Commander Fleet Activities Okinawa

Commander Fleet Activities Okinawa Naval Security Forces tore through the waters off White Beach Naval Facility earlier this week during a Citadel Protect weapons training exercise. ⚓️

As part of the drill, Sailors fired blank rounds from an M240B machine gun while executing high-speed maneuvers on a 33-foot Force Protection-Medium Harbor Security Boat — preparing for the kinds of maritime threats our security teams must be ready to face at a moment’s notice. 💪

Citadel Protect is an annual U.S. Navy anti-terrorism/force protection training event that sharpens our defenses and keeps Navy installations, ships, submarines, and aircraft protected throughout the Indo-Pacific. 🌏

From Okinawa to across the region, we are standing watch — supporting the fleet, the mission, and our allies. 🇺🇸

Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan
Commander, Navy Installations Command
U.S. Forces Japan (在日米軍司令部)
AFN Okinawa

🚨In just the past three weeks, there have been more than 1,200 earthquakes in the Toshima Island region (about halfway between Okinawa and Kagoshima). Now is an excellent time to share these helpful reminders from our Fleet Activities Okinawa Emergency Management Officer, Peter J.S. Hirai, CEM®.

🌊 Tsunami can travel at about the speed of a passenger jet; rough calculation from the Toshimas to Okinawa is between 1-2 hours.
💻 Find out NOW if you live, work, or play in a tsunami hazard zone:https://www.kadena.af.mil/Portals/40/images/Weather_Flight/Okinawa%20Tsunami%20Inundation%20Zones_2022.pdf
⏰ When an event occurs, there is limited time to issue instructions; residents should know whether or not they are in a hazard zone (i.e. White Beach) and should evacuate uphill and inland ASAP.
🏃‍♀️ Walk out of evacuation zones, don't try to drive! You'll get caught in traffic with others who are trying to drive.
✅ There is usually more than one wave, and they could be separated by an hour or more! Remain in safe zones until you get the All Clear message.
💪 Earthquakes that are strong enough to generate tsunami are typically more than 7.3 magnitude.
🏙️ If you get caught in an urban area, go to the 4th floor or above in a 10-story or taller building (higher buildings are structurally sound and should withstand wave/debris impacts).

"The More You Know"...
In 2004, there were 200,000+ missing or dead from the Boxer Day Tsunami — the event that changed tsunami science.
In 2011, 20,000+ were dead or missing from the Tohoku Tsunami.
Education and “the more you know” can certainly make a difference.

Be safe out there, Okinawa!

❗️ It only takes a few seconds for a young child to be grievously injured, and over 3,300 children within the U.S. are treated in emergency rooms each year due to window safety issues.

🌟 Safety Tips:
• Set and enforce rules about keeping children's play away from windows or patio doors. Falling through an insect screen, open window, or glass can be fatal or cause serious injury.
• Keep furniture — or anything children can climb — away from windows. Children may use such objects as an aid to climb to an open window and potentially fall.

For more window safety tips please visit: navylifesw.com/window-safety

It only takes a few seconds for a young child to be grievously injured and over 3,300 children within the US are treated in emergency rooms each year due to window safety issues.

Safety Tips:

Set and enforce rules about keeping children's play away from windows or patio doors. Falling through an insect screen, open window or glass can be fatal or cause serious injury.

Keep furniture - or anything children can climb - away from windows. Children may use such objects as an aid to climb to an open window and potentially fall.

For more window safety tips please visit: navylifesw.com/window-safety

Motorcycle safety is essential year-round on Okinawa, especially during the busy summer months. 🏍

The Department of the Navy has been experiencing an unusually rate high of motorcycle accidents this year, with two fatalities here in Okinawa.

Ride smart. Ride safe. Take care of your fellow riders, and let us close out summer fatality-free.

If you are interested in riding a motorcycle or moped, reach out to your Command's Motorcycle Safety Rep and get signed up for a basic rider course available on island. BMC Raymond is the Motorcycle Safety Rep for CFAO and can help point you in the right direction.

For more info, visit Naval Safety Command or check out their latest "Rider Down" report at https://navalsafetycommand.navy.mil/Portals/100/Documents/Rider%20Down%20Report%20(June%202025).pdf.

Drumroll, please… 🥁

Before heading off to his next assignment in Guam, Senior Chief Master-At-Arms Josh Ferrer was presented with the inaugural Golden Machete Award by Fleet Activities Okinawa Public Affairs! 🏆

Since 2021, Senior Chief Ferrer was the driving force behind our annual community relations project, Jungle Attack, where U.S. Navy and JMSDF volunteers cut through dense jungle to open paths to culturally significant sites on White Beach Naval Facility. 🌴🪓

Thanks to Senior Chief Ferrer’s incredible leadership (and machete skills), this annual effort cleared the way — literally — for local community members to have safer access to their ancestral family tombs located on the naval installation.

Fair winds and following seas, Senior Chief Ferrer — and thanks for blazing the trail (literally and figuratively)! ⚓️

What do you call it when it rains chickens and ducks? ☔️🐥💦 Fowl Weather!

