Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus visited Sailors in Misawa, Japan, March 24.

Mabus spoke about the importance of the Navy, the role it has played in protecting America's freedoms and engaging with partners around the world.

"The thing that the Navy and Marine Corps uniquely bring our country is presence, being where we need to be when we need to be there, and you represent that by being forward deployed and ready at a moment's notice for anything that may come at you," said Mabus during the all-hands call.

Continuously visiting allies along with Sailors and Marines at the tip of the spear here and in other countries strengthens our mission capabilities by giving us a better understanding on how we all operate according to Mabus.

"The nation has known since we were founded that you had to have a great navy and you had to have a great Marine Corps. It's in the Constitution. It says that while Congress can raise an army when it's needed, it has to maintain a navy. We must maintain a navy and we have to be there all the time," said Mabus. "When something happens in the world, the first thing that people ask is 'where is the Navy and where is the Marine Corps' and we always respond."

The SECNAV also stated that the people who make up today's Navy are the most highly-skilled Sailors the Navy has ever had and that the Navy's leaders are making the best decisions they can in hopes of the best outcomes for our Navy 15 years from now.

He said that the Navy is working to build a green fleet that will operate its ships, aircraft, and other equipment on fuel produced from biological waste and other green technologies in an effort to loosen the strain on our country made by using fossil fuels.

"Visiting Sailors in a strategic location like Misawa was great and they asked me some of the best questions I've ever had," said Mabus.

For more news from Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan, visit www.navy.mil/.