18 December 2014 Experiencing a Ride on the Marine Corps Osprey Firsthand NAGO, Japan - "I would like to describe the experience we had recently with flying in the MV-22B Osprey from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to northern Okinawa over water and around Ie Shima island before returning to the MCAS Futenma.The first thing I realized was how wrong the media and...
18 December 2014 PACFLT Commander Conducts All Hands Call in Singapore SINGAPORE (NNS) -- Adm. Harry Harris Jr., commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet conducted an all hands call at Commander Logistics Group Western Pacific (COMLOG WESTPAC) in Singapore, Dec. 18, during a trip to strengthen maritime partnerships in support of America's rebalance to the...
18 December 2014 Yokota brings holiday cheer to islanders ULITHI ATOLL, Micronesia (AFNS) -- More than 1,200 miles from the nearest western civilization, a man stands on a beach wearing only his lavalava. He lifts the bright orange flag with yellow brim and stakes it in the ground, marking the spot to ensure it is easily seen, especially from...
18 December 2014 Pacific's harbormaster, watercraft Soldiers ensure readiness, synchronization KAWAIHAE PORT, Hawaii - The many ports, beach heads and other water terminals throughout the massive, Island-filled Pacific region are busy places. But "busy" doesn't do justice to their traffic during natural disasters or other contingency operation situations. When watercraft are quickly moving in...
18 December 2014 Navy develops 'GhostSwimmer' drone that looks like a shark. Seriously Washington — It is the latest offering in what the US military calls its science-fiction-turned-reality projects: the GhostSwimmer, a reconnaissance robot with an exterior shell built to look a lot like a shark cutting through the ocean depths.It is the latest experimental addition to the Pentagon’s...
17 December 2014 A new way to exercise MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) -- When 1st Lt. Matt Lavigne's phone rang late Dec. 10, he knew it was time to scramble into action. As a fighter pilot, preparedness is engraved into his DNA, but this was the first time he'd experienced something like this. In only a few hours, he'd be flying...
17 December 2014 Operation Christmas Drop supplies islands with bundles of joy ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (AFNS) -- The men and women from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam and Yokota Air Base, Japan, dropped its last bundle of joy Dec. 13, to the Micronesian Islands as Operation Christmas Drop came to an end just in time for the holiday season.What started as a small crew...
03 December 2014 USS Vandegrift-Coast Guard Team Prevents Smuggling Attempt Off Central America PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Vandegrift (FFG 48) and a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (USCG LEDET) interdicted almost 2,000 pounds of cocaine being smuggled in a small vessel Nov. 20 while on patrol in international waters off the coast of...
03 December 2014 NORAD Prepares to Track Santa’s Flight PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – The North American Aerospace Defense Command’s NORAD Tracks Santa website, http://www.noradsanta.org/ , launched today featuring a mobile version, a holiday countdown, new games and daily activities and more. The website is available in eight languages: English,...
03 December 2014 North Korea 'Volatile and Dangerous,' Pacom Nominee Says WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2014 – The nominee to become the next commander of U.S. Pacific Command told Congress today that North Korea is the most volatile and dangerous threat in the Asia-Pacific region. North Korean Threats Kim Jong Un is opportunistic, unpredictable and ruthless as he seeks to acquire...