WASHINGTON -- The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has signed a memorandum of agreement with the U.S. Navy to establish a Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) unit at the University on the island of Oahu, which will begin training students in the fall of 2021.The University of Hawaiʻi at...

MANILA, Philippines -- The U.S. government donated personal protective equipment (PPE) and hygiene kits to support Davao City’s efforts to address COVID-19. U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim handed over the items to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio during a virtual event on Wednesday,...

PACIFIC OCEAN (August 22, 2020) -- U.S. Navy Fire Controlman 2nd Class Damian Castillo–Sakihara, from Killeen, Texas, is assigned to Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105). Castillo–Sakihara has been a member of the U.S. Navy for more than three years and is currently...

U.S. Navy -- The “Shadowhawks” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141 held an inflight change of command ceremony Aug. 26, while embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).Cmdr. Josh Ales relieved Cmdr. Bryan M. Haney as the commanding officer of VAQ-141.Haney, a native of...

NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY, Diego Garcia -- COVID-19 is changing operational practices throughout the Air Force, forcing innovative adaptions in order to remain combat ready. For the members of the 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron special considerations were taken to ensure every member was COVID free...

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- On June 15, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) handed over a U.S.-funded COVID-19 test kit to the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. The test kit carries supplies to conduct 2,000 tests. Valued at an estimated $118,000, the kit contains a RT-PCR machine, the...

WASHINGTON -- The Defense Department is crowdsourcing to find better ways to promote diversity and inclusion.Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper asked for the process as part of his Board on Diversity and Inclusion. The board — chaired by Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett — wants input from...

CAMP H.M. SMITH, HAWAII -- The annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense (CHOD) conference, co-hosted by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, will take place virtually from August 24-25 with senior military leaders from 28 countries scheduled to participate.The theme for...

NAVAL BASE GUAM -- USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) pulled into U.S. Naval Base Guam for a Safe Haven Liberty port visit, Aug. 22.The visit is the fifth of its kind, enhancing liberty options for 7th Fleet ships conducting COVID mitigations. U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) along with USS...

U.S. Navy -- U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) conducted a gunnery exercise with the Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Stuart (FFH 153) August 19 during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2020.U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) conducted a gunnery...