBO, Japan (Dec. 13, 2011) -- Mr. Takashi Shima, a painter and photographer for over 50 years, visited the forward deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) Tuesday Dec. 13 to deliver a painting of the ship to the commanding officer, Capt. David Fluker, in recognition of its participation in Operation Tomodachi. The water color painting shows Essex at sea during flight operations with several CH-53E Sea Stallions flying overhead.

Essex Completes Patrol of Western PacificSASEBO, JAPAN (Dec. 8, 2011) The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) returned to Sasebo, Japan Dec. 8, after completing a two-and-a-half month patrol of the Western Pacific.

Essex Arrives in Manila for Port VisitMANILA, Republic of the Philippines (Nov. 28, 2011) – The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) arrived in Manila, Republic of the Philippines Nov. 30 for a port visit.

USS Essex Celebrates Thanksgiving At SeaINDIAN OCEAN (Nov. 24, 2011) – Sailors and Marines aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex came together to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday at sea Nov. 24.

Essex, PHIBRON 11 Sailors Visit Indonesian UniversityBALI, Indonesia – Sailors from the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) and Amphibious Squadron 11 participated in a discussion panel with students from Mahendradatta University in Bali, Indonesia Nov. 21.

USS Essex Hosts Reception in Bali, IndonesiaBALI, Indonesia (Nov. 20, 2011) – Senior military and civil officials from the U.S. and Indonesia attended a reception hosted onboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) Nov. 20 to celebrate cooperation between the two countries.

Essex Celebrates Marine Corps’ 236th BirthdayPHILIPPINE SEA (Nov. 10, 2011) – Sailors and Marines aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) celebrated the Marine Corps’ 236th birthday on the ship’s flight deck Nov. 10.

CFAS Sailors of the Year AnnouncedSASEBO, Japan (November 9, 2011)—Commander Fleet Activities Sasebo (CFAS) announced the Sailors of the Year during a ceremony held at the Shogun Café base galley Nov. 9. Personnel Specialist 1st Class Reynaldo Giron, Master at Arms 2nd Class Laymoun Ferguson and Master at Arms 3rd Class Amber Skinner were named Senior Sailor of the Year (SSOY), Sailor of the Year (SOY), and Junior Sailor of the Year (JSOQ), respectively.

Fleet Activities Sasebo Conducts ASF Academy for SailorsSASEBO, Japan (Nov. 4, 2011) – In the event of heightened force protection or a terrorist threat at Fleet Activities Sasebo (CFAS), efforts to protect the base fall on the security force consisting of Master-at-Arms (MA) Sailors and their Japanese counterparts. But the MAs aren’t the only Sailors in the fight to keep security up on CFAS. Security of the base is equally ensured thanks to the Auxiliary Security Force (ASF).