PATTAYA, Thailand -- Pacific Partnership 2018, the largest annual multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) preparedness mission, kicked off aboard the expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Brunswick (T-EPF 6) in Sattahip, May 20.This will be the first time Thailand hosts...

KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia -- USNS Millinocket (T-EPF 3) and embarked U.S. 7th Fleet Sailors and Marines arrived in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, May 21, as part of the U.S. 7th Fleet theater security cooperation (TSC) patrol.The 7th Fleet team, consisting of more than 60 servicemembers including the U.S...

CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa, Japan -- The Marines and Sailors of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, joined the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in Okinawa, Japan, May 21, 2018. This is the second time that the battalion has been the Ground Combat Element (GCE) of the 31st MEU within the last two...

HONOLULU, Hawaii -- The Coast Guard assisted a distressed Canadian mariner to Hilo Sunday after his vessel began taking on water about 80 miles southeast of the Big Island."We're pleased this mariner is safe. The use of the emergency position indicating radio beacon allowed us to locate him quickly...

YOKOSUKA, Japan -- The forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) returned to Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, May 17, after completing sea trials.The seven-day evolution measured the crew's ability to operate critical systems and perform underway operational evolutions...

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii -- Adm. John C. Aquilino will assume command of U.S. Pacific Fleet from Adm. Scott H. Swift, Thursday, May 17, at 10 a.m. in a change-of-command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam’s Kilo Pier.The world’s largest fleet command, the U.S. Pacific Fleet encompasses 100...

NHA TRANG, Vietnam -- Service members and partner nation personnel participating in Pacific Partnership 2018 aboard the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), arrived in Nha Trang, May 17.The mission in Nha Trang will continue through June 2 and feature U.S. and partner nation personnel working...

Philippines -- U.S. and Philippine military underwater construction teams (UCT) partnered for an exchange of techniques and procedures during the 34th iteration of the annual Exercise Balikatan at Naval Base Camilo Osias, May 7-18, 2018.The exercise between the combined UCT units serves as a way to...

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- A secluded table of Airmen in a corner of a ballroom on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni bellows with laughter as the Pacific Air Forces’ F-16 Fighting Falcon Demonstration Team shares memories after a long day of air show performances. Quickly, these...

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Soldiers assigned to the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command (AAMDC) completed, Friday May 11, a grueling five-day competition that tested their physical and mental endurance to be named the 94th AAMDC's Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the...