See below for a friendly reminder on road safety. 🦺 As you might have noticed, the rain is coming down in droves. This is creating more ground and driving hazards out there. Please take extra precautions while driving and walking around. The roads, stairs, and sidewalks are slippery!

Give yourself more time when traveling and pay close attention to the road conditions. Ponding is occurring all over the island and this can cause hydroplaning. If you find yourself in this situation, do the following:

1. Keep a clear head and try not to panic. Overreacting will cause the situation to worsen.
2. Don't slam on the brakes. Instead, take your foot off the accelerator and let your vehicle slow down. If you need to, and your vehicle is equipped with anti-lock brakes, you can lightly apply the brakes to help your tires regain traction.
3. Hold the steering wheel steady. Moving the steering wheel too much one way or the other while hydroplaning could cause your car to further lose traction and spin out of control.
4. Avoid coming to a complete stop after you've gained control of the car. If you need a few moments to regain your composure, be sure to pull safely onto the shoulder or off the road entirely. Remember that approaching motorists also may be dealing with hydroplaning.

Stay safe out there, Okinawa! ☔️

🎒 Back-to-School Extravaganza!
📅 July 18, 2025 | 🕙 10 AM - 12 PM
📍 Camp Foster Community Center

Military families in Okinawa—get ready for a fun event just for K-8 students! Enjoy free school supplies (while they last), tasty food trucks, and a fire truck display. Don’t miss this chance to gear up for the new school year!

🎒 Back-to-School Extravaganza!

📅 July 18, 2025 | 🕙 10 AM - 12 PM

📍 Camp Foster Community Center

Military families in Okinawa—get ready for a fun event just for K-8 students! Enjoy free school supplies (while they last), tasty food trucks and a fire truck display. Don’t miss this chance to gear up for the new school year

T-MINUS 19 DAYS!!! Christmas in July is back!

Stay tuned to follow Santa on his journey to Okinawa!
📍Last seen in the Arctic Circle❄️🎅🧳

Join us on Saturday, July 26 at the Crow's Nest Club from 2PM-8PM for Christmas in July! Enjoy delicious eats, bouncy houses, ALL DAY VENDOR MARKET, & more!!! 🎁🛍📸

And don't miss your chance for a photo with Santa!🎅

T-MINUS 19 DAYS!!! Christmas in July is back! Stay tuned to follow Santa on his journey to Okinawa! 📍Last seen in the Arctic Circle❄️🎅🧳 Join us on Saturday, July 26th at the Crow's Nest Club from 2PM-8PM for Christmas in July! Enjoy delicous eats, bouncy houses, ALL DAY VENDOR MARKET, & more!!! 🎁🛍📸 Don't miss your chance for a photo with Santa!🎅

🇺🇸 This , we celebrate the birth of our nation and 250 years of the U.S. Navy defending its freedom.
Since 1775, your Navy has stood the watch—from seabed to space, delivering power for peace—always ready to fight and win alongside our Allies and partners. ⚓🗽

Celebrate America's Birthday on island!🇺🇸📸🥳
Don't miss your chance to see the beautiful fireworks!!!🎆

🇺🇸🎆Join Kadena FSS on Thursday, June 3rd from 5PM-9PM for the Freedom Festival! Fireworks begin at 8:50PM!

🇺🇸🎆Join Camp Foster for the 2 day Foster Festival on July 5th & 6th!
Fireworks begin on Saturday, July 5th at 8:15PM!

MCCS Okinawa Kadena Force Support Squadron

There's been a recent increase in seismic activity in our area, between Okinawa and the Kyushu Islands. Though we cannot predict destructive earthquakes with any certainty, we can always be prepared for any disasters.

Check out the helpful tips below from our Emergency Management Officer, Peter J.S. Hirai, CEM®:

🫨 Earthquake Tips:
• If you are inside, stay and do not run outside and avoid doorways.
• If you are in bed, turn face down and cover your head and neck with a pillow.
• If you are in a car, pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.
• If you're outside, stay there. Move to an open area away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and power lines. Drop and cover until shaking stops to protect yourself from flying debris.
• If you are in an area that may experience tsunamis, go inland or to higher ground immediately after the shaking stops. Avoid contact with floodwaters as they can contain chemicals, sewage, and debris.

🌊 Tsunami Tips:
• Get to high ground as far inland as possible – look for tsunami evacuation zone signs.
• Be alert to signs of a tsunami, such as a sudden rise or draining of ocean waters.
• Listen to emergency information and alerts. Always follow the instructions from local emergency managers.
• Evacuate: DO NOT wait! Leave as soon as you see any natural signs of a tsunami or receive an official tsunami warning.
• If you are in a boat, go out to sea.

Tsunami Evacuation Maps:
https://www.mcbbutler.marines.mil/Resources/Tsunami-Info/

🌟 Sailor Spotlight 🌟 Meet MASN Tiare Goss, this week’s Sailor Spotlight at Commander Fleet Activities Okinawa! MASN Tiare Goss works as part of CFAO's security forces and was recently selected as our FY25 Blue Jacket Sailor of the 1st Quarter. Thank you for all you do, MASN Goss! ⚓️