News

Carter Discusses Cooperation With Japanese Counterpart
April 29, 2015 — Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani met for an hour at the Pentagon yesterday to discuss implementation plans of the newly released guidelines for U.S.-Japan... MORE

WASHINGTON (Apr. 28, 2015) - U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter, left, hosts an honor cordon for Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani as he arrives at the Pentagon to discuss matters of mutual importance.

Misawa Air Base Celebrates 70 Years of Bilateral Cooperation
April 29, 2015 — This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and thebeginning of the strategic partnership between the United States and Japan. Incelebration, the theme of the 2015 Bilateral... MORE

Joint Humanitarian Assistance Survey Team Deploys to Nepal from Kadena Air Base
April 29, 2015 — U.S. Pacific Command deployed a JointHumanitarian Assistance Survey Team to Nepal from Kadena Air Base early April29 in an effort to assist earthquake relief efforts.Kadena’s Airmen worked through the... MORE

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan (Apr, 29, 2015) - Members of a U.S. Pacific Command Joint Humanitarian Assistance Survey Team load onto a U.S. Marine Corps C-130. The team is deploying to Nepal to assist earthquake relief efforts. Kadena’s Airmen worked through the night to load the team’s 20-plus members and gear for the departure.

Nepal: U.S. Relief and Recovery Targeting Most Affected Populations
April 28, 2015 — Ambassador Peter W. Bodde welcomed the U.S. Disaster Assistance and ResponseTeam (DART) to Nepal today, April 28. The team is deployed to assist withrelief and recovery efforts in coordination with... MORE

In this file photo, Ambassador Bodde welcomes the Disaster Assistance and Response Team to Nepal.

Leaders Discuss U.S.-Australia Defense Cooperation
April 28, 2015 — Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work met yesterday with Australian Assistant Minister for Defense Stuart Robert at the Pentagon to discuss the deep bilateral defense cooperation between the U.S. and... MORE

Carter: U.S, Japan Defense Guidelines ‘Break New Ground’
April 28, 2015 — American and Japanese national security leaders unveiled the new guidelines for U.S.-Japan defense cooperation today, saying the new rules will promote peace and stability not only in the region, but... MORE

NEW YORK CITY, NY (Apr.27, 2015) - U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter, far right, and U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry, second from right, shake hands with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, far left, and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida after a joint press conference.

Soldiers Are Diplomats in Camo: Army Secretary
April 28, 2015 — Secretary of the Army John McHugh met with Soldiers of the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, here on Saturday, to discuss the important role Soldiers perform when partnering... MORE

2+2 Press Availability with Japan
April 28, 2015 — SECRETARY KERRY: Well, good morning, everybody. It’s a great pleasure to welcome our Japanese colleagues, Foreign Minister Kishida and Defense Minister Nakatani, here to New York. And we are... MORE

Expeditionary Strike Group 7 completes Fleet Synthetic Training - Joint Exercise (FST-J)
April 28, 2015 — Expeditionary Strike Group 7 (ESG-7) completed their annual Fleet Synthetic Training – Joint Exercise (FST-J) 15-72 aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) April 20-24.FST-J... MORE

DoD Sends Aircraft to Support Disaster-Assistance Operations in Nepal
April 27, 2015 — The United States has sent an Air Force aircraft to Nepal to deliver personnel and cargo in support of disaster-relief operations, according to Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve... MORE

Hawaii Service Members Honor the ANZACS with Partner Nations
April 27, 2015 — Australian, New Zealand and U.S. service members from around Oahu gathered at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as the Punchbowl, April 25, 2015, to commemorate the Australian-New... MORE

HONOLULU, Hawaii (Apr. 25, 2015) - Commander of U.S. Pacific Command, Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, attends the ANZAC Day remembrance at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, to honor and commemorates the soldiers who sacrificed their lives on the Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey on April 25, 1915. This year marks the centenary of the Australia and New Zealand forces landed on Gallipoli Peninsula during World War I. 150424-N-DX698-127

