News

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter Announces Policy for Transgender Service Members
June 30, 2016 — Secretary of Defense Ash Carter today announced that transgender individuals will now be able to openly serve in the U.S. armed forces.The DoD policy announced today also establishes a construct by... MORE

US, ROK Navies Coordinate on Anti-submarine Warfare
June 30, 2016 — BUSAN, Republic of Korea - Senior leaders from the U.S. and Republic of Korea navies met at the Republic of Korea Fleet (ROKFLT) base in Busan to discuss continued cooperation efforts regarding... MORE

BUSAN, Republic of Korea (June 30, 2016) - Vice Adm. Joseph P. Aucoin, the commander of U.S. 7th Fleet, and Vice Adm. Lee, Ki-sik, the commander of the Republic of Korea Fleet, pose for a photo with their respective warfare commanders after an Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Cooperation Committee discussion. The event brought together senior naval leaders from both nations to discuss ASW operations, capabilities and strategic dialogue between the two maritime partners.

Great Green Fleet arrives at Pearl Harbor for RIMPAC
June 30, 2016 — PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - The USS John C. Stennis Strike Group (JCSSG) arrived in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii June 28 and 29 to participate in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise.JCSSG, also known as the... MORE

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (June 28, 2016) - Fire Controlman 2nd Class Michael Klimek mans the rails aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) as the ship prepares to moor at Joint Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to participate in exercise Rim of the Pacific 2016. Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 30 to Aug. 4, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

Annual Bilateral Exercise, Hanuman Guardian under Way in Thailand
June 30, 2016 — FORT ADISORN, Thailand - Soldiers from the Lancer Brigade, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and the Royal Thai Army Cavalry Center stand together in ceremony, here,... MORE

FORT ADISORN, Thailand (June 27, 2016) - Brig. Gen. Brian Alvin, Deputy Commanding Gereral, U.S. Army Reserve and Lt. Gen. Thakonkiat Nuanyong, Director General of the Royal Thai Army Training Command address a U.S.-Thai formation at Fort Adisorn prior to beginning Hanuman Guardian, part of Pacific Pathways. Hanuman Guardian is a joint U.S. - Thai exercise focused on military interoperability while providing disaster relief.

Arizona Guard Helps Alaska Guard Sustain the Force
June 30, 2016 — FORT GREELY, Alaska -- A mobile maintenance small-arms repair team from the Arizona Army National Guard completed a weapons and night vision goggles inspection mission at Fort Greely, Alaska, for the... MORE

In this photo, small-arms repairers from the Alaska and Arizona Army National Guards inspect M4 carbines and M240 machine guns at Fort Greely. The Arizona Guard was invited to Alaska to assist in weapons and night vision optics inspections for the Alaska National Guard's 49th Missile Defense Battalion.

Task Force Koa Moana to Start Training Exercise in Fiji and Tonga
June 30, 2016 — Approximately 200 Marines, Sailors and Coast Guardsmen from I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) and III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF), U.S. Navy 7th Fleet, and U.S. Coast Guard's 14th District... MORE

Airmen, Soldiers Tackle Joint Jungle Training
June 30, 2016 — ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Veiled in darkness, two MH-60 Seahawks cut through the humid night air heading toward a landing zone in an abandoned military building complex.Inside each helicopter,... MORE

Airmen and Soldiers learn how to set animal traps and snares during the Jungle Training Operations Course June 17, 2016, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. From June 15-21, instructors from the U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division’s Lightning Academy Jungle Operations Training Center, in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, travelled to Guam to teach more than 30 Airmen and Soldiers the fundamentals of fighting and surviving in jungles with support from cadre members of the 736th Security Forces Squadron.

25th Aircraft Maintenance Unit from Osan Air Base Airmen keep Thunderbolts Flying
June 30, 2016 — OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Airmen often list off a variety of reasons for joining their specific career field, such as “I like to work on computers,” or “I like to get my hands dirty.”... MORE

Senior Airman Paul Willett, 51st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, cleans the inside of the canopy on an A-10 Thunderbolt II at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, June 9, 2016. Willett cleaned the canopy so nothing obstructs the vision of the pilot in the cockpit before training sorties are flown.

U.S., Japanese Service Members Build Strategic Partnerships at Kadena Air Base
June 29, 2016 — KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Members of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and Ground Self-Defense Force toured the 353rd Special Operations Group here June 21, in order to create partnerships between... MORE

Japan Air Self-Defense Force and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members attending the 52nd Joint Tactical Operations Course get a briefing about some of the equipment the 320th Special Tactics Squadron uses during a tour of the 353rd Special Operations Squadron June 21, 2016, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Members of JGSDF and JASDF bond with their U.S. Air Force counterparts as they discuss the similarities and differences in the equipment they use and the missions they train for.

