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Federated States of Micronesia and U.S. Department of Defense leaders assemble for a Joint Committee Meeting at Joint Region Marianas headquarters, June 4. 250604-N-ML137-1035
Federated States of Micronesia and U.S. Department of Defense leaders assemble for a Joint Committee Meeting at Joint Region Marianas headquarters, June 4. 250604-N-ML137-1057
Four aircraft fly through a blue sky near clouds over an island as seen through the open exit of an aircraft. 506th EARS Refuel A-10s across the Pacific
Acting Guam Gov. Josh Tenorio speaks during Joint Region Marianas’ change of command ceremony at Guam High School, May 29. 250529-N-JC256-1049
U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Brent DeVore, outgoing commander, Joint Region Marianas, congratulates Rear Adm. Brett Mietus, incoming JRM commander, during a change of command ceremony at Guam High School, May 29. 250529-N-JC256-1070
U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Scott Gray, commander, Navy Installations Command, center, officiates the turnover between Rear Adm. Brent DeVore, outgoing commander, Joint Region Marianas, right, and Rear Adm. Brett Mietus, incoming JRM commander, during a change of command ceremony at Guam High School, May 29. 250529-N-ML137-2085
The crew of the USCGC Myrtle Hazard (WPC 1139) arrive on scene with the 47-foot motor vessel Lucky Harvest adrift around 125 nautical miles west of Guam on May 16, 2025, and begin setting up the tow. 250516-G-QB242-4387
The crew of the USCGC Myrtle Hazard (WPC 1139) arrive on scene with the 47-foot motor vessel Lucky Harvest adrift around 125 nautical miles west of Guam on May 16, 2025. 250516-G-QB242-6490
U.S. Coast Guard transfers tow of missing vessel Lucky Harvest. 250517-G-QB242-8541
The crew of the USCGC Myrtle Hazard (WPC 1139) arrive on scene with the 47-foot motor vessel Lucky Harvest adrift around 125 nautical miles west of Guam on May 16, 2025, and set up the tow. 250516-G-G0020-3757
U.S. Army Privates First Class Jay Rideb, left, and Willie Aguilar, assigned to the 1224th Engineer Support Company, Guam National Guard, renovate a prenatal and neonatal resource center during Annual Training, Guam, May 9, 2025. 250509-Z-RJ317-1052
Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero presents the Maga'haga award to U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Greg Huffman, outgoing commander, Joint Task Force - Micronesia, during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz Fitness Center, May 15. 250515-N-ML137-1107
Senior leadership salutes the colors as the national anthem plays during Joint Task Force - Micronesia’s change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz Fitness Center, May 15. 250515-N-ML137-1022
Joint sideboys render honors to U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Josh Lasky, incoming commander, Joint Task Force - Micronesia, during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz Fitness Center, May 15. 250515-N-ML137-1003
Maritime law enforcement and emergency responders from the Guam Port Authority and Guam Fire Department conduct training in Apra Harbor, Guam, as part of the NASBLA Boat Crew Member Course on March 27, 2025. 250327-G-G0020-9887
Maritime law enforcement and emergency responders from the Guam Port Authority and Guam Fire Department conduct training in Apra Harbor, Guam, as part of the NASBLA Boat Crew Member Course on March 26, 2025. 250326-G-G0020-1330
Maritime law enforcement and emergency responders from the Guam Port Authority and Guam Fire Department conduct training in Apra Harbor, Guam, as part of the NASBLA Boat Crew Member Course on March 27, 2025. 250327-G-G0020-6153
The USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC 1140) crew respond to a SAR case on March 30, 2025, rescuing two distressed mariners from an 18-foot skiff adrift near Namoluk Atoll, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) on March 30. 250330-G-G0020-7385
The USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC 1140) crew responded to a SAR case on March 30, 2025, rescuing two distressed mariners from an 18-foot skiff adrift near Namoluk Atoll, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) on March 30. 250330-G-G0020-1727
The USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC 1140) crew conduct a port visit to Nauru on March 25, 2025. 250325-G-G0020-2772
The USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC 1140) crew depart Namoluk Atoll, Federated States of Micronesia, on March 30, 2025, after responding to a SAR case, rescuing two distressed mariners from an 18-foot skiff adrift near Namoluk Atoll, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). USCGC Oliver Henry returns to Guam after successful transit post drydock
The USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC 1140) crew host Australia’s high commissioner and the Nauru acting police commissioner along with members of the Nauru Police Force Maritime Unit on March 26, 2025, in Nauru. 250326-G-G0020-9921
Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, shows Surangel Whipps Jr., President of the Republic of Palau, and his delegation the supporting component command and memorial locations throughout Oahu during a working lunch for the biannual Joint Committee Meeting at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Headquarters, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, March 27, 2025. 250327-A-BA691-2015
Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, joins Surangel Whipps Jr., President of the Republic of Palau, for a photo with the President’s delegation during the biannual Joint Committee Meeting at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Headquarters, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, March 27, 2025. 250327-A-BA691-2006
Rear Adm. Gregory Huffman, commander of Joint Task Force - Micronesia, joins Surangel Whipps Jr., President of the Republic of Palau, for a group photo during the biannual Joint Committee Meeting at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Headquarters, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, March 27, 2025. 250328-A-BA691-2011
Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, joins Surangel Whipps Jr., President of the Republic of Palau, for a photo with the President’s delegation during the biannual Joint Committee Meeting at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Headquarters, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, March 27, 2025. 250327-A-BA691-3004
U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam personnel, supported by Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) San Francisco, stand for a photo with CNMI's Department of Public Safety at Smiley Cove in Saipan, CNMI, on Dec. 3, 2024. 241203-G-G0020-8958
U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam personnel, supported by Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) San Francisco, conduct recreational boating safety exams with CNMI's Department of Public Safety off Saipan, CNMI, on Dec. 4, 2024. 241204-G-MD301-6553
U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam personnel, supported by Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) San Francisco, conduct recreational boating safety exams with CNMI's Department of Public Safety off Saipan, CNMI, on Dec. 4, 2024. 241204-G-MD301-5837
Over 2,000 Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservists, active duty leaders, and members of the Guam and Hawaii National Guard State Partnership Programs celebrated the inaugural General Assembly of the Association of Reservists and Reservist Administrators of the Philippines Inc. (ARRAPI), Manila, Dec. 3-5. 241211-Z-RJ317-1001
A Standard Missile-3 Block IIA is fired from a Vertical Launching System on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam as part of Flight Experiment Mission-02. The Missile Defense Agency, in cooperation with U.S. Department of Defense partners, successfully conducted FEM-02 on December 10, 2024. 241210-D-D0500-1004
A Standard Missile-3 Block IIA intercepted an air-launched Medium Range Ballistic Missile target off the coast of Andersen Air Force Base, Guam as part of Flight Experiment Mission-02. The Missile Defense Agency, in cooperation with U.S. Department of Defense partners, successfully conducted FEM-02 on December 10, 2024. 241210-D-D0500-1008
The Vertical Launching System (VLS) was used as a part of Flight Experiment Mission-02. The VLS fired a Standard Missile-3 Block IIA to intercept a ballistic missile target. 241210-D-D0500-1006
A Standard Missile-3 Block IIA is fired from a Vertical Launching System on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam as part of Flight Experiment Mission-02. The Missile Defense Agency, in cooperation with U.S. Department of Defense partners, successfully conducted FEM-02 on December 10, 2024. 241210-D-D0500-1002
Standard Missile-3 Block IIA is fired from a Vertical Launching System on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam as part of Flight Experiment Mission-02. The Missile Defense Agency, in cooperation with U.S. Department of Defense partners, successfully conducted FEM-02 on December 10, 2024. Flight Experiment Mission-02 (FEM-02)

