News

New PACAF Commander, Command Chief Visit Iceman Team
December 10, 2014 — Gen. Lori Robinson, the Pacific Air Forces commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Buddy Hutchison, the Pacific Air Forces command chief, visited Eielson Air Force Base to gain a better understanding of base... MORE

Ambassador Visits U.S./Japan Forces
December 9, 2014 — U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy visited U.S. service members and members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. Kennedy toured the camp as troops were gearing up for the start of Yama... MORE

CAMP ASAKA, Japan (Dec. 8, 2014) - Lt. Gen. Koichi Isobe, the commanding general of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Eastern Army, talks with Caroline Kennedy, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, while touring Camp Asaka prior to Yama Sakura 67.

Secretary of the Navy Visits Korea, Reaffirms Commitment to Alliance
December 9, 2014 — The secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) visited the Republic of Korea (ROK) Dec. 8-9 to meet with Sailors, Marines, and senior leaders to reaffirm the Department of the Navy's strong commitment to the U.S... MORE

SEOUL, Republic of Korea (Dec. 8, 2014) - Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus meets with Republic of Korea Minister of Defense Kim Tae-young in Seoul. Mabus is in the region to discuss the ongoing partnership and cooperation between the U.S. and Republic of Korea navies. 141208-N-AC887-005

US Soldiers Serve Japanese Communities
December 9, 2014 — Sumo wrestling with children and pulverizing rice with a hammer are not your average community service projects – unless you’re in Japan.U.S. service members joined their Japanese counterparts Dec... MORE

YOKOSUKA, Japan (Dec. 6, 2014) - Intelligence Specialist Seaman Amy Graham, from U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), shares a gift with a local child from Shunkouen Spring Bright Garden Orphanage during a community relations (COMREL) event. Blue Ridge COMRELs strengthen relations promoting peace, stability and our commitment to our local communities. 141206-N-KG618-040

Marines, Japanese Students Share Culture
December 9, 2014 — U.S. Marines participating in exercise Forest Light 15-1 visited with high school students here Dec. 5.A group of 11 Marines took time out of their bilateral training to speak with students at... MORE

Yama Sakura 67 Kicks Off in Japan
December 8, 2014 — For the 34th time, U.S. and Japanese Soldiers stood side-by-side to kick off Japan's largest command post exercise here, today.Yama Sakura 67 officially started with a brief ceremony in which... MORE

CAMP ASAKA, Japan (Dec. 8, 2014) - Lt. Gen. Stephen R. Lanza, I Corps commanding general, speaks during the opening ceremony for Yama Sakura 67 on Camp Asaka. Yama Sakura is an annual bi-lateral command post exercise between Japan and the U.S.

US Embassy Expresses Condolences to the Philippine Government for the Devastation Caused by Typhoon Ruby
December 8, 2014 — On behalf of the U.S. Government, the United StatesEmbassy Manila wishes to extend our deepest condolences for the loss of life anddevastation caused by Typhoon Ruby (international name Hagupit).The... MORE

Pearl Harbor Day Commemorates 73rd Anniversary of Attacks
December 8, 2014 — Veterans, service members, families and guests commemorated Pearl Harbor Day with multiple ceremonies at Ford Island and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Dec. 7.The theme of this year's historic... MORE

PEARL HARBOR (Dec. 7, 2014) - Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) conduct a pass-in-review at the USS Arizona Memorial during the 73rd Pearl Harbor Day Commemoration. More than 2,000 guests, including Pearl Harbor survivors and other veterans, attended the National Park Service and U.S. Navy-hosted joint memorial ceremony at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Johans Chavarro) 141207-N-IU636-276

VMM-265 Lands at MCAS Iwakuni, Begins Preparation for Support of Exercise Forest Light
December 8, 2014 — Three MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 landed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 6, 2014, to refuel and begin planning for support of Exercise... MORE

U.S. Air Force B-52 Takes Part in Joint Training at Royal Australian Air Force Darwin
December 8, 2014 — The U.S. Air Force will send a B-52 and KC-135, operatingfrom Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwinlater this week to take part in short term joint training with the... MORE

Anchorage Completes NASA Orion Mission
December 8, 2014 — San Antonio class amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD 23) successfully completed recovery operations of the NASA Orion crew module, forward bay cover, and parachutes, Dec 5. The... MORE

PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 5, 2014) - Sailors from the amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD 23) and Navy divers assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 11, Mobile Dive and Salvage Company 11-7, attach a line to the Orion crew module. Anchorage is conducting the first exploration test flight for the NASA Orion Program. EFT-1 is the fifth at sea testing of the Orion Crew Module using a Navy well deck recovery method. 141205-N-FO359-385

Team Osan Receives Follow-on Forces, Cargo for Exercise Beverly Bulldog 15-01
December 5, 2014 — Typically, the 731st Air Mobility Squadron, operating out of Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, is responsible for the safe passage of thousands of passengers entering and exiting the ROK. However, the... MORE

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan (Dec. 4, 2014) - U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Eric Fontanilla, 13th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew chief, ensures munitions are properly fitted to an F-16 Fighting Falcon. Fontanilla and his team worked quickly to arm the aircraft during exercise Beverly Sunrise 15-1. Misawa, along with other wings in the Pacific Air Forces are working together in a newly designed exercise system. 141204-F-SI704-006

Obama Nominates New DOD Chief
December 5, 2014 — President Obama nominated Ashton Carter as his fourth secretary of Defense on Friday, calling him one of the nation's “foremost national security leaders.”“He knows the Department of Defense inside... MORE

Team Andersen Hosts Annual Operation Christmas Drop Push Ceremony
December 5, 2014 — Thousands of islanders on more than 50 Pacific islands will soon see hundreds of crates containing humanitarian aid and presents parachuting near their homes as Operation Christmas Drop marks its 63rd... MORE

In this photo, an Operation Christmas Drop volunteer uses a forklift to transport boxes containing toys. Operation Christmas Drop is an annual humanitarian airlift mission that began in 1952 and supplies more than 50 islands with boxes that contain donations such as non-perishable food items, clothing, medical supplies, tools, toys and other various items.

Michael Murphy Enhances Interoperability with French Ship
December 5, 2014 — Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) conducted a Passing Exercise (PASSEX) with the French frigate FS Vendemiaire (F734), Nov. 28, while operating in the South... MORE

In this photo, the guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) is returning with 19 civilians embarked who were transferred from Protecteur, which experienced an engine fire and is under tow returning to Pearl Harbor.

Marine Corps Martial Arts Program Instructor Course Tests Marines Endurance on Beaches of Okinawa
December 5, 2014 — In the summer of 1945, near the end of World War II, Marines stormed the beaches of Okinawa, which later became known as the bloodiest battle of the Pacific. Marines were ready to survive by all... MORE

USS Fort Worth Arrives in US 7th Fleet
December 4, 2014 — Littoral combat ship (LCS) USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) arrived in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations Dec. 4, marking a key initial milestone in its 16-month rotational deployment in support of the... MORE

In this photo, the littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) makes a turn while underway in the pacific Ocean. Fort Worth is providing a sea-going platform for a UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter from the U.S. Army 25th Combat Aviation Brigade to conduct deck landing qualifications off the coast of Hawaii. Fort Worth departed is on a 16-month rotational deployment to Southeast Asia in support of the Navy's strategic rebalance to the Pacific.

One Shot: Marines, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Complete Sniper Training
December 4, 2014 — U.S. Marine Corps scout snipers collaborated with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force snipers during a lesson in stalking Dec. 2 in the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan.The... MORE

YAMATO, KUMAMOTO, Japan (Dec. 2, 2014) - U.S. Marine Sgt. Joseph Armistead, crouching, instructs Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF)Members during sniper stalk lane training in the Oyanohara Training Area. The training is part of Forest Light 15-1, a semi-annual, bilateral exercise consisting of a command post exercise and field training events conducted by elements of III Marine Expeditionary Force and the JGSDF to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills. Armistead, from Seymour, Tennessee, is a scout sniper with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF, under the unit deployment program. The JGSDF scout snipers are with 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, JGSDF. 141203-M-GX711-105.

Forest Light Brings Japan Forces and US Marines Together
December 4, 2014 — Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members and U.S. Marines came together in a ceremony Dec. 1 to open up exercise Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture,... MORE

Hickam Airmen Exercise Rapid Raptor in Guam
December 4, 2014 — Airmen from the 15th and 154th Wings at Joint Base Pearl-Harbor Hickam, Hawaii, exercised the newest approach to fighter employment Nov. 20-24 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.Rapid Raptor, which is... MORE