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LEADERSHIP
Commander
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Chief of Staff
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ABOUT USINDOPACOM
History
USINDOPACOM Area of Responsibility map
Organization Chart
USINDOPACOM Previous Commanders
Counter-Lawfare: Tactical Aids & Legal Vigilance Products
Indo-Pacific Health Security Alliance - IPhsa
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MEDIA
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Press Releases and Readouts
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JTF-MICRONESIA
JTF-Micronesia Contact
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JTF-Micronesia - news
JTF - RED HILL
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Change of Command Ceremony
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Change of Command Ceremony
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USS America (LHA 6) Conducts Flight Operation
USS America (LHA 6) Conducts Flight Operation
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Cope Angel 2025: U.S and Japan sharpen search and rescue skills
Cope Angel 2025: U.S and Japan sharpen search and rescue skills
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31st MEU | Boat Company Conducts Ship-to-Shore Movement
31st MEU | Boat Company Conducts Ship-to-Shore Movement
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VMFA-242 aircraft conduct flyover of USS America in Coral Sea
VMFA-242 aircraft conduct flyover of USS America in Coral Sea
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USS San Diego conducts flight ops in Coral Sea
USS San Diego conducts flight ops in Coral Sea
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3/12 Executes a HIMARS Dry-Fire Training at Camp Fuji
3/12 Executes a HIMARS Dry-Fire Training at Camp Fuji
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Mine Matters
Mine Matters
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USS George Washington conducts flight ops in Philippine Sea
USS George Washington conducts flight ops in Philippine Sea
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USS America (LHA 6) Conducts Flight Operation
USS America (LHA 6) Conducts Flight Operation
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USS John Finn departs Yokosuka
USS John Finn departs Yokosuka
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Salaknib 25 | Operation Maneuver
Salaknib 25 | Operation Maneuver
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USS George Washington conducts flight operations in Philippine Sea
USS George Washington conducts flight operations in Philippine Sea
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U.S. 7TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY
U.S. 7TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY
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31st MEU | Live-fire deck shoot aboard USS San Diego
31st MEU | Live-fire deck shoot aboard USS San Diego
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George Washington Conducts Helicopter Operations
George Washington Conducts Helicopter Operations
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Khaan Quest kicks off with an opening ceremony
Khaan Quest kicks off with an opening ceremony
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USS Annapolis (SSN 760) returns to Naval Base Guam
USS Annapolis (SSN 760) returns to Naval Base Guam
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USS George Washington conducts flight ops in Philippine Sea
USS George Washington conducts flight ops in Philippine Sea
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Nimitz Conducts Flight Operations
Nimitz Conducts Flight Operations
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31st MEU | F-35B Lightning IIs conduct rapid flight operations
31st MEU | F-35B Lightning IIs conduct rapid flight operations
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Sailors man the rails aboard amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), as the ship pulls into Pearl Harbor
Sailors man the rails aboard amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), as the ship pulls into Pearl Harbor
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Travis AFB sends KC-46 across the Pacific to train with Misawa F-16s
Travis AFB sends KC-46 across the Pacific to train with Misawa F-16s
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KAMANDAG 9: MRF-D 25.3 and PMC conduct a counter-landing live-fire defense
KAMANDAG 9: MRF-D 25.3 and PMC conduct a counter-landing live-fire defense
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Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane Performs joint flight operations with French Navy off the coast of Tahiti
Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane Performs joint flight operations with French Navy off the coast of Tahiti
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506th EARS Refuel A-10s across the Pacific
