Submarine Group 7 Sailors Hone Japanese Language Skills in Yokosuka

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Travis Baley | YOKOSUKA, Japan (Sep 29, 2022) Chief Torpedoman's Mate Shawn Hammer, from Parkersburg, West Virginia, takes a Japanese lesson at Commander, Submarine Group 7 (CSG 7), Sep 29, 2022. CSG 7 directs forward-deployed, combat capable forces across the full spectrum of undersea warfare throughout the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Travis Baley)  

YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JAPAN

10.10.2022

Story by Lt.Cmdr. Robert Reinheimer 

Commander, Submarine Group Seven

YOKOSUKA, Japan – Sailors from Commander, Submarine Group (CSG) 7 completed their fiscal year (FY) 22 Japanese language classes at Fluckey Hall on Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Sept. 29, 2022.

The classes, consisting of over 100 hours of instruction to over 40 CSG 7 and sister-command personnel throughout the year, were made possible by the Navy’s Language, Regional Expertise, and Culture (LREC) directorate, which employs local Japanese nationals to provide one-on-one and group Japanese language instruction at no cost to the students.

The entry-level Japanese class celebrated the completion of their course of instruction by meeting for lunch at a local Japanese restaurant, where they used their new skills to order their meal in the local language.

“I really enjoyed learning Japanese over the last year,” said Electronics Technician 1st Class Princeabendego McDonald. “For this final class, going off-base to a Japanese restaurant, we were able to put everything we learned to use!”

The Japanese language training provides Sailors and civilians stationed overseas with information on their location’s geography, history, language, appropriate etiquette and basic survival phrases through in-person discussion classes.

Part of the Center for Information Warfare Training in Pensacola, Fla., LREC delivers foreign language instruction and training on foreign cultures to prepare Navy personnel for global engagements to strengthen ties with enduring allies. LREC has been helping Sailors build cooperative partnerships abroad since 2007.

In addition to the beginner Japanese class, CSG 7 also has a class for Sailors more experienced with the Japanese language. For senior personnel (>O-5/GS-15), LREC also provides one-on-one instruction to accommodate those with more challenging, fluctuating schedules.

“I really appreciate the command supporting us in this learning opportunity,” said Chief Torpedoman's Mate Shawn Hammer, who attends CSG 7’s advanced Japanese course. “It improves personal and command cultural readiness, and helps the Navy build effective relationships with some of our strongest allies, the Japanese people and (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force) Sailors.”

Submarine Group 7 is responsible for coordinating a diverse fleet of submarines, surface ships and aircraft deployed to the Western Pacific and the Middle East; two forward-deployed submarine tenders and five attack submarines homeported in Guam; Submarine Squadron 21 in Bahrain; five ocean surveillance ships when tasked for theater anti-submarine warfare operations, and two oceanographic survey vessels. Under CSG 7 are two task forces: CTF 74 and CTF 54, which provide theater anti-submarine warfare support from the Red Sea to the International Date Line.

For more news from NETC, visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/.

For more news from Commander, Submarine Group 7, visit www.csp.navy.mil/csg7/.

• Date Taken: 10.10.2022
• Date Posted: 10.11.2022 01:31
• Story ID: 431043
• Location: YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JP
• Hometown: PARKERSBURG, WV, US