Country United States Type Region Commander | Branch United States Navy | |
Active February 1, 1962 - present Role Acts as Navy representative and coordinator Japan for shore installation management Part of Navy Installations Command
United States Pacific Fleet | ||
U.S. Naval Forces Japan/Navy Region Japan (CNFJ/CNRJ) is a dual-hatted command with command and control authority of all shore installations and assigned forces of the United States Navy in Japan as well as the responsibility to liaise with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF). It is currently headquartered in Yokosuka, Japan, onboard United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka and is commanded by Rear Admiral Matthew J. Carter, USN. CNFJ/CNRJ's area of responsibility extends from the southern tip of the Kamchatka peninsula to the northern tip of Taiwan, as well as the British Territory of Diego Garcia, but excludes the Korean peninsula.
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Mission
As a dual hatted commander, CNFJ/CNRJ reports to Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet for operational concerns and to Commander, Naval Installations Command for administrative and installation matters. The difference between the two titles is that CNFJ exerts operational control (OPCON) over shore-based Naval personnel in Japan, whereas CNRJ has administrative control of the installations and facilities. Essentially this, this means that all shore-based Naval forces in Japan are fall under the command and control of CNFJ/CNRJ.
However, ships and their personnel that are "forward deployed" to Japan (which essentially is their home port) are excluded as they are operationally assigned to United States Seventh Fleet.
CNFJ/CNRJ is also only one of three Navy Regions to be commanded by a two star admiral, along with Navy Region Mid-Atlantic and Navy Region Europe Africa Southwest Asia.
History
Naval Forces Japan was initially a subordinate command of Naval Forces Far East, which in turn from January 1, 1947 was part of Far East Command. Rottman writes that NavFE consisted of:
On 3 April 1951, Naval Forces Far East (NavFE) organization was restructured. As a result, the Service Forces, previously fragmented among separate United States Seventh Fleet and NavFE groups, were consolidated into a new Logistics Group, designated Task Force 92.
In March, 1952, the geographical boundaries of Naval Forces Far East were changed to exclude the Philippines, Marianas, Bonin and Volcano Islands.