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A U.S. Coast Guard 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Station Apra Harbor departs Agana Boat Basin after safely mooring the 47-foot motor vessel Lucky Harvest following a tow from offshore on July 1, 2025. 250701-G-G0020-6743
The U.S. Coast Guard, in close collaboration with the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, safely moor the 47-foot motor vessel Lucky Harvest in Agana Boat Basin after a tow from offshore on July 1, 2025. 250701-G-G0020-3035
The U.S. Coast Guard, in close collaboration with the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, safely moor the 47-foot motor vessel Lucky Harvest in Agana Boat Basin after a tow from offshore on July 1, 2025. 250701-G-G0020-1380
U.S. Navy Sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 15, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, deliver 100 first aid kits to medical staff at Belau National Hospital during Koa Moana 25 in Palau, June 26, 2025. 250626-M-CQ925-1047
U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Syed Hussain, an emergency medicine physician with Combat Logistics Battalion 15, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, showcases the contents of the first aid kits to members of the Ministry of Health and Human Services during Koa Moana 25 at Belau National Hospital in Palau, June 26, 2025. 250626-M-CQ925-1096
Lt. Emma Saunders, commanding officer, gives a tour of her ship, the USCGC Myrtle Hazard (WPC 1139), to members of the Republic of Singapore Naval Diving Unit in Guam on June 11, 2025. 250611-G-GT199-7679
Cmdr. Patton Epperson, acting deputy commander of U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam, alongside Deputy Commander Singapore Naval Diving Unit Lt. Col. Brandon Choo, lead a discussion on shared challenges, interoperability, and strategies to advance maritime security in the Pacific in Guam on June 11, 2025. 250611-G-GT199-5299
Lt. Emma Saunders, commanding officer of USCGC Myrtle Hazard (WPC 1139) and members of the Republic of Singapore Naval Diving Unit stand for a photo in Guam on June 11, 2025. 250611-G-IA651-6751
U.S. Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia Jennifer Johnson speaks with leaders from the Federated States of Micronesia and U.S. Department of Defense during a Joint Committee Meeting during a Joint Committee Meeting at Joint Region Marianas headquarters, June 4. 250604-N-ML137-1026
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

 

 

JTF - Micronesia News

3rd Battalion 12th Regiment Marines Participate in Digital Shooting to Enhance Tactical Skills

08 May 2018

From Lance Cpl. Tegra Shepherd

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CAMP FUJI, Japan -- Marines with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division are utilizing the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) to increase artillery live-fire proficiency.

The Marine Corps has used digital shooting for almost a decade now, but the forward-deployed battalion is constantly fine tuning it to be more efficient, according to Cpl. Mathieu Blakely, the fire direction control man with Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment.

The digital aspect is an operational advantage because all voice transactions and human errors are removed when passing commands from fire direction control to the gun line, according to Blakely.

“Any opportunity where we include the combat standard operating procedures method is extremely valuable,” said Blakely, a Baltimore, native. “We’re taking appropriate measures to be a more safe and sufficient combat unit.”

During the fire mission, the observer notes the position of the target and sends its coordinates to the fire direction controller (FDC). The FDC then confirms the location and sends the coordinates to the recorder on the gun line, who tells the field artillery Marines how much to move the gun and the firing process begins.

The AFATDS allows commands to be passed quicker to those on the gun line, and the batteries respond quickly and efficiently when they receive a notification for fire support.

The Marines are able to have a full fire mission process through the chain of command without a single word being spoken, according to 1st Lt. Caleb Kadrmas, platoon commander with the battalion from Rapid City. Marines with 3/12 are more tactically efficient when using AFATDS and are constantly improving upon it to make it and themselves better, he added.

The battalion is on Fuji to conduct Artillery Relocation Training Program 18-1. ARTP 18-1 is a Japan-funded, routine training exercise that allows Marines with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, based out of Camp Hansen, Okinawa, to conduct live-fire training in Japan.


 

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