 

 

JTF - Micronesia News

909th Air Refueling Squadron Conducts F-35 Inaugural Refueling

15 March 2017

From Senior Airman John Linzmeier

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KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- The 909th Air Refueling Squadron (ARS) conducted the inaugural aerial-refueling mission with F-35B Lightning IIs from the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 14, over the Pacific Ocean.

This is the first time the 909th ARS performed air-to-air refueling with F-35B’s within their area of operation, making the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 one of 26 flying units currently supported by the 18th Wing. Kadena AB also delivers fuel to aircraft from the U.S. Navy and Republic of Korea Air Force.

“The way we operate between services is almost transparent,” said Capt. Erik Cadorette, 909th ARS pilot. “We're not going to operate any differently if are working with our sister services or our allies. They can request gas from us at any point and there's not a lot to change in order for us to work with them.”

The F-35s conducted a permanent change of station to the Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force in January. They are fifth-generation fighters and the world’s first operational supersonic short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft.

The inaugural mission was a key step toward supporting the fifth-generation fighters, said Caddorette. He added that the initial training experience was a valuable opportunity for his aircrew because it enables them to prepare other pilots and boom operators for future F-35 operations.

The 909th’s motto is ‘always there,’ symbolizing their unwavering presence and readiness to support partners who protect and stabilize the Indo-Asia-Pacific Region.

Stratotankers have provided the core aerial refueling capability for the U.S. Air Force for nearly 60 years and have empowered fighter aircraft for generations, from the F-4 Phantom to today’s most advanced weapon systems.

“It is crazy to realize that we’ve got these KC-135 that have been made in the late 50’s and early 60’s and are still capable of meeting up with these new F-35s,” said Capt. Matt Davis, 909th ARS pilot. “It's a tale of two worlds for sure.”


 

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