News

U.S., Japan Successfully Conduct First SM-3 Block IIA Intercept Test
February 6, 2017 — WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The U.S. Missile Defense Agency, the Japan Ministry of Defense, and U.S. Navy Sailors aboard USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) successfully conducted a flight test Feb. 3 (Hawaii... MORE

Official U.S. Navy file photo of the guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) departing Joint Base Pearl-Harbor-Hickam for a scheduled underway, July 27, 2015.

U.S., Philippines Alliance Strengthened during Readiness Training
February 6, 2017 — CLARK AIR BASE, PAMPANGA, Philippines -- Wednesday marked the end of a two-week Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) between U.S. and Philippine military members here.Over the last two weeks,... MORE

Mattis Says U.S. Remains Committed to Defense of Japan
February 6, 2017 — WASHINGTON -- The United States remains committed to the defense of Japan and stands ready to enhance its alliance for regional peace, prosperity and freedom, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said today,... MORE

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis shakes hands with Japanese Minister of Defense Tomomi Inada before a Defense Ministerial meeting at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo, Japan, Feb. 4, 2017.

Convoy Live Fire Training Enhances 3-2 GSAB Soldier Tactical Skills
February 6, 2017 — WARRIOR BASE, South Korea -- Soldiers from E Company, 3-2 General Support Aviation Battalion, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade conducted Convoy Live Fire training on Jan. 23 at Story Range.This training... MORE

Soldiers from Echo Company 3-2 General Support Aviation Battalion, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade conduct a Convoy Live Fire Exercise on Jan. 23 at Story Range. Soldiers trained for several months in preparation for the exercise.

Green Bay Embarks Marines from Okinawa
February 6, 2017 — OKINAWA, Japan (NNS) -- Amphibious transport dock USS Green Bay (LPD 20) departed White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Feb. 2 after embarking elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).Green... MORE

An amphibious assault vehicle assigned to 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, prepares to embark the well deck of the amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20). The ship is on a routine patrol operating in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to enhance partnerships and be a ready-response force for any type of contingency.

Readout of Secretary Mattis' Meetings with Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
February 3, 2017 — WASHINGTON -- Secretary of Defense Spokesperson Cmdr. Gary Ross provided the following readout:‎Secretary Mattis met with Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today in Tokyo, Japan to reaffirm the strength... MORE

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis shakes hands with the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Prime Minister’s office in Tokyo, Feb. 3, 2017

U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron-225 Kicks Off Cope North 17
February 3, 2017 — ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225 arrived at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, in preparations of Cope North 17 Feb. 8, 2017.Cope North 17 is... MORE

U.S. Marines with Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225 wait to direct F/A-18D Hornets during exercise Cope North at Andersen Air Force Base, Feb. 3, 2017. Marines trained with the Royal Australian Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force supporting theater security, focusing on dissimilar air combat training and large force employment.

Mattis Emphasizes U.S. Commitment in Meetings with South Korean Leaders
February 3, 2017 — WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Jim Mattis emphasized the U.S. commitment to the Asia-Pacific region and its alliance with South Korea in separate meetings with South Korean leaders today, Pentagon... MORE

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis meets with Republic of Korea Minister of Foreign Affairs Yun Byung-se during a visit to Seoul, South Korea, Feb. 03, 2017.

Coronado Completes Underway Focused On Training, Operations At Sea
February 3, 2017 — SEMBAWANG, Singapore -- Following a four-day underway in the South China Sea, littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) pulled into Sembawang Wharves in Singapore for a scheduled maintenance period... MORE

Littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) steams independently during operations in the South China Sea, Feb. 1, 2017. Currently on a rotational deployment in the Indo-Asia-Pacific, Coronado is a fast and agile warship tailor-made to patrol the region's littorals and work hull-to-hull with partner navies, providing 7th Fleet with the flexible capabilities it needs now and in the future.

America Completes Combat systems Ship Qualifications Trials
February 3, 2017 — PACIFIC OCEAN -- Sailors and Marines aboard amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) completed the final phase of combat systems ship qualifications trials (CSSQT) and follow-on operation testing... MORE

Sailors assigned to amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) load ammo into the close-in weapons system (CIWS) for operational testing, Feb. 2, 2017. The CIWS is the last line of defense in protecting the ship against low flying aircraft, small boats and missile attacks. America is currently underway conducting routine operations in preparation for deployment later this year.