Corps Archeologist Leads Expedition to Recover a Vietnam War-era Pilot's Remains
June 29, 2016 — SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Dripping sweat and coughing on dusty air, Joe Griffin prepares to make yet another trek up a rocky hillside. Over the course of a month, he will take this short hike hundreds of... MORE

Army Specialist Fulfills Dream of Becoming an Army Medical Officer
June 29, 2016 — The late Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." For Ki Suk (Peter) Eum that dream was to become a medical officer in the United States... MORE

Marines Dive with Great Whites
June 29, 2016 — PORT LINCOLN, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, Australia — Frigid waters from the coast of South Australia took Marines’ breathe away as they stepped into a underwater cage. Braving cold waters confined in the cage... MORE

Staff Sgt. Gordon L. Williams, an infantry unit leader, looks out for great white sharks near Neptune Island Marine Park, South Australia, Australia, June 26, 2016. U.S. Marines and sailors with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin had the rare opportunity to dive with sharks before Exercise Hamel begins. Williams, from Homerville, Georgia, is with Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, MRF-D.

Ambassador Kennedy Speaks at Nuclear Disarmament Working Group
June 29, 2016 — AMBASSADOR KENNEDY: Good morning. Minister Kikawada, distinguished guests, I want to thank the government of Japan for hosting this third plenary of the International Partnership for Nuclear... MORE

Marine Rotational Force - DarwinMarines and Sailors Set Sail on HMAS Adelaide
June 29, 2016 — TASMAN SEA – U.S. Marines and sailors from Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, embarked on the Royal Australian Navy’s Amphibious Assault Ship, Landing... MORE

U.S. Marines prepare to go aboard the HMAS Adelaide at Port of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, June 16, 2016. This marks the first time Marines and sailors from Marine Rotational Force - Darwin have embarked in such numbers on an Australian HMAS. This opportunity allows for MRF-D to expand the partnership capabilities with our Australian allies. The Marines are with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, MRF-D, and the Australians are with HMAS Adelaide.

USS Makin Island Hosts Scientists to Sea
June 28, 2016 — PACIFIC OCEAN -- USS Makin Island (LHD 8) hosted 12 members of Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet's Scientists to Sea program.The Scientists to Sea program aims to give a greater understanding of shipboard... MORE

160616-N-GB595-337 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 16, 2016) USS Makin Island (LHD 8) maneuvers to recover Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) 32, assigned to Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5, during an LCAC emergency recovery training exercise. Makin Island is conducting training evolutions off the coast of Southern California in preparation for an upcoming deployment. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Eric Zeak/Released)

Trilateral Pacific Dragon Ballistic Missile Defense Exercise Concludes
June 28, 2016 — KAUAI, Hawaii - Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet is wrapping up the third biennial exercise Pacific Dragon from June 20-28 off the coast of the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) in Kauai, Hawaii.Pacific... MORE

In this file photo, the guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) departs Joint Base Pearl-Harbor-Hickam for an at-sea period. John Paul Jones replaced USS Lake Erie (CG 70) in Hawaii last year as a rotational ballistic missile defense (BMD) deployer and the nation's BMD test ship.

Japanese, Arctic Paratroopers Share Diverse Spectrum of Airborne Skills during Artic Aurora
June 28, 2016 — Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska - U.S. Army and Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force paratroopers executed numerous training events here May 31 to June 15 in a display of Arctic readiness and... MORE

In this photo, Japanese Maj. Gen. Yasuyuki Kodama, commanding general of the Japan Ground Self Defense Force's 1st Airborne Brigade, observes his paratroopers as they perform an airborne proficiency operation over Malemute Drop Zone during Exercise Arctic Aurora at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska June 9, 2016. Arctic Aurora is a yearly bilateral training exercise involving elements of the Spartan Brigade and the JGSDF, which focuses on strengthening ties between the two by executing combined small unit airborne proficiency operations and basic small arms marksmanship.

Quality Assurance Strengthens Foreign Military Efforts
June 28, 2016 — REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- When an international customer purchases something from the U.S. government, quality assurance plays an important role in ensuring the equipment or service provided meets the... MORE

Okinawa Residents, Status of Forces Agreement Members Gather for Okinawa Memorial Day Services
June 28, 2016 — NAHA, OKINAWA, OKINAWA, JAPAN -- Footsteps pattered over hot walkways as figures dressed in black made their way to a shady alcove, lined by stone walls engraved with hundreds of thousands of names... MORE

Distinguished visitors prepare to lay wreaths at the memorial walls during the 2016 Okinawa Memorial services June 23 at Peace Memorial Park, Itoman, Japan. The ceremony brought Okinawa residents and Status of Forces Agreement members together to honor those whose lives were lost in the Battle of Okinawa. During the ceremony, distinguished guest speakers gave speeches to honor the fallen in the Battle of Okinawa and laid wreaths at the memorial walls, on which the names of the fallen were engraved. Attendees, in turn, took a moment of silence and paid tribute to the fallen heroes.

Deployment Readiness: Military and Family Readiness Center Supports Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
June 28, 2016 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Editor's note: The Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Military and Family Readiness Center offers a variety of services to Department of Defense identification... MORE