Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan directed that Potassium Iodide (KI) be available for pick-up at 1200 today for all DoD personnel and dependents currently located at Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Ikego Housing Detachment, Negishi Housing Detachment, and Naval Air Facility Atsugi.

- Do not take until notified.
- There is enough Potassium Iodide in Japan for all SOFA personnel.
- There will be mass public notification if you need to take Potassium Iodide.
- If notified to take Potassium Iodide, take recommended dosage only.

DoD personnel and their families are asked to proceed in an orderly manner to one of four distribution points to receive their individual allotment in case a need is identified.

Yokosuka – Purdy Gym
Negishi – Negishi Theatre
Ikego – Ikego Basketball Gym
Atsugi – Halsey Gym

U.S. Naval Forces Japan on Facebook

A naval air crewman assigned to Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light 43 embarked aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) provides fuel to a Japanese man for his kerosene heater. Preble is conducting humanitarian assistance operations in support of Operation Tomodachi. Photo by: Petty Officer 3rd Class Kevin MacDonald

At 2:46 this afternoon, U.S. Seventh Fleet personnel embarked on the USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) along with Japan Self Defense Forces personnel throughout Japan, observed a moment of silence marking one week since that a 9.0 mega-earthquake struck off the eastern shore of Honshu. The moment of silence also marked a transition in mission as Japan ended rescue efforts and took on a new mission of sustaining life. Seventh Fleet remains committed to this relief effort, with 12,750 personnel, 20 ships, and 140 aircraft participating in Operation Tomodachi. Seventh Fleet forces have delivered a total of 81 tons of relief supplies to date.

After offloading Japan Ground Self Defense Force personnel and vehicles in Ominato, USS Tortuga (LSD 46) departed en route the vicinity of Hachinohe where she will serve as an afloat forward service base for helicopter operations. CH-53 Sea Stallion aircraft from HM-14 attached to Tortuga delivered 13 tons of humanitarian aid cargo, including 5000 pounds of water and 5000 Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), to Yamada Station, 80 miles south of Misawa.

USS Essex (LHD 2), USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) and USS Germantown (LSD 42) with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived off the coast of Akita prefecture this afternoon. Marines of the 31st MEU continue have established a Forward Control Element (FCE) in Matsushima in order to coordinate disaster aid planning with officials already on scene. They will move to Sendai tomorrow.

The USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group to include the cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), the destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88), and the combat support ship USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10) along with the guided-missile destroyers USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), USS McCampbell (DDG 85), USS Mustin (89) and USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) continue Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief operations off the east coast of Iwate Prefecture. Three U.S. Navy liaison officers are on JS Hyuga to coordinate U.S. operations with Japan Maritime Self Defense force leadership.

Helicopters from HS-4 and HSL-43 with the USS Ronald Reagan strike group, and HSL-51 from Carrier Airwing Five in Atsugi, delivered 28 tons of food, water, clothes, medicine, toiletries, baby supplies, and much needed kerosene to displaced persons at fifteen relief sites ashore. For two of the relief sites serviced today, it was the first humanitarian aid they have received since the tsunami a week ago. Eight of the sites serviced made requests for specific aid, including a need for a medical professional.

Carrier Airwing Five (CVW-5) completed the relocation of 14 rotary-wing aircraft normally assigned to USS George Washington from Naval Air Faculty (NAF) Atsugi to Misawa Air Base in northern Honshu. The aircraft are now positioned for quick response to humanitarian mission in northeastern Honshu. Additionally, CVW-5 tactical aircraft which are non-essential to the relief mission have been relocated to bases in Okinawa and Guam in order to open ramp space at Atsugi.

USS Cowpens (CG-63) continued its northerly track to rendezvous with the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group. Cowpens is expected to join the Strike Group overnight. USS Shiloh (CG-67) got underway from Yokosuka to deliver relief supplies to the Strike Group.

USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), flagship for the United States Seventh Fleet, remained in the vicinity of Okinawa to conduct transfers of supplies and additional personnel to augment the staff.

All Seventh Fleet ships, including USS George Washington and USS Lassen which are currently conducting maintenance in Yokosuka, are increasing their readiness posture in order to be prepared to conduct any tasking ordered. This includes the recall of personnel and the cancellation of leave.

Two P-3 Orion aircraft from Patrol Squadron Four (VP-4) conducted two aerial survey missions or ports and airfields in northern Honshu today. CTF-72 embarked two liaison officers from the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force on each mission. Aerial imagery captured on these missions is shared with Japan. VP-4 has established a detachment in Misawa with two aircraft and four aircrews.

U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

This guy does an outstanding job!

Naval Air Facility – Atsugi
NAF Atsugi video about the voluntary departure of military dependents from Japan.

