Liberty Center Outreach visits USNH Yokosuka's single Sailors

Photo By Joseph Schmitt | Mikki Utsumi, Liberty Center tour specialist, explains how to sign up for the upcoming Yokosuka Liberty Center tours to single and unaccompanied sailors at U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka's galley, March 12. Utsumi and another Liberty Center worker are at the hospital as part of Morale, Welfare and Recreation Yokosuka's Liberty Center Outreach program where staff members visit different parts of the base to tell single sailors about what the center has to offer.  

YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JAPAN

03.12.2013

Story by Joseph Schmitt 

Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka

YOKOSUKA, Japan - Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Single Sailor Liberty Center on board Fleet Activities, Yokosuka visited single and unaccompanied sailors of U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH), Yokosuka, March 12, as part of the Liberty Outreach program.

“The Liberty Outreach program has been going for years, but we recently revamped it,” said Cristina Neumann, MWR Special Events and Liberty Program manager. “We wanted to get the word out, to reach out to sailors and tell them about what the Liberty Center has to offer. So, typically during lunch time, we go out at least once a month to where single sailors gather and get them that information.”

This month, workers from the center visited USNH Yokosuka galley to hand out pamphlets, event calendars and to talk to single or unaccompanied sailors. Some of the sailors knew about the center while others commented that they didn't know much about what type of services they offered.

“That's why were trying to get to places like the hospital,” she said. “We have a lot of sailors from the ships that come to the Liberty Center and we want to make sure that sailors that are shore duty have access to the same information. We want to make sure that whether the sailors frequent the [James D. Kelly Fleet Recreation Center] or not, that they know about the Liberty Center and all of what they can do through MWR.”

While sailors waited in line to pay and enter the galley, Mikki Utsumi, Liberty Center tour specialist, and Jennifer Mon, recreation aid and Liberty Center shift supervisor, presented information on upcoming tours, tournaments and events.

“Coming up, we've got a darts tournament, March Madness brackets, and Down to Your Last Dollar,” said Mon. “People can find that information on our website or Facebook page, but meeting people like this is great way tell them about what's coming up and answer any questions they might have. Getting to have that conversation definitely makes a difference.”

“It's nice to know that they care about our morale and are creating opportunities for us to enjoy our time here,” said Hospital Corpsman Travis Hellums, USNH Yokosuka optician and single Sailor. “I'm looking forward to the paintball match. I didn't know about that one before so, now I'm going to go sign up for it.”

Liberty Center personnel will visit another location next month. For a complete list of what the center and MWR offers, visit their website at http://mwryokosuka.wordpress.com/ and click on the Single Sailor Liberty Center link.

• Date Taken: 03.12.2013
• Date Posted: 03.22.2013 00:50
• Story ID: 103919
• Location: YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JP