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LEADERSHIP
Commander
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ABOUT USINDOPACOM
History
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USPACOM Previous Commanders
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Women, Peace and Security
Indo-Pacific Health Security Alliance - IPhsa
Counter-Lawfare: Tactical Aids & Legal Vigilance Products
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Freedom of Information Act
FOIA - Reading Room
Submit FOIA Request
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JTF-MICRONESIA
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JTF-Micronesia - news
JTF - RED HILL
31st MEU | F-35B night flight operations
31st MEU | F-35B night flight operations
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MRF-D 25.3: 2nd Bn., 1st Marines, VMM-363 conduct air assault rehearsals during Predator’s Walk
MRF-D 25.3: 2nd Bn., 1st Marines, VMM-363 conduct air assault rehearsals during Predator’s Walk
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Conducts Vertical Replenishment Training
Conducts Vertical Replenishment Training
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Activated Reserve Marines Conduct Live Fire MOUT during Korea Viper 25.4
Activated Reserve Marines Conduct Live Fire MOUT during Korea Viper 25.4
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PACAF F-16 Demo Team conducts final flight after 30 years of enhancing U.S. relations worldwide
PACAF F-16 Demo Team conducts final flight after 30 years of enhancing U.S. relations worldwide
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KAMANDAG 9: VMM-364 Inserts Marines into Basco Island, Philippines
KAMANDAG 9: VMM-364 Inserts Marines into Basco Island, Philippines
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Operational Test Launch GT 253 is a 'Glory Trip' for wing
Operational Test Launch GT 253 is a 'Glory Trip' for wing
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Nimitz Conducts Flight Operations
Nimitz Conducts Flight Operations
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Governor's Memorial Day Ceremony
Governor's Memorial Day Ceremony
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KAMANDAG 9: 3d LCT conducts high explosive battle drills
KAMANDAG 9: 3d LCT conducts high explosive battle drills
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Activated Reserve Marines Conduct CBRN Response Training with U.S. Army during Korea Viper 25.4
Activated Reserve Marines Conduct CBRN Response Training with U.S. Army during Korea Viper 25.4
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USS America (LHA 6) Conducts Flight Operations
USS America (LHA 6) Conducts Flight Operations
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Nimitz Conducts Flight Operations
Nimitz Conducts Flight Operations
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Four Chaplains: Norwegian Foot March
Four Chaplains: Norwegian Foot March
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U.S., Japan display interoperability during Friendship Jump 2025
U.S., Japan display interoperability during Friendship Jump 2025
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FF25: Blaze of Friendship
FF25: Blaze of Friendship
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Blue Ridge Arrives in Wellington, New Zealand for the First Time
Blue Ridge Arrives in Wellington, New Zealand for the First Time
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Activated Reserve Marines Conduct MOUT Training during Korea Viper 25.4
Activated Reserve Marines Conduct MOUT Training during Korea Viper 25.4
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U.S. Marines Execute Casualty Evacuation Training during Jungle Leaders Course
U.S. Marines Execute Casualty Evacuation Training during Jungle Leaders Course
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31st MEU Boat Company conducts Small Boat Skills during MEUEX
31st MEU Boat Company conducts Small Boat Skills during MEUEX
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F-35B Lightning IIs fly over Wake Island
F-35B Lightning IIs fly over Wake Island
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USS Minnesota (SSN 783) returns to Naval Base Guam
USS Minnesota (SSN 783) returns to Naval Base Guam
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EOD members conduct fast-rope ops onto USS Nimitz in South China Sea
EOD members conduct fast-rope ops onto USS Nimitz in South China Sea
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Balikatan 25: 3d LCT and 25th ID Conduct Counter Landing Live Fire Event with AFP
Balikatan 25: 3d LCT and 25th ID Conduct Counter Landing Live Fire Event with AFP
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Respect the Past, Forge the Future: Air Power Days Returns to Osan
Respect the Past, Forge the Future: Air Power Days Returns to Osan
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31st MEU conducts quick response force rehearsal for MEUEX
31st MEU conducts quick response force rehearsal for MEUEX
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Nimitz Sailors Conduct a Refueling-at-Sea
Nimitz Sailors Conduct a Refueling-at-Sea
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BTF 25-2: Seventh Mission Operations
BTF 25-2: Seventh Mission Operations
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Balikatan 25: Counter Landing Live Fire Exercise
