24 February 2016 17th Special Operations Squadron Launches Pacific Region's First MC-130J Commando II Five-ship Formation Flight KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Instead of the usual howl of jet engines, Team Kadena heard the growl of 120 turboprop blades chopping the air as 17th Special Operations Squadron MC-130J Commando II aircraft dominated the airfield scene Feb. 17, 2016. Within an hour of standing by at stations, the...
24 February 2016 US Forces and Republic of Korea Army Ready to Receive, Stage, and Move Equipment Together DAEGU, SOUTH KOREA--U.S. forces from the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command and Republic of Korea forces from 2nd Operational Command successfully executed a reception, staging and onward movement exercise from Busan to Pyeongtaek, Feb 18-19. The exercise showcased 19th ESC's readiness and...
24 February 2016 Multinational Communications Interoperability Program Planning Staff Workshop 1 Held in Papua New Guinea PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea - A total of 18 nations and more than 50 participants attended U.S. Pacific Command's (USPACOM) Multinational Communications Interoperability Program (MCIP) Planning Staff Workshop 1 (PSW1) in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 22-26 Feb. 2016. The workshop was...
23 February 2016 Cope North 16 Expeditionary Medical Teams Treat, Evac Injured ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- The aircraft exhaust shimmers over the asphalt airfield and blows hotly into the goggled faces of the crew on the loading ramp. Four bearers to each stretcher, the medical team hurriedly carried medical evacuation patients from a truck into the roaring belly of...
23 February 2016 One Team, One Fight: 1/4, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Take Part in Iron Fist MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- For years, Marines and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force have come together to build upon their storied relationship as allies through Exercise Iron Fist. The exercise requires Marines at all levels to effectively work with a partnered nation to...
23 February 2016 Through Hub and Spoke: Pacific Partners Practice Humanitarian Assistance during Cope North 16 NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS -- Military members from six nations joined together for a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief deployment throughout the region of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Feb. 14-18. The deployment is part of Cope North 16, a multilateral exercise,...
23 February 2016 Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Instructors Share Survival Tips during COPE NORTH 16 ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Wearing starched, grey field camouflage uniforms, airmen gathered under the orange glow of a canvas parachute suspended in the jungle canopy above. Donned on their shoulders was the Hinomaru, or red circle of the sun — the Japanese flag. The group were members of...
22 February 2016 U.S. Exercise Strengthens Pacific Relationships THAILAND -- After 10 days of training side-by-side and creating a better environment for local citizens. Thailand and the U.S. concluded co-hosting the largest multinational military exercise in Asia, Feb. 19. Approximately 1,500 U.S. Marines, 1,000 U.S. Soldiers, 450 U.S. Sailors, 275 U.S...
22 February 2016 USS Ashland Embarks Marines for Patrol SOUTH CHINA SEA (NNS) -- Sailors aboard amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) embarked the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Jan. 28-29 for a patrol of the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. During the onload, Ashland Sailors worked alongside the Marines to load vehicles and...
22 February 2016 US Army Pacific Exercise Highlights Joint Communications for Pacific Theater FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii (Feb. 19, 2016) -- Even with today's advanced military networked communications systems, the simple ability to make voice calls or track logistics forces while operating in the vast Pacific Theater is challenging. Recently, Soldiers onboard an Army Logistics Supply Vessel...