Mattis Issues Budget Guidance, Says Fiscal 2017 submission Will Rise
February 3, 2017 — WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Jim Mattis issued budget directives Tuesday aimed at addressing shortfalls in the department and building a more lethal joint force.The budget directives have a quick... MORE

Mattis Describes Overseas Trip as Opportunity to Listen to Allies’ Concerns
February 2, 2017 — WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 2017 — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will listen to the concerns of South Korean and Japanese leaders during his first trip overseas in his new positionThe secretary arrived today... MORE

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis meets with Republic of Korea National Security Advisor Kim Kwan-jin during a visit to Seoul, South Korea, Feb. 02, 2017.

U.S. Navy E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, Tigertails Tread in New Territory
February 2, 2017 — MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- U.S. Navy E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes with Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 125 “Tigertails” arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Feb. 2,... MORE

Five E2-D Advanced Hawkeye aircrafts, assigned to the Tigertails of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 125, taxi the runway after arriving onboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Feb. 2, 2017. VAW-125 will relieve VAW-115 as the airborne early warning squadron for Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 in support of the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) Carrier Strike Group.

Misawa Suppressing Enemy Air Defense Clears Way for Yokota Air Drops
February 2, 2017 — MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Massive dark clouds swooped in from the west, bringing snow and 60 mph winds--making it almost impossible to see your own feet at Draughon Range, Jan 31.Although this may... MORE

303rd Exploit Unexploded Ordnance Experts Enhance Relations, Share Capabilities with Japan
February 2, 2017 — SCHOFIELD BARRACKS -- Explosive ordnance disposal specialists are the Army's foremost tactical and technical explosives experts who are trained and equipped to safely defeat and exploit unexploded... MORE

Platoon Leader, 1st Lt. Caitlin Martin, 65th Ordnance Disposal Company (EOD), 303rd Ordnance Disposal Battalion (EOD), 8th Military Police Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, explains how to operate the computer system which controls a robot to a soldier of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force during a subject matter expert exchange held Jan. 25-26, 2017, here.

Eielson's 354th Communications Squadron Wins Air Force Award
February 2, 2017 — EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Every Airman’s day-to-day tasks are somehow connected to the communications squadron. Buildings, offices, even underground is mapped through a squadron of less than... MORE

U.S. Air Force Airmen and civilians assigned to the 354th Communications Squadron (CS) pose for a group photo in the snow Jan. 26, 2017, at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The 354th CS won the Air Force Lieutenant General Harold W. Grant Award for small communications unit.

Defense Secretary Arrives in Asia-Pacific Region for First Official Visit
February 2, 2017 — OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- An E-4 carrying Defense Secretary Jim Mattis lands at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Feb. 2, 2017.The visit, which is Mattis’ first official visit to a foreign... MORE

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis greets Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) Lt. Gen. Won, In-Choul, ROKAF Operations Command commander, as he arrives at Osan Air Base, Feb. 2, 2017. Mattis’ visit to the ROK, the first such visit in his tenure as secretary of defense, comes in light of a year of strong provocations from North Korea, affirming the ironclad commitment the U.S. has in strengthening its robust alliance with the ROK.

Lending a Lift: Maintenance Squadron Recovers Downed Aircraft
February 1, 2017 — MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- In any situation when an aircraft’s landing gear collapses, causing it to belly or emergency land without gear, a specialized team called the crashed, damaged, disabled... MORE

Airmen with the 35th Maintenance Squadron crashed, damaged, disabled aircraft recovery unit center a lifting bag on a pallet build up at Misawa Air Base, Jan. 28, 2017. These Airmen respond to aircraft incidents when an aircraft needs to be lifted to retract landing gear or moved off an active runway, enabling normal mission operations to resume.

Exercise Cobra Gold 2017 to Begin February 14, 2017
February 1, 2017 — Thailand and the United States will co-host the annual, multilateral Exercise Cobra Gold in various areas throughout the Kingdom of Thailand February 14-24, 2017.Exercise Cobra Gold, the largest... MORE

Modernizing the Patriot Fleet
February 1, 2017 — SOUTH KOREA -- Readiness and modernization remain fixtures among the Army's top priorities, both of which are initiatives 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade is addressing as the brigade upgrades their... MORE

A heavy expanded mobility tactical truck pulls an electrical power plant system from the belly of a C-5 Super Galaxy at Osan Air Base, Jan. 26, 2017. The addition of the inbound Patriot equipment will support 35th ADA Brigade as it conducts the largest Patriot modernization effort ever executed outside a depot facility.