WASHINGTON -- It's election season again – that time when federal, state and local political campaigns kick into high gear. Whether you're extremely involved in politics or you aren’t even registered to vote, the Defense Department has expectations for the way its military service members and...

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - The guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89) conducted a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea, Aug. 27.The U.S. Navy conducts freedom of navigation operations, or FONOPs, to contest excessive maritime claims and reinforce laws of the sea in international...

WASHINGTON -- The Pacific is full of American graves.  Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper and Palauan President Tommy Remengesau placed wreaths in the water above the sunken wreckage of a Navy TBM Avenger that crashed in the waters off the city of Koror, Palau, in 1944. All three of the bomber's...

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- The 25th Fighter Squadron (FS), assigned to the 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, South Korea, are honing their flight skills while at the Farallon de Medinilla Range (FDM Range), Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands while deployed here, Aug. 10- 21.The 25th FS...

Yokota Air Base, Japan -- Airmen assigned to the 459th Airlift Squadron, 374th Security Forces Squadron and 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (AES), worked together with Soldiers assigned to the Public Health Activity – Japan (PHA-J), Veterinary Treatment Facility (VTF), to participate in a...

YOKOSUKA, Japan -- Rear Adm. Leonard “Butch” Dollaga relieved Rear Adm. James “Jimmy” Pitts as Commander, Submarine Group 7 (CSG7), Commander, Task Force 74 (CTF74) and Commander, Task Force 54 (CTF54) during a change of command ceremony held in front of a virtual audience Friday.Vice Adm. William...

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Whether it’s a blanket of snow covering the roads or a crack in the flight line’s concrete, keeping the roadways functional is crucial for the Wolf Pack. Swinging sledge hammers, operating heavy construction vehicles and jack hammering in the elements, the “Dirt...

CAMP H.M. SMITH, HAWAII -- Senior military leaders from 29 countries virtually joined the annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense (CHOD) conference August 24-25.The conference, co-hosted by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, provides a forum for military leaders from...

HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper visited sailors aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex to experience the Rim of the Pacific exercise — a multinational operation involving 10 nations.The exercise has been scaled back due to COVID-19, but still had a decent turnout...

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- A single COVID cell is no more than 140 nanometers in diameter — about 1/500th the width of a human hair — but it has come to dominate daily life the world over.Beyond its physical health impact, Diann Richardson, 176th Wing director of Psychological...