Balikatan 25: Counter Landing Live Fire Exercise
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Balikatan 25: B Co. 3-25 exfils Gimlets
Balikatan 25: B Co. 3-25 exfils Gimlets
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BH 25-2: Kadena demonstrates Indo-Pacific readiness with joint elephant walk
BH 25-2: Kadena demonstrates Indo-Pacific readiness with joint elephant walk
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Nimitz Conducts Flight Operations
Nimitz Conducts Flight Operations
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U.S. Air Force participates in Freedom Flag 25-1
U.S. Air Force participates in Freedom Flag 25-1
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Nimitz Conducts Search and Rescue Training
Nimitz Conducts Search and Rescue Training
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Balikatan 25: U.S., Philippine, Australian Forces Conduct Counter Landing Live Fire Exercise
Balikatan 25: U.S., Philippine, Australian Forces Conduct Counter Landing Live Fire Exercise
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Staging
Staging
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MQ-9 maintainers, planners integrate during Freedom Flag 25-1
MQ-9 maintainers, planners integrate during Freedom Flag 25-1
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MRF-D 25.3: Marines conduct on-off drills
MRF-D 25.3: Marines conduct on-off drills
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Balikatan 25: 353rd SOW, Philippine Special Forces Regiment conduct static line jump training
Balikatan 25: 353rd SOW, Philippine Special Forces Regiment conduct static line jump training
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Australia, Philippines, and U.S. Conduct Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity
Australia, Philippines, and U.S. Conduct Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity
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Balikatan 25: MADIS initial live fire drill
Balikatan 25: MADIS initial live fire drill
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MRF-D 25.3: Marines conduct on-off drills
MRF-D 25.3: Marines conduct on-off drills
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Balikatan 25: Marines deploy NMESIS to Basco
Balikatan 25: Marines deploy NMESIS to Basco
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Balikatan 25: JOTC Completes HELOCAST Insertion Training
Balikatan 25: JOTC Completes HELOCAST Insertion Training
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Balikatan 25: MRF – D 25.3, ADF conduct air insert into Rizal
Balikatan 25: MRF – D 25.3, ADF conduct air insert into Rizal
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Night Shoot | Marines participate in a Combat Marksmanship Coaches Course
Night Shoot | Marines participate in a Combat Marksmanship Coaches Course
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MASS-2 recovers tactical vehicle in rain
MASS-2 recovers tactical vehicle in rain
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Nimitz Conducts Flight Operations
Nimitz Conducts Flight Operations
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Nimitz Conducts Flight Operations
Nimitz Conducts Flight Operations
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B-1B Lancers arrive at Japan for BTF 25-2 Deployment
B-1B Lancers arrive at Japan for BTF 25-2 Deployment
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Nimitz Conducts Flight Operations
Nimitz Conducts Flight Operations
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ROK, US forces showcase airpower ahead of Freedom Flag 25-1
ROK, US forces showcase airpower ahead of Freedom Flag 25-1
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Balikatan 25: 317th AW delivers varsity airlift to the Indo-Pacific
Balikatan 25: 317th AW delivers varsity airlift to the Indo-Pacific
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31st MEU | Fast Rope Sustainment
31st MEU | Fast Rope Sustainment
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Nimitz Conducts Flight Operations
Nimitz Conducts Flight Operations
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US Airmen deploy in support of first Bomber Task Force mission to Japan
US Airmen deploy in support of first Bomber Task Force mission to Japan
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31st MEU | Jungle Field Exercise
31st MEU | Jungle Field Exercise
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USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) conducts flight operations in the Coral Sea
USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) conducts flight operations in the Coral Sea
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B-1s train with ROKAF, conduct flyover
B-1s train with ROKAF, conduct flyover
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Philippine and U.S. Soldiers Enhance Interoperability in Jungle Tracking Course
Philippine and U.S. Soldiers Enhance Interoperability in Jungle Tracking Course
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>>>
PACOM Stories
Securing Airspace, Alaska Unit Supports Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center
04 August 2015
From Airman 1st Class Kyle Johnson
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska
-- All around Alaska, and out into the Pacific, little white domes dot the mountainside, coastlines, and islands-- the only tangible evidence of America's invisible armor.
