WASHINGTON -- Effective immediately, leave and liberty outside the local area of your command is exempt from ongoing COVID-19 travel restrictions.Secretary of Defense Mark Esper approved the leave exemption for all military on June 29. The Navy's rules for implementation came in NAVADMIN 189/20 on...

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii -- The guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG 85) departed Yokosuka, Japan, July 2, for Portland, Oregon, to complete a scheduled a 17-month Depot Modernization Period (DMP).The United States values Japan’s contributions to the peace, security, and stability of the...

CAMP ZAMA, Japan -- Four U.S. Army Soldiers and six Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members met here June 24 for an inaugural exchange program to discuss their experiences as women in their respective workforces.The bilateral discussion, the first of its kind on the installation, covered topics such...

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- The 353rd Special Operations Group organized exercise Gryphon Jet from June 17-26, 2020 at Yokota Air Base, Japan.Over that 10-day period U.S. forces teamed up to execute the high altitude high opening, high altitude low opening, fast rope, and repel training needed to get...

WASHINGTON -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday sent a message to the fleet stressing the importance of remaining vigilant in the long-term battle against the Coronavirus (COVID-19), June 30.Below is the text of CNO’s message:“As we head into a well-deserved holiday weekend...

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Recently, the Air Force made the decision to send highly qualified enlisted members to the air surveillance officer training course.Historically, the ASO has been a rated aircrew commissioned officer only, typically a Captain or Major.“I am the one and only noncommissioned...

WASHINGTON -- Navy leadership published a COVID-19 Leaders’ Handbook containing current Navy guidance on COVID mitigation measures and procedures 30 June as a reference for leaders throughout the fleet.The handbook will act as a quick guide for leaders both ashore and at sea to educate their teams...