More than 18,000 joint force service members from 30 units, including 200 aircraft and 20 ships, came together to participate in Exercise Valiant Shield Sept. 15, in and around, the island of Guam.

The week long exercise demonstrates a wide range of capabilities designed to test the inherent flexibility of joint forces.  These capabilities range from air defense, maritime security operations, anti-submarine, and space and cyber war fighting proficiencies in an environment that could not be simulated otherwise.

This training enables real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces through detecting, locating, tracking and engaging units at sea, in the air, on land and in cyberspace in response to a range of mission areas.