MWR Supports Japanese Sailors
By MC2 Ronald Gutridge
COMSUBPAC Public Affairs
Release Date: 03/18/2011
(PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii) – Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam's (JBPHH) Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) team are offering services to Sailors from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) submarine, JS Uzushio (SS 592) at the Beeman Activity Center March 18.
The center set up an information area for the Sailors to utilize after the submarine returned to Pearl Harbor. Uzushio has been conducting operations in the Hawaiian operating area and for many of the crew this may be the first opportunity to contact family members and loved ones at home.
"It is important that these Sailors are informed with current and precise information during this time of crisis," said Greg Brown, JBPHH MWR liberty program manager. "This may be the only means of communication some of these Sailors have."
The services include a lounge area with five televisions showing separate Japanese news feeds, five computer stations with video chat capability and five iPads to accommodate more personnel. The computer and iPad homepages are set to Google Japan and the language settings have been switched to Japanese to make it easier for the Sailors.
MWR is also providing seven cell phones for the crew to call home for free and three pier phones have been upgraded with international long distance capability with calling cards provided for the crew's use on these phones.
"It is very much appreciated what MWR is doing for us," said Cmdr. Mitsutake Chihara, Uzushio commanding officer. "It is a great reassurance for the crew".
Beeman Activity Center will provide these services throughout the remainder of Uzushio's time at Pearl Harbor and are installing a digital cable box capable of receiving NGN2 (Japanese TV Satellite Network) directly to Uzushio to support duty section personnel.
