YOKOSUKA, Japan—The U.S. Pacific Fleet recognized Navy Region Japan installations for 2014 Secretary of the Navy Energy and Water Management achievement during a training forum at Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) Feb. 27.
Pacific Fleet Maintenance Officer Rear Adm. Alma Grocki presented CFAY, Fleet Activities Sasebo (CFAS) and USS Germantown with Gold Level awards for their outstanding energy programs and made remarks to training participants.
“We are trying to get information to the fleet so they can make better decisions and have more tools to use to conserve energy,” said Grocki. “With the constrained resources that we have, not just money but other resources, we have to do this if we want to be an effective warfighter.”
Grocki also presented Blue Level Awards, given to well-rounded energy programs, to Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, Fleet Activities Okinawa, Japan, and Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan.
Awardees spoke of a cultural shift brewing in the Navy, critical to efficient support of forward deployed naval forces (FDNF).
“What we can do is try to create culture of energy awareness and a culture of energy conservation. And that, as much as any of the material things we’ve done is really what has helped us lower our energy impact. We’ve got to keep that culture going of not just going green, but saving the resources we have,” said CFAY Commanding Officer Capt. Dave Glenister.
“Fleet Activities Sasebo is keenly focused on energy and water conservation, as demonstrated by four consecutive years of Gold Level of Achievement. We owe this to our superb facilities planners and the Sailors, employees and families who are actively engaged in protecting these precious resources,” said CFAS Commanding Officer Capt. Matthew Ovios.
Deputy Regional Engineer Capt. Nick Merry, and leaders from Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Air Systems Command, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, Commander, Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet and Naval Facilities Engineering Command also spoke at the forum. These commands led breakout training sessions in the afternoon. Training discussions focused on sharing ideas and technologies various commands have used to become more efficient with their energy use.
“As the fleet becomes more and more aware of conserving energy, we’re finding people are very excited about this. Sailors are people that have great imaginations and great initiative and they come up with things on their own about how to save energy,” said Grocki.