CAMP ZAMA, Japan -- Twenty Soldiers graduated from a distance-learning Basic Leader Course (BLC) held here July 7 through 31, and are now ready for the next step toward becoming a noncommissioned officer.Soldiers in Japan normally attend the monthlong course at the Eighth Army NCO Academy in Korea...

OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Relocating to a new military installation in another country can be a stressful task, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic. With so many uncertainties involving the pandemic’s impacts of changing living standards, a special group of professionals...

PACIFIC OCEAN -- The U.S. Navy and Air Force are conducting joint integrated training off the coast of Northern Japan. Units and personnel assigned to the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, Navy Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131, and the Air Force 35th Fighter Wing began coordinated operations...

PORT OF MALAKAL, Republic of Palau -- Task Force Koa Moana 20 (TF KM20), composed of U.S. Marines and Sailors with I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) from Camp Pendleton, California, was tested for a second time by the Palau Ministry of Health (MOH) on August 5, 2020. All task force personnel, as...

WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper, Air Force Secretary Barbara M. Barrett and Joint Chiefs Chairman Army Gen. Mark A. Milley applauded retiring Gen. David L. Goldfein's 37 years of service and welcomed Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., who succeeds Goldfein as the Air Force chief of staff...

WASHINGTON -- Okinawa Government representatives met with Marine Corps Installations Pacific leaders and medical professionals to discuss COVID-19-related information at Camp Foster Naval Hospital.Testing capabilities, tracing efforts and reporting procedures of both the Okinawa prefect and U.S...

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- The 18th Wing hosted the second iteration of Exercise WestPac Rumrunner – an exercise designed to train and improve capabilities and joint interoperability using agile combat employment (ACE) concepts – July 31, 2020, at Kadena Air Base.The exercise allows for the United...

OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- It’s not every day that you get to pilot an F-16 fighter jet while one of your best friends fills the back seat. Let alone, a friend whose medical expertise, saved your Air Force flying career.For Capt. Louis Bloom, 36th Fighter Squadron F-16 pilot and Maj...

YOKOSUKA, Japan -- The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) held a change of command ceremony at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Aug. 5, 2020.During the ceremony, Capt. Paul Allgeier relieved Capt. Marc D. Boran as the ship’s Commanding Officer.“Chancellorsville – you are...

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- COVID-19 has disrupted many plans for governments, businesses, and military operations, but in some ways has created unique opportunities.The 36th Contingency Response Group (CRG) hosted, and completed Exercise MACHETE GREEN (EMG), July 29-31 at North West Field. The...