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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
Representatives stand for a photo during the recent Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Joint Committee Meeting (JCM), held in Chuuk from Nov. 13 to 16, 2024. 241116-G-G0020-1696
The Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS Minnesota (SSN 783) arrives onboard U.S. Naval Base Guam, Nov 26. USS Minnesota Arrives in Guam
U.S. Coast Guard representatives, including Capt. Worst, Lt. Cmdr. Derek Wallin, maritime advisor, and Lt. Anna Maria Vaccaro, Compact of Free Association liaison, from U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam (FM/SG) join U.S. and Marshallese colleagues for a photo in Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands on Oct. 17, 2024. 241017-G-G0020-7970

 

JTF - Micronesia News

Seven Furman Graduates Commissioned into U.S. Army, Army Reserves, National Guard

23 May 2025

From Courtesy Story

Seven Furman University graduates, who were members of the Reserve Officer Training Corps Paladin Battalion, were commissioned as second lieutenants in the United States Army, National Guard or Army Reserves in a McAlister Auditorium ceremony May 9, the day before the cadets’ graduation.
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Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd '93, deputy commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, spoke to cadets at their commissioning ceremony in McAlister Auditorium May 9, 2025.
Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd '93, deputy commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, spoke to cadets at their commissioning ceremony in McAlister Auditorium May 9, 2025. Photo by Jeremy Fleming.
The 2025 class of Furman ROTC cadets commissioned into the Army, Army Reserves and National Guard: 2nd Lt. Adara Briceńo, 2nd Lt. Glory Gillen, 2nd Lt. Kendall Littlejohn, 2nd Lt. Max Riith, 2nd Lt. Jack Mikell, 2nd Lt. Luke Stewart and 2nd Lt. Matthew Zagar.
The 2025 class of Furman ROTC cadets commissioned into the Army, Army Reserves and National Guard: 2nd Lt. Adara Briceńo, 2nd Lt. Glory Gillen, 2nd Lt. Kendall Littlejohn, 2nd Lt. Max Riith, 2nd Lt. Jack Mikell, 2nd Lt. Luke Stewart and 2nd Lt. Matthew Zagar. Photo by Jeremy Fleming.

The new second lieutenants, their statuses and their assignments are:

  • Adara Briceño, National Guard, field artillery
  • Glory Gillen, Army Reserves, military police
  • Kendall Littlejohn, Active duty, ordnance
  • Jack Mikell, Active duty, infantry
  • Max Riith, Active duty, armor
  • Luke Stewart, Active duty, ordnance, and
  • Matthew Zagar, Active duty, aviation

Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd, a 1993 Furman graduate and former Paladin Battalion member, spoke with the future leaders. It was a homecoming of sorts for Rudd; his wife, Ansley Rudd, is a 1991 Furman graduate and their daughter Hayden Rudd graduated from Furman in 2017.

One of the first pieces of advice the general shared was to be open to change. At his graduation, he said he thought he would serve his minimum commitment to the military and settle into a quiet life, perhaps in Greenville, South Carolina.

Rudd’s military service has been anything but “quiet.” After three years he was accepted into the Special Forces. He completed some of the most physically and mentally rigorous specialty training in the military and has commanded at every level. He deployed multiple times into combat operations, including Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn and Operation Inherent Resolve.

Rudd now serves as deputy commander of Indo-Pacific Command, a joint command headquartered in Hawaii that oversees an area of responsibility that includes 60 percent of the world’s population and 38 nations, including Australia, China, Japan, Korea, India, The Philippines and Thailand.

The “geopolitical strategic environment” the new Furman second lieutenants are entering today is “incredibly complex. It’s interconnected,” Rudd said. “Nothing is happening in isolation. It’s incredibly consequential right now given the threats that we’re facing to the homeland. … What’s going to be required of them is strength in the face of adversity.”

Today’s young leaders have to be innovative and prepare to adapt as the world changes, Rudd said. He implored the new officers to “relentlessly strive for excellence” in every aspect of their lives.

Rudd had high praise for his alma mater. “I think Furman University and its approach to education is absolutely critical. It prepared me to be where I am now,” he said. The liberal arts and sciences education “prepares you to be open-minded, to think globally, to think beyond your specialty as a leader. That’s incredibly valuable.”

 


 

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