CNFJ treats Yokosuka CSADD to breakfast

YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JAPAN

02.16.2016

Courtesy Story

Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Peter Burghart

YOKOSUKA, Japan – Commander U.S. Naval Forces Japan (CNFJ) recently enjoyed a meal with Sailors making a difference at Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY).

Rear Adm. Matthew Carter and members of Fleet Activities (FLEACT) Yokosuka’s Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) enjoyed breakfast at Yokosuka’s Matthew C. Perry galley, Feb. 16.

During the breakfast Carter asked CSADD for their views on Sailors continuing to put the Navy’s best foot forward in Japan.

“I’m blown away by folks who take time out of their personal life to do this stuff for other Sailors,” said Carter. “I’m so humbled to sit here with you.”

Over the past year FLEACT Yokosuka’s CSADD program has held more than 20 mentoring events around the command, showing Sailors the joys of being stationed in Japan and assisting the local community.

The Sailors answered CNFJ’s questions and also gave him their goals for the moving forward.

“We want to walk the waterfront and coordinate with the other CSADD chapters,” said Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class Roger Christjohn, from South Seaville, New Jersey. Christjohn is the Yokosuka’s CSADD president.

“We want to do more joint events and reach out to not only ships here but the ones that are visiting,” added Christjohn.

CSADD began as a grass-roots level social group at Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic. The idea quickly spread to other commands worldwide due to its popularity among Sailors and is now a Navy-wide program.

FLEACT Yokosuka’s chapter has the added difficulty of helping keep junior Sailors from making bad decisions in the highly visible 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

“All of you should be proud of what you do, and realize you do have an impact.” said Carter. “You probably don’t see it, but what you’re doing makes a difference.”

Some of the standout moments of CSADDs year were the Feed the Homeless walks, a booth at the FLEACT Yokosuka Spring Festival, as well as their Honcho patrol, and they plan to continue their efforts next year.

“This survives because people believe in it,” said Capt. David Glenister, commander of FLEACT Yokosuka, summing up CSADD’s success.

FLEACT Yokosuka provides, maintains, and operates base facilities and services in support of 7th Fleet’s Forward-Deployed Naval Forces, 83 tenant commands, and 24,000 Military and civilian personnel.

• Date Taken: 02.16.2016
• Date Posted: 02.15.2016 23:23
• Story ID: 188883
• Location: YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JP
• Hometown: SOUTH SEAVILLE, NJ, US