Balikatan 15 Reinforces Urban Search and Rescue Techniques
April 27, 2015 — The Armed Forces of the Philippines trained shoulder-to-shoulder with U.S. Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers, practicing techniques to enter collapsed buildings effectively in case of a real world... MORE

CROW VALLEY, Philippines (Apr. 23, 2015) - U.S. Marine Cpl. Erik Santos, a combat engineers assigned to Combat Logistic Battalion explains detonation triggers to Philippine Marine explosive ordnance disposal technicians assigned to Motor Transportation and Maintenance Battalion, Service Support Brigade during Exercise Balikatan 2015. The Marines both discussed and demonstrated the techniques and equipment they each use to do their job. Balikatan, which means "shoulder-to-shoulder" in Filipino, in an annual bilateral training exercise between U.S. and Philippine forces improving security cooperation activities, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities, and crisis response throughout the region.

Kunsan Takes Flight at Max Thunder 15-1
April 27, 2015 — Wolf Pack Airmen joined other members of U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps andRepublic of Korea Air Force units at Gwangju Air Base, ROK, for Exercise MaxThunder 15-1, April 10-24."This is the seventh year... MORE

GWANGJU AIR BASE, Republic of Korea (Apr. 10, 2015) - An F-16 Fighting Falcon takes off to participate in Exercise Max Thunder 15-1. The Wolf Pack joined other U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps and ROKAF flying units to integrate with dissimilar aircraft and practice realistic combat scenarios as one large force.

U.S., Japanese Officials Announce New Defense Guidelines
April 27, 2015 — The new U.S.-Japan defense guidelines will fundamentally change the way Japan and the United States cooperate on defense matters, a senior defense official said recently.The official spoke on... MORE

Earthquake in Nepal
April 27, 2015 — There was a 7.8 Richter scale earthquake that occurred approximately 50 miles from Kathmandu at noon local time. There is significant property damage in Kathmandu. Secretary of State John Kerry... MORE

Balikatan 2015: Multinational Team Teaches Health Workers First Responder Skills
April 24, 2015 — Health workers attending exercise Balikatan’s First Responder Training Course prepared to put their patient care skills to the test as an announcement echoed throughout the training Coliseum.“You are... MORE

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, PALAWAN, Philippines (Apr. 22, 2015) - U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Gary Held, 374th Medical Operations Squadron medical technician and Cooperative Health Engagement instructor, provides feedback to local health workers on their response to a mass casualty training scenario as part of exercise Balikatan's first responder training. U.S. military and Armed Forces of the Philippines training instructors worked shoulder-to-shoulder to train 179 health workers and members of other local agencies to learn skills and techniques to better respond to a mass casualty. This year marks the 31st iteration of the exercise, which is an annual Philippine-U.S. bilateral military training exercise and humanitarian civic assistance engagement.

Oklahoma City Visits Yokosuka during Routine Patrol
April 24, 2015 — The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Oklahoma City (SSN 723) arrived at Fleet Activities Yokosuka April 22, for a port visit during its deployment to the Western Pacific. This was the... MORE

FLEET ACTIVITIES YOKOSUKA, Japan (April 22, 2015) The American flag is raised aboard the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Oklahoma City (SSN 723) as crewmembers render honors. Oklahoma City is moored at Fleet Activities Yokosuka during a scheduled port visit as part of its deployment to the western Pacific.

Restored Aircraft Signifies Recovery from Disaster
April 24, 2015 — In the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011, JapanAir Self-Defense Force members walked dazedly through the remains of MatsushimaAir Base, Japan. The remains of aircraft... MORE

100th Anniversary of ANZAC Day
April 24, 2015 — The Australian and New Zealand Consulates inHawaii will hold a commemorative service to observe the centenary ofAustralia-New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) Day on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at 10a.m. at... MORE

File photo of 100th Anniversary of ANZAC Day

Pacific Disaster Center Supports Exercise to Improve Foreign Disaster Assistance
April 24, 2015 — An exercise is underway that aims to advance United States Government (USG) coordination and response following a natural disaster impacting a foreign partner nation. The exercise, called “Nine... MORE