YOKOSUKA, Japan -- Leaders from U.S. 7th Fleet and III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) joined for staff talks at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka Jan. 8-9, to strengthen the relationship between the Navy and Marine Corps teams forward deployed to the Indo-Asia-Pacific.

The talks provided an opportunity for the leadership and their staffs face-to-face interaction to synchronize efforts and maximize efficiency in common interest areas. Additionally, staff talks allowed the “Blue-Green” team to discuss how best to fulfill their requirements in the 7th Fleet Area of Operations.

“Being forward deployed forces us together for no other reason than the fact that the soldiers, Sailors and Marines of C7F and III MEF are at the tip of the spear for anything that happens in the AOR,” said Maj. Christopher Kemp, deputy fleet Marine officer for 7th Fleet. “Furthermore the Navy-Marine partnership is long standing and being forward allows continuous process improvement for the tasks at hand.”

Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, commanding general, III Marine Expeditionary Force, thanked Sailors and Marines for their contributions to mission success with our regional partners and allies. “Remain focused on warfighting and remain vigilant against all forms of misconduct on and off base.

“As we continue our great work, we need you to remember that we are guests here and must conduct ourselves honorably and continue to look out for each other each day,” said Vice Adm. Phillip Sawyer, Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet.

Seventh Fleet, which celebrates its 75th year in 2018, spans more than 124 million square kilometers, stretching from the International Date Line to the India/Pakistan border; and from the Kuril Islands in the north to the Antarctic in the south. Seventh Fleet's area of operation encompasses 36 maritime countries and 50 percent of the world’s population with between 50­70 U.S. ships and submarines, 140 aircraft, and approximately 20,000 Sailors in the 7th Fleet.