Sailors from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1, assigned to the Salvage and Rescue ship USNS Safeguard scan local waters with sonar equipment for underwater wreckage during a relief effort. Safeguard is supporting salvage efforts in support of Operation Tomodachi. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Devon Dow

Salvage support is increasing with the arrival of the Rescue and Salvage ship USNS Safeguard, along with personnel and assets from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 5, and Underwater Construction Team 2 March 25, 2011.

Their salvage recovery missions will assist the Japanese Coast Guard as recovery efforts continue in the city.

Safeguard, stationed in Sasebo, Japan, is the Navy’s only forward-deployed rescue and salvage ship. It is specifically designed to perform combat salvage, lifting, towing, manned diving operations, and provide emergency repairs to stranded or disabled vessels.

The salvage ship, which was transferred to the Military Sealift Command in 2007, has a crew that consists of civilian contractors and sailors assigned to the Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One. The ship and the crew’s expertise will play a vital role in clearing waterways in the area of debris and sunken wreckage.

“We are here under a request by the Japanese government to provide support. Whatever we can do to help them in any way we are willing to do so,” said Lt. Cmdr. Peterson, 7th Fleet salvage officer and coordinator of the Safeguard. “The teamwork with the Japanese has been incredible and we look forward to working with them.”

Operating from a dock at FISC Yokosuka Fuel Terminal-Hachinohe, EOD Mobile Unit 5 and UCT 2 are working together to clear wreckage from a local commercial channel. With it cleared, the Japanese ships will be able to transport supplies and fuel to northern Japan.

UCT 2 is providing underwater surveillance imagery with side scan sonar equipment. Once their scanning is complete, their findings are shared with the Japanese Cost Guard. Once the location of wreckage is determined, markers are placed and EOD divers go into the water for a more thorough inspection. From this point, both Navy and Japanese Coast Guard form a collective plan to remove the wreckage.

Petty Officer 1st Class Timothy Plummer, center, construction mechanic of Watertown, N.Y., and Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Knolla, left, builder of Wichita Kan., both assigned to Underwater Construction Team 2, go over charts of a local port with Lt. Cmdr. Derek Peterson, 7th Fleet salvage officer and native of Cocoa, Fla. UCT 2 is conducting salvage operations in the city in support of Operation Tomodachi. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Devon Dow

EOD Mobile Unit 5’s Intelligence Leading Chief Petty Officer Senior Chief Intelligence Specialist James Isham from Mackville, Ky., said the Japanese have been doing a great job with their salvage efforts and that working with them has been a great experience.

“It’s been very easy working with them and a real honor,” he said. “It is nice to be able to be helpful and to assist our allies. With this port clear, they will be able to get needed supplies to the people, especially heating fuel.”

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Devon Dow
DVIDS

The last large group of Department of Defense dependents departed Fleet Activities Yokosuka on March 24 as authorized by the voluntary military-assisted departure (VMAD).

On March 16th, the U.S. Department of State authorized the voluntary, military-assisted departure for eligible dependents of U.S. service members and Department of Defense (DoD) civilians assigned to installations on the main island of Honshu, Japan.

The departure was authorized due to a deteriorating situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in northern Honshu after a 9.0 earthquake and the tsunami that hit the plant on March 11.

VMAD should not be confused with the term evacuation, as military and DoD civilians were not directed to leave. Each family had to make the decision based on factors for their unique situation.

“The best thing we have been able to do throughout this whole process is to give people a peace of mind during a very stressful situation.” said Ester Franklin, ASCS counselor at Yokosuka Middle School, who has volunteered to help with the processing at the fleet recreation center.

Fleet Activities Yokosuka registered and transported over 1,300 dependents who travelled by government contracted flights from Yokosuka to Seattle and Travis Air Force Base.

Personnel support detachment (PSD) Yokosuka has processed over 3,100 flight requests through the commercial travel office (CTO) for travel out of Japan since the authorization went into affect.

