An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | Nov. 2, 2016

U.S.-Japan Self-Defense Forces to Conduct Combined Amphibious Operations Off Guam, Tinian

By Amphibious Force 7th Fleet Public Affairs

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- U.S. forces are set to partner with the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) in amphibious operations off Guam and Tinian as part of Keen Sword 17, Nov. 1-11.

Keen Sword is a joint and bilateral exercise held between the U.S. military and JSDF in an effort to increase operational readiness and interoperability to enhance the Japan-U.S. alliance.

U.S. Navy and Marine Corps units and personnel will combine with JSDF units to conduct a range of amphibious missions for the first time since the inception of Keen Sword. Accompanying surface ships will conduct live-fire exercises and other maritime missions to simulate protecting the amphibious task force, and providing supporting fires to ground forces ashore.

"We're honored to work together with our Japanese Self-Defense Force counterparts and learn from each other," said Rear Adm. Marc H. Dalton, commander, Amphibious Force 7th Fleet. "By improving our bilateral amphibious capability, we increase interoperability and readiness as part of our deep and longstanding military cooperation in support of the U.S.-Japan defense alliance."

Personnel assigned to Amphibious Force 7th Fleet, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, and 3rd Marine Division have embarked on Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) helicopter destroyer JS Hyuga (DDH-181) to assist in integration of U.S. forces into the amphibious task force and overall build on bilateral relationships.

Hyuga will be the flagship for a four-ship Japanese amphibious task force, complimented by amphibious dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45) and embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit Marines.

A platoon of 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment based out of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii and forward-deployed under 3rd Marine Division are embarked on tank landing ship JS Osumi (LST-4001) and integrate with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) forces there to conduct bilateral amphibious operations.

The culminating amphibious landing will include an insertion of ground forces via combat rubber raid craft and a helicopter-borne assault.

Conducting bilateral amphibious operations in a training environment increases proficiencies in mobilizing people and equipment from a sea base to shore, enhancing bilateral capability to jointly respond within the framework of the U.S.-Japan alliance.
CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                                 

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
President of the Republic of Palau visits Hawaii
Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of USINDOPACOM, right, welcomes President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. of the Republic of Palau, left, to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command headquarters, Hawaii, with an honors ceremony, Oct. 11, 2024. USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, fighting to win. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Austin Riel)
Oct. 13, 2024 - HONOLULU — President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. of the Republic of Palau visited the Indo-Pacific Command Headquarters at Camp H.M. Smith, where he participated in an honors ceremony and an office call to discuss combined efforts...

U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Visits Republic of Korea, Meets with Senior Leaders
Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, speaks to cadets at the Korea Military Academy, during an overseas trip to the Republic of Korea, Oct. 10, 2024. The trip reaffirms the U.S.-ROK alliance remains the cornerstone of peace and security in Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula. USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, fighting to win. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John D. Bellino)
Oct. 11, 2024 - SEOUL — Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, visited the Republic of Korea (ROK) from Oct. 8-11 to meet with senior Korean military and government officials, future Korean military officers, and...

U.S. Naval Forces Korea Awarded ROK Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea (ROK) President Yoon Suk Yeol presented Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea (CNFK) Rear Adm. Neil Koprowski with the ROK Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), during the 76th Annual ROK Armed Forces Day Ceremony in Seoul, October 1. CNFK located on Busan Naval Base, South Korea, is the U.S. Navy's representative in South Korea, providing leadership and expertise in naval matters to improve institutional and operational effectiveness between the two navies and to strengthen collective interoperability in Korea and the region. (Courtesy Photo)
Oct. 11, 2024 - Republic of Korea (ROK) President Yoon Suk Yeol presented Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea (CNFK) Rear Adm. Neil Koprowski with the ROK Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), during the 76th Annual ROK Armed Forces Day Ceremony...

India hosts Australia, Japan and U.S. forces in Exercise Malabar 2024
VISAKHAPATNAM, India (Oct. 9, 2024) – Indian Navy Vice Adm. Rajesh Pendharkar (center right), flag officer commanding-in-chief, Eastern Naval Command, speaks alongside senior leaders from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), Royal Australian Navy and U.S. Navy during the opening ceremony for Exercise Malabar 2024 on board Indian Navy Submarine Base Virbahu in Visakhapatnam, India, Oct. 9, 2024. Malabar 24 is a combined field training exercise with the Royal Australian Navy, Indian Navy, JMSDF and U.S. Navy participants. The exercise is designed to support achievement of strategic objectives by strengthening partnerships in the Indo-Pacific and promoting interoperability in the conduct of complex warfighting operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Greg Johnson)
Oct. 11, 2024 - Australia, Japan, and U.S. forces joined the host India Navy for an opening ceremony to celebrate the launch of field-training exercise Malabar 2024 in Vishakhapatnam, India, on Oct. 9...

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Chairs Inaugural Plenary Meeting of Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience
Participants of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies pose for a photo.
Oct. 11, 2024 - On October 7-8, 2024, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment William LaPlante chaired the inaugural plenary meeting of the Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience (PIPIR) in Honolulu, HI...