506th EARS Refuel A-10s across the Pacific
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Salaknib 25 | Final Assault
Salaknib 25 | Final Assault
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QUART: HMLA-369 Conducts Deck Landing Qualifications Aboard USS Harpers Ferry
QUART: HMLA-369 Conducts Deck Landing Qualifications Aboard USS Harpers Ferry
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MRF-D 25.3: 2nd Bn., 1st Marines, conduct raid with VMM-363 during Southern Jackaroo
MRF-D 25.3: 2nd Bn., 1st Marines, conduct raid with VMM-363 during Southern Jackaroo
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QUART: CH53s Conduct Deck Landing Qualifications Aboard USS Harpers Ferry
QUART: CH53s Conduct Deck Landing Qualifications Aboard USS Harpers Ferry
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31st MEU | F-35B night flight operations
31st MEU | F-35B night flight operations
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MRF-D 25.3: 2nd Bn., 1st Marines, VMM-363 conduct air assault rehearsals during Predator’s Walk
MRF-D 25.3: 2nd Bn., 1st Marines, VMM-363 conduct air assault rehearsals during Predator’s Walk
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Conducts Vertical Replenishment Training
Conducts Vertical Replenishment Training
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Activated Reserve Marines Conduct Live Fire MOUT during Korea Viper 25.4
Activated Reserve Marines Conduct Live Fire MOUT during Korea Viper 25.4
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PACAF F-16 Demo Team conducts final flight after 30 years of enhancing U.S. relations worldwide
PACAF F-16 Demo Team conducts final flight after 30 years of enhancing U.S. relations worldwide
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KAMANDAG 9: VMM-364 Inserts Marines into Basco Island, Philippines
KAMANDAG 9: VMM-364 Inserts Marines into Basco Island, Philippines
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Operational Test Launch GT 253 is a 'Glory Trip' for wing
Operational Test Launch GT 253 is a 'Glory Trip' for wing
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Nimitz Conducts Flight Operations
Nimitz Conducts Flight Operations
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Governor's Memorial Day Ceremony
Governor's Memorial Day Ceremony
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KAMANDAG 9: 3d LCT conducts high explosive battle drills
KAMANDAG 9: 3d LCT conducts high explosive battle drills
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Activated Reserve Marines Conduct CBRN Response Training with U.S. Army during Korea Viper 25.4
Activated Reserve Marines Conduct CBRN Response Training with U.S. Army during Korea Viper 25.4
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USS America (LHA 6) Conducts Flight Operations
USS America (LHA 6) Conducts Flight Operations
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Nimitz Conducts Flight Operations
Nimitz Conducts Flight Operations
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Four Chaplains: Norwegian Foot March
Four Chaplains: Norwegian Foot March
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U.S., Japan display interoperability during Friendship Jump 2025
U.S., Japan display interoperability during Friendship Jump 2025
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FF25: Blaze of Friendship
FF25: Blaze of Friendship
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Blue Ridge Arrives in Wellington, New Zealand for the First Time
Blue Ridge Arrives in Wellington, New Zealand for the First Time
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Activated Reserve Marines Conduct MOUT Training during Korea Viper 25.4
Activated Reserve Marines Conduct MOUT Training during Korea Viper 25.4
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U.S. Marines Execute Casualty Evacuation Training during Jungle Leaders Course
U.S. Marines Execute Casualty Evacuation Training during Jungle Leaders Course
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31st MEU Boat Company conducts Small Boat Skills during MEUEX
31st MEU Boat Company conducts Small Boat Skills during MEUEX
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F-35B Lightning IIs fly over Wake Island
F-35B Lightning IIs fly over Wake Island
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USS Minnesota (SSN 783) returns to Naval Base Guam
USS Minnesota (SSN 783) returns to Naval Base Guam
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EOD members conduct fast-rope ops onto USS Nimitz in South China Sea
EOD members conduct fast-rope ops onto USS Nimitz in South China Sea
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Balikatan 25: 3d LCT and 25th ID Conduct Counter Landing Live Fire Event with AFP
Balikatan 25: 3d LCT and 25th ID Conduct Counter Landing Live Fire Event with AFP
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Respect the Past, Forge the Future: Air Power Days Returns to Osan
