29 February 2016 The Korean Theater of Operations is the Proving Ground for Sustainers Every day in the Republic of Korea (ROK), the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command (ESC), also known as Team 19, synchronizes and executes sustainment operations in support of the Eighth Army and U.S. Forces Korea (USFK). The sustainers of Team 19 are challenged to continuously improve their...
29 February 2016 Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit Complete Certification Exercise USS BONHOMME RICHARD, At Sea — Amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), flag ship of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (BHRARG), and amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42), arrived in White Beach, Okinawa after completing a 9-day certification exercise (CERTEX)...
29 February 2016 Ammunition Operations in Korea U.S. Army ammunition operations within the Korean theater of operations (KTO) are unique from those conducted in other locations. This uniqueness is due in large part to the Korean Armistice Agreement, which ended Korean War operations in 1953. An armistice is a ceasefire between military forces,...
29 February 2016 Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Arrive in 7th Fleet area of operations USS BOXER, Pacific Ocean – The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (13th MEU) team began operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations Feb. 27. "The BOXER ARG, 13th MEU team has trained hard and is ready to enter the complex 7th Fleet operating area," said...
29 February 2016 Exercise Iron Fist 2016: Final Push; U.S. Marines, sailors, Japanese Soldiers Hit Beach, Beyond for PHIBLEX MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, California -- After a month of training at Exercise Iron Fist 2016, U.S. Marines, sailors, and Japanese soldiers concluded Iron Fist training with a scenario based, battalion-sized amphibious landing exercise, or PHIBLEX, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton on Feb...
29 February 2016 Guam Chamber of Commerce Armed Forces Committee Members Embark USS Chicago PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Ten members of the Guam Chamber of Commerce Armed Forces Committee (AFC) embarked aboard Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Chicago (SSN 721), Feb. 22, to build upon the strong partnership between the local community of Guam and the U.S. Navy.The group spent the day...
26 February 2016 Pacom Commander: Rebalance to Asia-Pacific ‘Being Realized’ WASHINGTON, February 25, 2016 — The U.S. military’s strategic rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region is “real and being realized,” the commander of U.S. Pacific Command told Pentagon reporters today. After testifying before House and Senate committees this week, Navy Adm. Harry Harris Jr. said he...
26 February 2016 Cope North 16 Pacific Partners Sharpen Air Combat Skills ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Pilots from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, Japan Air Self-Defense Force and Royal Australian Air Force conducted a large force employment here Feb. 18-26 as part of exercise Cope North 16. The exercise began with humanitarian assistance and disaster relief...
26 February 2016 Partner nations gather in Singapore to plan Pacific Partnership 2016 SINGAPORE (NNS) -- Members of the Pacific Partnership staff and partner nation representatives gathered in Singapore, Feb. 22-26, for a planning conference to hone details for an upcoming mission slated for the summer of 2016. Now in its 11th year, Pacific Partnership is the largest annual...
26 February 2016 Yokota Enhances Rescue Capabilities YOKTOA AIR BASE, Japan -- The 459th Airlift Squadron recently outfitted two of their UH-1N Hueys with new rescue hoists, improving their search and rescue capabilities that support airlift operations across the Kanto Plains region. "It allows us to now go to places where we can't land," said Staff...
26 February 2016 Japan Maritime Self Defense Force, US Navy Grow Green Partnership PHILIPPINE SEA – Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) Naval Liaison Officers (LNOs) visited USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), Feb. 22. The LNOs helped coordinate and communicate with the Murasame-class destroyer JDS Samidare (DD-106) as it received an advanced biofuel mixture from the Great Green...
25 February 2016 USS William P. Lawrence Supports Pacific Island Region Economic, Environmental Stability WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110) supported two commercial fishing vessel boardings, off the coast of the Republic of Nauru this week, as part of the Oceania Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI). OMSI is a secretary of defense program that...
25 February 2016 First Multilateral Partner Nation Silver Flag Concludes at Andersen Air Force Base ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- After spending more than a week sharing civil engineering techniques, 54 engineers from the U.S. Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Republic of Singapore Air Force, Republic of Korea Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force concluded the Partner Nation Silver...
25 February 2016 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit Sets Sail from Thailand USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) – The USS Ashland (LSD 48), carrying elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, left Sattahip, Thailand, Feb. 21, 2016 following the completion of Exercise Cobra Gold 16. This was the 35th iteration of Cobra Gold, which is designed to advance regional security and ensure...
25 February 2016 USAF, Andersen CAT Team Ends 6-month Mission in Palau KOROR, Republic of Palau -- The U.S. Air Force Civil Action Team (CAT) 554-01 was relieved of duty by U.S. Navy CAT 133-26 during a change of charge ceremony, held Feb. 19, 2016, at the Ngarachamayong Cultural Center, located in Palau’s Koror state. The 554th RED HORSE Squadron from Andersen Air...
25 February 2016 Return with Honor PACIFIC OCEAN – As a prisoner of war (POW) during the Vietnam War, Cmdr. James B. Stockdale was the epitome of fortitude and love of country. When his captors told him he was going to be used for propaganda, Stockdale slit his scalp with a razor, purposely disfiguring himself, so that his captors...
25 February 2016 Sailors, Coast Guardsmen Gather at 2016 Wounded Warrior Pacific Trials PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- The 2016 Wounded Warrior Pacific Trials brought together 50 seriously ill and injured Sailors and Coast Guardsmen, from all over the United States, for competitive adaptive sports and recreation, Feb. 20, in Pearl Harbor. The trials are hosted by Commander, Navy Region Hawaii...
24 February 2016 Rebalance to Pacific Needs to Continue, Pacom Commander Says WASHINGTON, February 23, 2016 — It is important for the U.S. military to continue its rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region, the commander of U.S. Pacific Command told the Senate Armed Services Committee today. Navy Adm. Harry Harris Jr. noted that four of the five strategic problem sets that...
24 February 2016 Blue Ridge Engages with Pacific Partner in Osaka OSAKA, Japan -- U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) arrived in Osaka, Japan, Feb. 24, for a regularly scheduled port visit further strengthening ties between the United States and Japan. Blue Ridge Sailors plan to enjoy the local history and food while also being an asset to the...
24 February 2016 Spring Deployment: Marines, Navy Take to the Water during Integration Training OKINAWA, Japan – “A ship without Marines is like a garment without buttons.” The Marines and Navy come a long way since Navy Adm. David Dixon Porter penned those words to Col. John Harris, the commandant of the Marine Corps, in 1863. Naval ships are no longer made of iron armor backed by wood, and...