IKEGO HILLS FAMILY HOUSING AREA, Japan -- Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka Child and Youth Programs (CFAY CYP) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of the Youth Programs Building in Ikego Hills Family Housing Area Monday, August 10, 2026.
The facility offers a School Age Care Center, Teen Center, indoor basketball court, several multipurpose rooms, a kitchen, music room, laundry facilities, and staff offices to serve 150 to 175 military-connected youth of varying ages.
Construction on the two-floor, nearly 23,000 square foot facility began in July 2023 and is the first of two CFAY CYP facilities opening at Ikego Hills.
“We’ve been waiting for about three years,” said Debra Fuselier, CFAY CYP director. “I was initially hesitant on the large size of the building, but our team had an amazing vision on how to pull this all together. The teens have a dedicated place for them. Our tweens will have their own area. The younger children and eventually a UPK (universal pre-kindergarten) program. I’m so glad our kids will get to experience CYP the way they are designed.” Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Capt. Jonathan Hopkins, echoed Fuselier’s sentiment.
“This is how we embrace our future generations,” Hopkins said. “Providing our military children with world-class facilities for world-class families is how we give them the best opportunity to make friends, build healthy lifestyles, and learn new skills.”
The building’s opening follows other unique recent opportunities CFAY’s military-connected youth have had provided.
Earlier this year, Far East Conference high school baseball players from various Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) schools, including Nile C. Kinnick High School, converged on Yokosuka’s Berkey Field for an exhibition All-Star Game and pro scouting combine with Major League Baseball (MLB) scouts operating in Japan. The combine provided an opportunity to have statistics and data officially recorded. The event may help to open doors to potential college ball opportunities.
Last month, CFAY CYP launched the installation’s first Teen Career Showcase, a weeklong program introducing teenage students to various career fields with hands-on experiences at multiple commands and CFAY offices throughout the installation. The initiative, held twice this summer, provided a behind-the-scenes look at what types of careers may become available depending on their choice of study.
Twenty-six military-affiliated teens recently completed the American Red Cross VolunTEEN program at U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) Yokosuka, a six-week summer initiative allowed the hand-selected students to shadow and work safely under the supervision of USNH Yokosuka providers, nurses, hospital corpsmen, and other vital staff members across 12 different departments, including the emergency room, operating room, radiology, the laboratory, and various specialty clinics.
Physical improvements throughout Ikego Hills include the $220 million Ikego Townhouse Revitalization Plan. The five-phase project is ongoing with an estimated time of completion in Spring 2027 overhauling a total of 356 family home units and their public works services up to ensure the units exceed modern standards.
Designs for a future multipurpose community support center located near Jimmuji Gate boast an indoor pool, fitness facility, Child Development Center, a modernized Navy Exchange facility, and parking supporting approximately 150 personally-owned vehicles.
Other work includes two new Public Works shops with one providing permanent parking for school buses, and a significantly larger fire and emergency services station set to house as many as six fire fighting vehicles of varying classes.