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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)
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-D0500-1009
A U.S. Coast Guard team Port Security Unit 311 member competes in the second station at the Battle of the Branches joint competitive marksmanship challenge at Andersen Air Force Base on Nov. 22, 2024. 241122-G-IA651-9064
The U.S. Coast Guard team, comprised of members from the Forces Micronesia Sector Guam Sector Boarding Team and Port Security Unit 311, stands for a photo prior to the Battle of the Branches joint competitive marksmanship challenge at Andersen Air Force Base on Nov. 22, 2024. 241122-G-IA651-8124

 

JTF - Micronesia News

Joint Typhoon Warning Center Increases Warnings and Improves Graphics

15 December 2017

From Lieutenant Caitlin Fine

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The first warning on a Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone was issued Nov. 29, 2017 by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Dahlia (Tropical Storm 01S) was the first Southern Hemisphere system where warnings were issued every six hours without higher authority request.

Previously, manpower constraints limited updating warnings to every 12 hours but with the training of two more typhoon duty forecasters and innovative internal business practices, JTWC is now capable of six-hourly warnings regardless of their location in the ocean.

"This periodicity change of warnings specifically enables the U.S. Pacific Command and its components greater fidelity of information on systems threatening their assets, enabling better informed decisions," said Cmdr. Jillene Bushnell, the commanding officer of JTWC. "The previous gap between warnings would regularly result in larger changes in tropical cyclone fix, intensity and forecast track based on a longer interval between forecasts in a chaotic environment. Matching our forecast accuracy and periodicity throughout our assigned Pacific and Indian Ocean regions is extremely important to me."

JTWC releases warnings on tropical cyclones above 35 knot (40 mph) wind speeds in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Products include a graphic of the tropical cyclone depicting the historical and predicted track, wind speed, and the radius of gale (34 knot), destructive (50 knot), and typhoon (64 knot) strength winds. In addition to the graphic, the products include an explanation of the current environmental situation and forecast philosophy; a text product listing the track, wind speed, and wind radii information in six hour intervals; a satellite image showing the tropical cyclone's center position at the time of the warning; and a Google Earth overlay.

During the 2016 season, JTWC warned on 20 tropical cyclones in the Southern Hemisphere. During February 2016, the strongest Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone on record, Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston, made landfall on the islands of Fiji with winds estimated up to 185 mph by JTWC. Winston caused almost $500 million in damage and 44 deaths in Fiji, and launched a multinational relief response to help 350,000 affected residents. Upon request, JTWC issued six-hourly warnings for Tropical Cyclone Winston as it approached the islands of Fiji, providing more detailed information that improved preparation, emergency management and follow-on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

Additionally, starting in 2018 JTWC will update its wind radii colors and graphic color scheme, change the historical track character to dashed and add clarifying information in the legend. The intent is to improve the user experience and first-use understanding. The modernized warning will be issued for tropical cyclones above 25 knots in the western North Pacific Ocean and above 34 knots in the Indian and southern Pacific Oceans.

JTWC provides tropical cyclone reconnaissance, forecast, safety warning and decision support services for operational advantage to U.S. government agencies operating in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

JTWC also provides tsunami advisory information and recommendations to shore installations and afloat units, as well as maritime impact forecast and decision support services to U.S. Pacific Command subordinate commands, as directed.

JTWC is jointly staffed by U.S. Navy and Air Force personnel and falls under the operational control of Commander, Task Force 80.7-Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. U.S. Air Force personnel are sourced to JTWC by the 17th Operational Weather Squadron, a subordinate squadron of the 557th Weather Wing. 


 

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