NETC Commander Strengthens Ties, Reinforces Training in the Pacific
PENSACOLA, Fla. (Sep. 18, 2026) – Rear Adm. Greg Huffman, commander of Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), and NETC Force Master Chief Ben Hodges, visited the Republic of Korea (ROK) naval education headquarters and multiple U.S. NETC sites throughout the Pacific theater, Sept. 7-12.
The trip underscored NETC’s focus on readiness in the Pacific. The international component of the tour allowed Huffman to meet with ROK counterparts to discuss naval training methodologies and initiatives, while visits to U.S. training and recruiting facilities provided Huffman a firsthand look at force development efforts that are shaping today’s Pacific-based sailors.
Republic of Korea: Partnership and Collaboration in Training
Huffman’s meeting with Vice Adm. Kang Jeong Ho, commander of ROK’s NETC in Jinhae, continued a tradition of collaboration between the two naval training headquarters. The two last met in 2025, when Kang visited NETC headquarters in Pensacola.
The meeting in Jinhae allowed follow-on discussions on professional military education, force development and opportunities for continued cooperation between the U.S. and ROK naval education headquarters.
“The enduring friendship between our commands underscores our shared goal of delivering highly trained, fully prepared sailors to the fleet,” said Huffman. “As the Republic of Korea NETC celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, our continued partnership remains critical in sustaining the readiness and lethality of the force in this region.”
The Republic of Korea Navy and U.S. Navy maintain a long-standing alliance, routinely training and operating together to promote regional security, deter aggression and ensure free and open access to the seas.
NETC and Republic of Korea NETC are responsible for the career-long education, training, and professional development of their respective service members, preparing sailors to meet operational demands and sustain warfighting readiness throughout the fleet.
NETC Japan: Waterfront Classrooms
Huffman next visited key NETC training sites in Yokosuka, Japan, to see firsthand how local training facilities promote the Navy’s readiness in Seventh Fleet and beyond.
“These schoolhouses deliver specialized training to forward-deployed U.S. sailors locally, eliminating the need to rotate sailors back stateside, minimizing transit time, saving travel funds, and ensuring forward-deployed naval forces remain ready,” said Huffman. “The learning sites play a crucial role in strengthening maintenance quality, safety, technical proficiency, and procedural discipline across the forward-deployed force.”
During an all-hands call with regional sailors in Yokosuka, Huffman addressed upcoming training improvements and took direct questions, emphasizing that modern maritime conflicts require rapid, theater-responsive instruction.
"Tactical excellence isn't built on deployment; it's built in the preparation beforehand," said Lt. Emilee Brancheau, Fleet Liaison Officer for NETC Western Pacific Site Yokosuka and Sasebo. "The training we provide overseas here in Japan directly translates to the capability, survivability, and mission success of our forward-deployed naval forces."
Huffman also received an in-person review of the area’s schoolhouses to see facilities, visit with sailors, instructors and staff, and to observe how NETC’s overseas learning sites sharpen the Navy's warfighting edge.
At the Center for Security Forces Learning Site Yokosuka, sailors receive Security Reaction Force – Advancedtraining, where they learn tactics to combat active terrorist threats in dynamic environments.
At the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT) Detachment Atsugi, sailors receive point-of-need technical training that generates highly skilled maintainers who support operational requirements across the U.S. Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Fleets.
Chief Warrant Officer Radcliffe Samuels, Officer in Charge of CNATT Detachment Atsugi, explained, “Our team delivers functional skills training, specialized component certifications, and refresher courses, such as aircraft corrosion control, maintenance control, and quality assurance administration. Offering this training locally keeps the sailors integrated with their commands and ready to deploy at a moment's notice.”
This localized model is replicated at Surface Combat Systems Training Command (SCSTC) Western Pacific (WESTPAC) Yokosuka. Lt. Cmdr. Lee Hungchi, SCSTC WESTPAC Yokosuka Officer in Charge, said, "SCSTC WESTPAC delivers elite combat systems training directly to the waterfront in Japan, keeping our forward-deployed warfighters and regional partners trained and right on the front lines.”
Simultaneously, the Information Warfare Training Center San Diego Site Yokosuka allows students to attend critical Information Systems Technician “C” schools and Cryptologic Technician “F” schools without leaving the region. Furthermore, as the sole Navy language testing site in Japan, the facility preserves vital linguistic proficiency directly within the fleet, eliminating the costly logistical burden of flying in specialists from across the globe.
Return to Guam: Bolstering Lethality Through Training and Recruiting
Huffman concluded his tour of the Pacific theater with a strategic return to Guam, a critical power projection hub where he previously served as Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF) Micronesia.
The final leg of the trip focused on reinforcing undersea warfighting proficiency and strengthening regional recruitment networks across the vast Micronesian footprint.
At Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific Detachment Guam, Huffman toured advanced training facilities that underpin the readiness of the Pacific submarine fleet. The detachment provides advanced engineering, tactical, and operational training tailored for forward-deployed fast-attack submarines and submarine tenders operating throughout the Pacific.
The trip continued to carry specific significance to Huffman as he met one-on-one with his successor, Rear Adm. Joshua Lasky, Commander, JTF Micronesia. The commanders discussed strategic regional updates since their 2025 turnover, specifically how NETC can scale its training pipelines to support JTF Micronesia's expanding operational footprint. This close coordination ensures that the Navy's educational resources remain agile, directly supporting the broader, multi-service mission of securing and stabilizing the Micronesian footprint.
Understanding that the Navy’s capability begins with people, Huffman also toured and talked with leadership at Navy Recruiting Station (NRS) Guam. Discussions focused on ways NETC can support the local recruiting pipeline secure talent from across a massive geographic area that includes Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Philippines, Palau, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia.
“Having the opportunity to travel and visit our overseas commands has been an invaluable experience to see first-hand the training we are able to provide to our forward-deployed sailors,” said Huffman at the conclusion of his travels. “The benefit of talking directly with our sailors, instructors and local leadership – and seeing firsthand the facilities where they learn and teach – provides critical insight as we continue to refine the ways we train and deliver battle-ready sailors to meet the needs of the fleet.”
Naval Education and Training Command recruits, trains, and delivers those who serve our nation, transforming civilians into highly skilled, operationally ready, resilient warfighters. For more stories about how NETC prepares sailors and Marines for success in the fleet, follow @NETC_HQ on Instagram or visit https://www.netc.navy.mil.
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