March 31 2011 Seventh Fleet forces continue support of Japan Self Defense Force (JSDF) in Operation Tomodachi.  With Sendai airport now open for military flights – and soon to be opened for commercial flights as well -- 7th Fleet’s focus has shifted to harbor clearance, consolidating relief supplies at airfields ashore, and preparing to assist with cle ...

By Charlie Reed, Stars and Stripes, March 31, 2011 YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Those who chose not to take part in the military’s voluntary departure program are now allowed to travel in and out of the country on the popular space-available flights from the three major Air Force bases in Japan and the Navy airstrip near Tokyo, according to military officials. ...

By RYAN NAKASHIMA and MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press, Mar 31, 2:24 PM EDT TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- Japan is increasingly turning to other countries for help as it struggles to stabilize its tsunami-stricken nuclear plant and stop radiation leaks that are complicating efforts to recover the bodies of some of the thousands swept away by the towering wave. Fren ...

By ERIC TALMADGE, Associated Press, Mar 31, 10:50 AM EDT ISHINOMAKI, Japan (AP) -- Since World War II, Japan's military has never been involved in combat. Its forces have never fired a shot in war. But few are questioning their value now. In its biggest mission since 1945, more than 100,000 troops - roughly half the force - have been mobilized to lead the ...

ATSUGI, Japan March 31, 2011 Vice Adm. Cutler Dawson, USN (ret.), chairman of the board of Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) speaks with Capt. Eric Gardner and other officials at Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi during his visit to the installation in response to recent events in Japan. Dawson is visiting commanders at NAF Atsugi, Fleet Activities Yokosuka ...

By Mark Elrod, Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka Public Affairs YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center (SRF-JRMC) Yokosuka has been heavily involved with Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) in coordinated efforts for Voluntary Military Assisted Departure (VMAD) and Operation Tomodachi since t ...

By J.D. Leipold, ARNEWS WASHINGTON (Army News Service, March 29, 2011) -- U.S. servicemembers have been working jointly and around the clock with Japanese Self-Defense Forces since mid-March to help the nation get back on its feet following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami there. At the request of the Japanese government, disaster and relief assi ...

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Josh Huebner 7th Fleet Public Affairs PACIFIC OCEAN - A mobile salvage unit and naval construction regiment arrived aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) on March 29, to conduct port clearing operations along the northeastern coastline of Japan, in support of Operation Tomodachi. Exp ...