22 December 2020 USS John S. McCain Conducts Freedom of Navigation Operation in South China Sea SOUTH CHINA SEA - USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the Spratly Islands, consistent with international law. This freedom of navigation operation (“FONOP”) upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea recognized in international law by challenging...
22 December 2020 U.S. Ambassador Announces US$100,000 in TC Yasa Relief Funding SUVA, Fiji – Today, the U.S. Ambassador to Fiji Joseph Cella announced the approval of US$100,000 (FJD$204,550) in International Disaster Assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA). These funds will be used to support the...
21 December 2020 Team Misawa Agile Combat Employment Exercise Enhances Capabilities MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan - U.S. Airmen from various units in the 35th Fighter Wing conducted a weeklong Agile Combat Employment (ACE) training exercise at Misawa Air Base, Japan, 6 through 11 Dec.Six F-16 Fighting Falcons and a crew of 56 Airmen simulated a mock deployment to an “austere” environment...
18 December 2020 USS John S. McCain Joins French, Japanese Navies for Multinational Exercise PHILIPPINE SEA -- Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) joined the French Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) for integrated exercises in the Philippine Sea throughout the week.Participants included John S. McCain, the French Navy’s Rubis-class...
18 December 2020 It's a Wrap for Operation Christmas Drop 2020 WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Air Force made a special Christmas delivery to people living on some of the most remote islands in the world, airdropping more than 3,200 pounds of cargo as part of its 69th annual Operation Christmas Drop (OCD)."This year is a story of hope," Air Force Tech. Sgt. Lou...
18 December 2020 French Submarine Deployment to Western Pacific Presents Rare Training Opportunity for Guam-Based Boat YOKOSUKA, Japan -- The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Asheville (SSN 758) had the rare opportunity to train with French crew this month, when she conducted a series of at-sea submarine exercises with the Rubis-class nuclear powered submarine (SSN) FS Émeraude.Émeraude and the...
18 December 2020 Seizing and Defending Islands: U.S. Marines, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Strengthen Integrated Capabilities during Exercise Forest Light NIIGATA PREFECTURE, Japan -- With MV-22 Ospreys and CH-47 aircraft operating overhead, U.S. Marines and Japanese soldiers manned machine guns, managed interlinked sensor screens, and provided targeting information for long-range fires assets in preparation to defend against an amphibious assault and...
18 December 2020 Marines Deliver Toys Across Hawaiian Islands KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii -- Here come the Red Dragons with an aircraft full of toys. Nearly 2,000 toys to be exact.For the second year, U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor squadron 268 and 4th Force Reconnaissance Company delivered toys from Oahu to the island of Hawaii on Dec. 11, 2020. The...
18 December 2020 Team Misawa Agile Combat Employment Week Enhances Multi-Capable Airmen Capabilities MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- U.S. Airmen from various units in the 35th Fighter Wing conducted a weeklong Agile Combat Employment (ACE) training exercise at Misawa Air Base, Japan, 6 through 11 Dec.Six F-16 Fighting Falcons and a crew of 56 Airmen simulated a mock deployment to an “austere” environment...
17 December 2020 Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard Release Maritime Strategy WASHINGTON ̶ The U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard released a new tri-Service maritime strategy today, entitled Advantage at Sea.The document provides strategic guidance on how the sea services will prevail in day-to-day competition, crisis, and conflict over the next decade. It also directs...