A detachment of 17 reserve Sailors recently completed a two week training block at Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan (CNFJ), May 25, 2018.

CNFJ depends on its reserve component Sailors to provide support at a moment's notice, and Reserve training blocks provide an effective means of ensuring readiness for reservists, both new and experienced.

According to Lt. Cmdr. Chloe Mailer, CNFJ Policy and Bilateral Planning, CNFJ reservists provide critical support in bilateral planning, disaster relief, logistics support, and command and control areas of operations.

Mailer states, "With the dynamic security environment and the frequency of natural disasters in the Indo-Pacific region, the training and readiness of our reserve detachment is that much more important."

Although reservists work regularly off-site throughout the year to meet standards and prepare for an operational environment, hands-on training is an important capstone.

To ensure top-tier readiness, CNFJ active and reserve leaders have developed the training block program for the reserve unit. Teams of reserve Sailors regularly travel to CNFJ Headquarters for an intensive two-week program designed to prepare them for participation in exercise and operational roles at CNFJ.

"All our training here is designed to align with the active component," states Cmdr. Jermaine Wilson, a senior reserve leader in CNFJ, "We know that we need to be ready to perform at the same level as our active counterparts."

While at CNFJ, reservists engage in intensive training in both classroom and practical settings, focusing primarily on Battle Watch operations and Regional Operation Center (ROC) roles and procedures. Successful completion of personnel qualification standards (PQS) addressed in training qualifies Sailors to stand watch and serve in other roles in regional and international exercises.

Yeoman 1st Class Christopher King appreciates the way the training block improves readiness for inexperienced reservists. "It can be hard for junior Sailors to understand what we do over here," he stated, "the training block gives them the experience and knowledge they need."

Yeoman Seaman Apprentice Joshua Marshbanks is attending his first reserve Annual Training (AT).

"The trip here has been the best," he said. "I've learned so much about my rate and about being a Sailor. I can't wait to put it into action."

NR CNFJ provides operational support for six major joint/bilateral training exercises each year, involving over 100 individual reservists from 15 different Navy Operational Support Centers and several Navy regions.

Follow Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan Facebook page at www.facebook.com/COMNAVFORJAPAN.

For more news from Commander, Naval Forces Japan, visit www.navy.mil/.