Update: Stars and Stripes has this at 10:39 am EDT –

The Navy said Thursday afternoon it would start evacuating families from Naval Air Facility Atsugi and Yokosuka Naval Base, near Tokyo. A few hours later, officials at Misawa Air Base, in northern Japan, did the same. Camp Zama, a U.S. Army facility near Tokyo, said it was allowing families and non-essential workers to voluntarily leave.

In a radio address Thursday afternoon, Col. Otto Feather, 374th Airlift Wing commander, said he expects Yokota Air Base to join the list soon.

The U.S. State Department’s announcement that it would pay for the voluntary departure of government dependents from three locations in northeastern Japan appears to have taken the Department of Defense by surprise. The briefing by Under Secretary Pat Kennedy suggests that State expects to evacuate about 600 Americans. The areas affected by the State Department announcement are Tokyo, Nagoya, and Yokohama, specifically the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, the U.S. Consulate in Nagoya, and the Foreign Service Institute Field School in Yokohama.

The Department of Defense did not comment on this December 16 announcement until the following day. DoD seems to have left it up to the individual bases for followup. There are an estimated 43,000 U.S. dependents in Japan.

The Facebook page for Commander, Naval Forces Japan seems to be stressing that the departure is for State Department dependents. The USS George Washington Facebook site is preparing its dependents for voluntary departure. US Army Garrison Japan is taking a middle road, assisting any dependents that believe they are eligible for voluntary departure.

The same situation developed in Bahrain on March 15. The State Department and the Department of Defense acted together in issuing the voluntary departure notice.

Clearly there has been a failure to communicate between the State Department and the Defense Department.

Lt. j.g. Nadia Brouillette, an HH-60H Sea Hawk pilot assigned to the Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS 4) embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), speaks with a Japanese citizen during tsunami relief efforts. HS-4 is delivering humanitarian supplies to areas affected by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Ships and aircraft from the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group are conducting search and rescue operations and re-supply missions as directed in support of Operation Tomodachi throughout northern Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kevin B. Gray

U.S. 7th Fleet ships, aircraft and personnel continue to provide assistance to the people of Japan following the devastating earthquake that struck six days ago, while repositioning and posturing forces to better support disaster relief operations.

USS Tortuga (LSD 46) anchored early this morning in Ominato in northern Honshu, delivering 93 vehicles and 273 Japan Ground Self Defense Force ashore via Landing Craft Unit (LCU) transfer. The ship transported the soldiers and their vehicles from Tomakomai, Hokkaido, to assist with the disaster recovery efforts. The ship will also transport 5,000 bottles of water and 5,000 Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) to Misawa for further distribution to people in need.

USS Essex (LHD 2), USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) and USS Germantown (LSD 42) with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are in the Sea of Japan and will arrive off the coast of Akita prefecture tomorrow morning to await further tasking. Marines of the 31st MEU have established a Forward Control Element (FCE) in Yamagata. The west coast of Honshu affords greater access to undamaged ports and roads, fewer navigational hazards, and prevailing winds that are upwind of the Fukushima power plant.

The USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group to include the cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), the destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88), and the combat support ship USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10) along with the guided-missile destroyers USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), USS McCampbell (DDG 85), USS Mustin (89) and USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) continue Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief operations off the east coast of Iwate Prefecture.

Snow and poor visibility continued to limit helicopter operations today. Helicopters from the USS Ronald Reagan strike group and Carrier Airwing Five in Atsugi conducted 10 helicopter sorties today, delivering 10 tons of food and water to relief sites ashore. A total of 40 tons of aid has been delivered to date. Aircraft and surface ships also continued to conduct coastal search and rescue operations at sea and along the Miyagi and Iwate coasts.

USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), flagship for the United States Seventh Fleet, conducted personnel and supply transfers in the vicinity of Okinawa this morning and is continuing north.

All Seventh Fleet ships, including USS George Washington and USS Lassen which are currently conducting maintenance in Yokosuka, are increasing their readiness posture in order to be prepared to conduct any tasking ordered. This includes the recall of personnel and the cancellation of leave.

Carrier Airwing Five (CVW-5) began the relocation of more than 50 tactical fixed-wing aircraft normally assigned to USS George Washington from Naval Air Faculty (NAF) Atsugi to bases in Okinawa and Guam in order to free up more ramp space at Atsugi that might be need to support ongoing operations.

Helicopters from CVW-5 not currently deployed on ships will be moved in the coming days from Atsugi to Misawa Air Base in northern Honshu to place them in a position to respond more quickly to humanitarian missions.

Two P-3 Orion aircraft conducted aerial survey missions today in northern Honshu. CTF-72 completed a relocation today of these two aircraft and four aircrews from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa to Misawa Air Base.

100 Nuclear, Biological, Chemical (NBC) firefighting suits and masks were delivered from the USS George Washington to the Government of Japan this morning for use at the Fukushima power plant.

Five high-pressure water pumps from Sasebo were delivered to the Government of Japan for employment at the Fukushima power plant.

US Seventh Fleet on Facebook