CINC Self-Defense Fleet, VADM YUASA conducted a change of Fleet Master Chief ceremony

On December 16, Commander-in-Chief of the Self-Defense Fleet, Vice Admiral YUASA Hideki conducted a change of Fleet Master Chief ceremony at the Maritime Operations Center, handing over the appointment from the 7th Fleet Master Chief, Self-Defense Fleet, MCPO AOYAMA Yoshihiro, to the 8th Fleet Master Chief, SDF, MCPO KITAGUCHI Takeshi.
The ceremony was attended by Master Chief Petty Officer of the JMSDF, the Command Sergeant Major of Ground Component Command, JGSDF, the Senior Enlisted Leader of Air Defense Command, JASDF, FMC of the US Navy 7th Fleet and Commander of various units under the Self-Defense Fleet.
For more than four years, the 7th FMC CPO AOYAMA had the important responsibility of being the senior corporal of the Self Defense Fleet, which is the core of operations in the Maritime Self Defense Forces, and together with the Master Chief Petty Officers of each of the approximately 190 units of the JSDF, has provided appropriate guidance to the sailors of each unit, assisted the Commander-in-Chief of the Self-Defense Fleet, and contributed greatly to the achievement of the mission of the Self-Defense Fleet.
MCPO KITAGUCHI, who was designated as the 8th FMC, expressed his belief that "I would like to continue the fine traditions established by the previous FMC, lead the group of professional sailors who are the driving force of the unit, and further strengthen the bond with the FMC of the US Navy 7th Fleet and the Senior Enlisted Leader of other Self-Defense Force, brigades to make the JSDF even stronger." The Self-Defense Fleet maintains responsiveness, safeguards the peace and defense of Japan, continues to integrate with allied and friendly navies and contributes to the stability in the Indo-Pacific region in order to realize a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”