Respect the Past, Forge the Future: Air Power Days Returns to Osan
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31st MEU conducts quick response force rehearsal for MEUEX
31st MEU conducts quick response force rehearsal for MEUEX
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Nimitz Sailors Conduct a Refueling-at-Sea
Nimitz Sailors Conduct a Refueling-at-Sea
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BTF 25-2: Seventh Mission Operations
BTF 25-2: Seventh Mission Operations
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Balikatan 25: Counter Landing Live Fire Exercise
Balikatan 25: Counter Landing Live Fire Exercise
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Balikatan 25: B Co. 3-25 exfils Gimlets
Balikatan 25: B Co. 3-25 exfils Gimlets
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PACOM Stories
Marines Land in Apra Harbor to Offload Tanks, Equipment
28 October 2016
From Jeffrey Landis
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SANTA RITA, Guam -- The Maritime Prepositioning Ship (MPS) USNS PFC Dewayne T. Williams (T-AK-3009) pulled back into Apra Harbor, U.S. Naval Base Guam (NBG), Oct. 27 to backload nearly 80 U.S. Marine Corps vehicles and equipment after a three-week visit to the port. The visit was a rare opportunity for Marines and maintenance support personnel to conduct a three-week maintenance period in Guam – where use of NBG’s reinforced piers for amphibious and tracked vehicles was more than a proof of concept, but also an exercised capability for the port at Apra Harbor far west of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The offload – although only intended for maintenance of 14 M1A1 Abrams tanks – included 16 Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAV), a few 7-ton trucks and other rolling stock and equipment. MPSs are designed for maximized efficient use of all available space, so rolling off all the equipment to get to the tanks was a necessity, said Maj. Lee Parker, Officer-in-Charge of the Maintenance Support Team (MST) sent to Guam. Port Operations staff and offload support specialists from USNS Williams guided the tanks, AAVs and other rolling stock using a ramp from the ship onto Tango Pier, and then all the vehicles and gear were moved and stowed in the confines of Uniform Pier, with its reinforced cement deck capable of holding the 70-ton tanks. With the maintenance period complete, the backload commenced Oct. 27 and 28 in the same organized fashion.
“The evolution was smooth and expertly executed,” said Dan Quicho, Port Operations Director. “This type of heavy equipment offload for a maintenance availability, in addition to the husbanding services here at Guam, adds versatility to our support capability here at Naval Base Guam. It also equates to a significant cost savings to offload and conduct business here instead of sending the ship back to the states.”
The combined team of close to 50 MST personnel came from various areas across the globe, including Blount Island Command (Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island, Jacksonville, Fla.), Marine Forces Pacific in Hawaii, and maintenance and support personnel from Okinawa, Japan, and Camp Pendleton, Calif., as well as the main services and technology contractor, Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR).
Guam is not a typical port of call for MPS offloads but according to Parker, the maintenance was a must. “These tanks were recently used in Exercise Freedom Banner 2016 in the Republic of Korea back in late February-early March,” said Parker. “The required corrective maintenance, assessment, inspections, as well as post-maintenance inspection actions will bring the vehicles and equipment up to acceptable readiness levels for their 3-year ship cycle and so that the MPS will be ready for any contingency.”
Freedom Banner is a Navy and Marine Corps deployment and offload/backload exercise that strengthens interoperability and working relationships for proficiency at numerous military operations ranging from disaster relief to complex expeditionary operations.
MPS ships have sufficient equipment, vehicles, supplies and ammunition to support a Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) – upwards of 27,000 troops – for 30 days during a contingency.
The USNS Williams is named after Medal of Honor recipient, Marine Pfc. Dewayne T. Williams, former native of Brown City, Mich., who died during a battle at Quãng Nam Province, Vietnam, on Sept. 18, 1968. Williams was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while diving on an enemy grenade that was thrown into the middle of his patrol amidst an intense enemy nighttime ambush. Williams’ body absorbed the full impact of the grenade, ultimately saving the lives of his patrol members and enabling them to defeat the attackers and hold their position till assistance arrived.
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