The domes are operated 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by a small crew of mostly contracted civilian Airmen.
They drive up precarious, ice-covered slopes, braving 40 mile-per-hour winds in -40 degree temperatures with little to no medical support nearby as part of their daily work.
These are the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center, (PSRC) formerly known as 611th Air Support Group, long-range radar sites. Their mission: track aircraft through Alaska's airspace and it's borders.
The PRSC manages 21 installations across the Pacific which, due to their locations, cannot be accessed by normal means, said Lt. Col Robert Bartlow, 611th Civil Engineer Squadron commander.
The only way to get in or out is by plane or by barge.
In addition to constantly scouting the skies, some of the installations also serve as emergency airfields to which Air Force planes can divert should they need to make an unscheduled landing.
Others, like Wake Island, also serve as a halfway point, a gas station for planes to refill on their way to other Pacific locations.
"The missions at each one of those installations is a little bit different," Bartlow said. "Eareckson Air Station serves as an airfield, but also has a Cobra Dane radar system which is essentially a space-tracking asset that supports Air Force Space Command and the Missile Defense Agency."
Much like an air base wing would support its squadrons, the PRSC does the same with its three squadrons and one detachment, Bartlow said.
However, the difference is that the PRSC is a tenant unit, which means that they do not have their own base and infrastructure.
For that, the PRSC relies on the 673d Air Base Wing, and on the 3rd Wing for transportation to and from their sites.
It is this support from JBER units that enables the PRSC to ensure unauthorized aircraft do not come into American airspace.
The long-range radar sites are primarily run by contracted employees, with the maintenance being contracted as well. These contracts are accomplished through a partnership between the 766th Specialized Contracting Squadron and the 673d Contracting Squadron, with the 766th handling the larger contracts and the 673d providing construction and commodity contracts.
Because of it's unique facilities and mission, the PRSC offers opportunities JBER Airmen may not normally have, Bartlow said.
Airman 1st Class Joshua Quap, 673d Contracting Squadron, contracting specialist became one of those lucky few when he flew up to Indian Mountain to perform a final inspection for a boiler that was recently installed through his contracting squadron.
"It's definitely a different place, it really is. It was awe-inspiring, to say the least," said Quap. "It really shows Alaska for what it is."
"We [also] partner with the 673d Civil Engineer Group," Bartlow said. "We exchange personnel from time to time to expand their experience. We've received support with a couple of their engineering assistants who have been helping us out for several months to augment our folks and go out to these sites.
"It's great for us because we had more work than we could cover with the people we had," he said. "It's also great for them because it's an opportunity to get out and see something different, and to have an opportunity to provide direct oversight on some very unique projects.
"It's a win-win."
The 673d Force Support Squadron manages all PRSC manpower; all of their funding goes through the 673d Comptroller Squadron, and the 673d Logistics Readiness Group provides vehicle maintenance to PRSC locations.
"There needs to be Air Force equipment and vehicles on those island that needs to have an air force maintainer to take care of, and they readily offer those folks up and they spend months out there," Bartlow said.
"They do a lot of great work in making sure our equipment and vehicles are squared away."
The American military is made of several branches, each with unique missions and methods.
In the same way, JBER houses different units, each working separately for their own mission, but also together for a bigger one.
"We've got working relationships with all of them and are very pleased with the support they offer," said Air Force Captain Ben Shearer, PRSC executive officer. "Our mission would absolutely not be possible without their support, they enable us every single day to do our jobs."
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