“We’ve gone into 24-hour service mode, setting up a three-section rotation so that we may accept requests for government-funded travel around the clock,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jed Espiritu, officer-in-charge, PSD Yokosuka. “The commercial travel office here has also put in long hours, coming in on weekends all without a single complaint, something monumentally important in this operation.”

Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) hosts 82 tenant commands that support operating forces throughout the Western Pacific, including 11 high-operational-tempo warships forward deployed.

“Both PSD military and civilians have been working long hours since Saturday, and that is a testament to this detachment’s teamwork and dedication,”

CFAY, PSD Yokosuka, and other commands came together to accomplish a unified, customer-focused mission.

“Throughout this operation, I’ve seen continuous improvement in the way we process, track, and ticket flights,” said Espiritu. “I’ve watched customers here being kind and considerate to other customers and our clerks, despite some confusion and anxiety, even dropping off cookies and baked goods.” said Espiritu. “I’ve seen overwhelming support for Yokosuka dependents from our assigned Chaplain, Lt. Cmdr. Doug Vrieland, the Fleet and Family Support Center, and various other commands that have volunteered to provide comfort and assistance to the family members departing from Japan.”

The last volunteer departure requests will be taken today, 25 March 2011.

Departed personnel will be provided return travel to Japan when directed by the Under Secretary of Defense.

“CFAY is looking forward to the return of family members who departed voluntarily,” said CFAY Command Master Chief (CMDCM) Gregory Vidaurri. “Once authorization is provided for the return of our familiy members, our goal is reunite our Sailors with their families as soon as possible.”

Story by MC2(SW/AW) John Smolinski
Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka Public Affairs
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Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) began transferring fresh water to two fuel barges, which will be used to support cooling efforts at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant March 25.

A total of 1.89 million litres (500,000 gallons) are being distributed between the barges that have been cleaned of fuel to support fresh water. The first Barge YOGN-115 departed CFAY at approximately 11:00 a.m. and will be escorted by a Japan Maritime Self Defense Force multipurpose support ship JS Hiuchi (AMS 4302). The second barge is scheduled to leave within the next 24 to 48 hours. The water will eventually be used to replace the seawater currently being used in cooling efforts at the plant.

JS Hiuchi 4302

“We have two barges here,” said CFAY Operations Officer Lt. Cdr. Michael Weatherford. “They can both hold up to approximately 300,000 gallons of fresh water each. But the max capacity is reduced to make the barges seaworthy for ocean travel,” Weatherford explained. “The request was for one million gallons so when I told them we could get 500,000 gallons we started working on getting these barges released from our custody over to the [Japan Maritime Self Defense Force].”

Officers from the JMSDF were present on the pier to watch workers finish the final preparations before the barges left.

“This method was planned by the Japanese government after holding a council with Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) and others,” said JMSDF officer, Capt. Fumiyuki Kitagawa. “After having a discussion with other ministries and agencies, [the Japanese government] decided to have Japan Maritime Self Defense to carry barges to Fukushima this time.”

“Once it leaves Yokosuka, we figure about seven knots travel speed because it’s going to be towed by the JMSDF in the open ocean,” said Weatherford. “We’re estimating that it should reach its destination about 50 kilometers south of Fukushima within 35 hours from departure.”

After watching the barge leave, Kitagawa had a personal message for the people that had helped make this event happen.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all Americans and the U.S. Navy personnel who provided us with prompt response in the wake of the earthquake. Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the U.S. Naval ships off the coast of Sanriku are still searching for the missing people and delivering foods to the victims in the shelters together. The hearts of the U.S. Sailors have been reaching Japanese people. I really appreciate it and am very proud that JMSDF and the U.S. Navy once again can work together. Thank you all, again,” said Kitagawa.

Story by Joe Schmitt
Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka Public Affairs
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Capt. Isaiah Manigault assists Staff Sgt. Nicholas Sweetman with his chemical protection suit March 20, 2011, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Sergeant Sweetman was preparing to scan a convoy returning from an urban search and rescue mission in Myagi, Japan. Captain Manigault is the deputy chief of the 18th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight, and Sergeant Sweetman is a technician at the 18th AMDS Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight. U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Kimberly Spinner

Among the typical crews for disaster relief in mainland Japan is an atypical crew.

