U.S. Forces Japan staged a pair of commander’s conferences last week to discuss current issues and the future in the theater.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Bruce Wright, the USFJ commander who also heads the 5th Air Force, hosted a command-and-control summit Tuesday and Wednesday at Yokota Air Base. On Thursday, a Component Commanders Conference was held by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan at Yokosuka Naval Base.
The two-day session featured about 60 representatives from higher commands in Hawaii and Washington, D.C., said Air Force Col. Victor Warzinski, a USFJ spokesman. He declined to say who exactly took part or the specific items that were discussed.
“As Japan and the United States continue to work together on a number of issues — including alliance transformation, exercises, training, command and control, and mutual support to name but a few — we’re naturally trying to encourage more dialogue, cooperation and support,” Warzinski said.
“And these conferences were part of a continuing series of meetings and other such exchanges — both formal and informal — that we intend to carry out on a regular basis in the interest of advancing our alliance.”
The Component Commanders Conference brought together about 20 people from USFJ and its service elements — including representatives from CNFJ, Marine Forces Japan, U.S. Army Japan and the 5th Air Force — for a periodic update, he added.
“We spent a good amount of time discussing taking care of USFJ members and their families, and planning for future joint and combined exercises,” he said.
Wright said discussions and sharing information are critical to maintaining a robust U.S.-Japan security alliance.
“As I’ve said before, we are committed to engagement, collaboration and cooperation with our Japanese partners and friends, which I believe is the continuing basis for our nation’s most important and successful bilateral security alliance,” Wright added.
