TRINCOMALEE, Sri Lanka -- Sailors participating in Pacific Partnership 2018 (PP18) departed Trincomalee aboard Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) May 9, bound for the mission’s fourth port visit in Nha Trang, Vietnam.“We've continued to build upon the partnerships we forged...

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Working alongside a counterpart creates an unbreakable bond, a positive relationship, and inspires creativity. The shared camaraderie between the U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots and Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2 pilots lent to demonstrating and ultimately...

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Members of the 36th Airlift Squadron and 459th AS completed the first 374th Airlift Wing Generation Exercise, referred to more commonly as an Elephant Walk, since 2014 at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 4, 2018. Both squadrons combined to have 12 C-130J Super Hercules, three...

SAN DIEGO - The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) arrived in San Diego, concluding the ship’s homeport change, May 8.Since departing San Diego in April 2012 for Sasebo, Japan, to replace USS Essex (LHD 2) as the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious assault ship, Bonhomme...

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- In an effort to better serve members of Team Andersen, the 36th Medical Group opened a new satellite medical clinic on Northwest Field, Guam.The new medical facility will streamline many processes for service members who previously had to transit to the main clinic...

CAMP FUJI, Japan -- Marines with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division are utilizing the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) to increase artillery live-fire proficiency.The Marine Corps has used digital shooting for almost a decade now, but the forward-deployed...

TRINCOMALEE, Sri Lanka -- U.S and partner nation service members participating in Pacific Partnership 2018 (PP18) and Sri Lankan surgeons, assigned to Base Hospital Mutur, conducted the first ever robot-assisted surgery aboard Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), May 4.The...

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii -- U.S. Army Soldiers in the Pacific will participate in tough, realistic training alongside longtime allies when they participate in Balikatan 2018 on the island of Luzon, Philippines, May 7-18.Balikatan, which means "shoulder to shoulder" in Tagalog, focuses on a variety of...

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Lt. Gen. Stayce D. Harris, the inspector general of the Air Force, visited Andersen Air force Base, Guam, May 3, during a tour of bases in the Indo-Pacific region.Airmen briefed General Harris on the many unique missions operating from Andersen AFB, from supporting...