Amid concerns for the environment, two Airman from the 18th Aerospace Medicine Squadron’s Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight has responded to the disasters there.

While other crews from here perform search-and-rescue operations and work to restore power in the neighboring cities, the 18th AMDS have deployed to Honshu island, sometimes known as mainland Japan, to aid Yokota AB in the testing for radiation and other contaminates in the surrounding environment.

Team members can conduct health assessments for hazards such as the exposure to radiation, (dangerous) chemicals and materials, and anything else that could harm the local populations, according to Tech. Sgt. Joanie Long, the bioenvironmental engineering flight readiness NCO in charge.

Though Sergeant Long stayed behind on this trip, she said the entire unit would have jumped at the opportunity to help more if they could.

“We just keep asking, ‘What could we do more?’” Sergeant Long said. “If we could, we’d all jump on the plane and go so we could help out.”

With these situations being so rare, most of the individuals in this career field may have trained for years without having to implement their skills in real-life situations.

Nineteen-year veteran Senior Master Sgt. Benjamin Winslow, the bioenvironmental engineering flight chief and member of the deploying crew, said the last time he performed in a real-world emergency was 10 years ago, when he worked to detect uranium around a nuclear reactor at his first base.

Though it’s been a decade since he had to perform outside of an exercise environment, Sergeant Winslow said the team has been training vigorously over the years to prepare for situations like this one.

“I’ve been training (for this kind of situation) for 19 years,” Sergeant Winslow said. “We spend a lot of hours training every week, and with all of our experience in exercises and training, we’re very capable. I’m looking forward to being able to use my skill to help someone.”

US Air Force
by Airman 1st Class Maeson L. Elleman
18th Wing Public Affairs

CERF team in training. Airmen 1st Class Brittany Musha, Michelle Smith, and Senior Airman Rebecca Chase. U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Kristina Overton

Members of a radiological assistance team landed aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) to assist in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) efforts March 19.

The team, consisting of 21 military and civilian personnel, comprise of personnel from Guam, Puget Sound, Wash., Norfolk, Va., and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Naval Ship Yards. Under the command of Adm. Kirkland H. Donald, the director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion and Deputy Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Naval Reactors, they will disperse to provide assistance to Essex, USS Harper’s Ferry (LSD 49), and USS Germantown (LSD 42). Their mission is to check for radiation on the aircraft and personnel of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) who go on the HADR missions to ensure they are not exposed to any radiation.

“We will be monitoring flight crews and any passengers that go out to the affected zones in Honshu,” said George Bowyer, a radiological physical science technician.

“We will be looking for any signs of radioactivity on the people and planes that return back to the ship from their missions,” said Machinist’s Mate 1st Class (SW) Wade Gerloff, a radiological control technician. “If we find any signs of radioactivity, we will remove and prevent the spread to others on the ship.”

Among the equipment they brought aboard to help them perform their job are radiac survey meters, portable air samplers, and personal dosimetry. Each piece of equipment serves instrumental in helping the team perform their mission.

“The radiac survey meter monitors for radiation,” said Carlos Soto, a radiological control technician. “The portable air sampler takes samples and tests for radiation in the air. The personal dosimetry monitors for radiation a person may have been exposed to. These personal devices will be given to flight crews and random ship personnel. We use the data to see how much radiation each person may have been exposed to.”

While providing humanitarian assistance is the main objective of the crew, ensuring the safety of the men and women performing these humanitarian missions is the main objective of the radiological assessment control team.

“The safety of the crew is our first priority,” said Essex Commanding Officer David Fluker. “Without having a healthy crew in this environment, we can’t do our job.”

The Essex ARG, commanded by Commander, Amphibious Squadron 11 Capt. Bradley Lee, is comprised of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship Essex and the dock landing ships Harpers Ferry, Germantown, and USS Tortuga (LSD 46). Essex is currently off the coast of Japan to conduct HADR operations as directed in support of Operation Tomodachi.

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Johnie Hickmon
Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo Japan on Facebook