News

Exercise MAX THUNDER 17 Comes to a Close
April 28, 2017 — KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- U.S. Marines with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311 concluded Exercise MAX THUNDER 17 with U.S. and Republic of Korea (ROK) Air Force units at Kunsan Air Base,... MORE

(April 27, 2017) - A Republic of Korea Air Force F-15K Slam Eagles from the 11th Fighter Squadron, Daegu Air Base, ROK, takes off during Exercise MAX THUNDER 17 at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, April 27, 2017. In Max Thunder, U.S. and ROK air forces consistently train together to be ready around-the-clock to defend the Republic of Korea. The interoperability and trust developed between the allies in training is critical to ensure U.S and ROK are prepared for any challenge.

Pacific Leadership Commemorates ANZAC Day
April 28, 2017 — PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii -- U.S. Pacific leaders gathered to commemorate Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) Day at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific April 25.ANZAC Day was... MORE

Adm. Scott Swift, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, renders honors after laying a wreath during an Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) Day ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, April 25.

Balikatan Benefits Ormoc City Children, Community
April 28, 2017 — ORMOC CITY, LEYTE, Philippines -- The only things shining brighter than a clear-sky sun for residents were the eyes and smiles of children as they mingled with Philippine Soldiers and U.S. military... MORE

Philippine Soldiers and U.S. military engineers stand for the Philippine national anthem during a groundbreaking ceremony for Balikatan 2017 in Ormoc City, Leyte. Leaders from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, U.S. military, and Ormoc City gathered to commemorate the beginning of engineering projects for new classrooms at Margen Elementary School in Ormoc City, April 25, 2017. Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine military bilateral exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and counterterrorism.

Joint Statement by Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Director of Nat’l Intelligence
April 28, 2017 — U.S. Embassy & Consulate in South Korea -- Past efforts have failed to halt North Korea’s unlawful weapons programs and nuclear and ballistic missile tests. With each provocation, North Korea... MORE

U.S. Army Pacific Hosts G-8 Synchronization Conference
April 28, 2017 — FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii -- U.S. Army Pacific held the first annual G-8 synchronization conference on Apr. 19-20. Financial managers came together to develop strategies to resource the force and to set... MORE

U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) resource management professionals display the "Shaka," a local Hawaiian symbol, during the USARPAC G-8 synchronization conference from Apr. 20-21, 2017 at Fort Shafter, HI. USARPAC G-8 synchronization conference is designed to bring Pacific financial managers together to discuss current and future issues, to develop partnerships and teamwork necessary to build a strong and cohesive Pacific recourse management community.

Doolittle, USS Hornet at 75: Shrinking Oceans, Rising Tides
April 28, 2017 — JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- April 18th marked the 75th anniversary of the famous Doolittle Raid, a daring mission that relied on land-based bombers to fly from sea. Sixteen Army Air... MORE

Leaders Brief Congress on Review of North Korea Policy
April 27, 2017 — WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,... MORE

Sailors, attached to Amphibious Construction Battalion 1 and 2, work on connecting Improved Navy Lighterage System Roll-on/Roll-off Discharge Facility to the ramp of USNS Pililaau (T-AKR 304) during Operation Pacific Reach Exercise 2017 (OPRex17), April 9, 2017. OPRex17 is a bilateral training event designed to ensure readiness and sustain the ROK-U.S. Alliance by exercising an Area Distribution Center (ADC), an Air Terminal Supply Point (ATSP), Combined Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (CLOTS), and the use of rail, inland waterways, and coastal lift operations to validate the operational reach concept.

Training Up: Kadena Squadron Maintains Airmen's Proficiency
April 27, 2017 — KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, Japan -- Day in and day out, leaders in the Air Force are influencing countless Airmen, their education, core values and most importantly, training them to do their... MORE

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Devon Moore, 67th Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, performs pre-training checks on an F-15 Eagle April 24, 2017, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Crew chiefs undergo frequent training to maintain their job proficiency.

Air Force Partners for Environmental Conservation on Wake Atoll
April 27, 2017 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- A remote atoll in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that few people have likely heard of, Wake Atoll is not only a strategic location for the U.S. Air Force,... MORE

Birds fly and nest in the bird sanctuary on Wilkes Island at Wake Atoll April 11, 2017. The sanctuary has approximately 40,000 birds and 12 species on an island less than one square mile in size. The U.S. Air Force, through partnerships with agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, have worked in recent years to restore Wake Atoll to a more natural habit for its bird population and rid the three islands of invasive plant species. Wake Atoll, made up of the tropical islands of Wilkes, Wake and Peale, is located approximately 2,138 nautical miles west of Honolulu, has a population of roughly 100 residents including Air Force personnel and American and Thai contractors, and is managed by the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center under 11th Air Force at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska

Carl Vinson Holds Holocaust Remembrance Service
April 27, 2017 — PHILIPPINE SEA -- The crew of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) held a Holocaust remembrance service in the ship's forecastle, April 24.The ceremony, presented by the ship's... MORE

An MH-60R Sea Hawk from the Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 78 “Blue Hawks” flies near the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), April 24, 2017. U.S. Navy aircraft carrier strike groups have patrolled the Indo-Asia Pacific routinely for more than 70 years.

Making History through Combined Operations
April 27, 2017 — DAEGU, South Korea -- Combined operations are nothing new for service members stationed in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Units are continually training with their ROK military counterparts and work... MORE

Soldiers from 2ID Sustainment Brigade and the Republic of Korea Army 2nd Logistics Support Command construct their field site, April 8, 2017, in preparation for a Combined Distribution Exercise near Pohang, South Korea. The CDEx is part of exercise Operation Pacific Reach '17 and aims to strengthen the U.S. and ROK partnership and interoperability.

Submarine Group 7 Strengthens Ties with the Singaporean Submarine Force
April 27, 2017 — CHANGI NAVAL BASE, Singapore -- Rear Adm. Richard A. Correll, commander Submarine Group 7, and his staff, met with representatives from the Republic of Singapore submarine force at Changi Naval Base... MORE

U.S. Airmen Rescue Thai Man from Near Death Experience
April 27, 2017 — MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- People from around the globe travel to Northern Japan for what some consider the best backcountry snowboarding and skiing in the world.Many, unfortunately, underestimate the... MORE

North Korea Threatens Indo-Asia-Pacific Region, Harris Tells Legislators
April 26, 2017 — WASHINGTON, April 26, 2017 -- North Korea remains the most immediate threat to the security of the United States and its allies in the Indo-Asia-Pacific, Navy Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., the commander... MORE

Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr. U.S. Navy

Carl Vinson Strike Group, Japan Air Self-Defense Forces Conduct Bilateral Joint Exercise
April 26, 2017 — YOKOSUKA, Japan - Japan Air Self-Defense Forces and aircraft from Carrier Air Wing 2, assigned to the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, are conducting combined aviation exercises in the Philippine... MORE

Providing Communications for Balikatan
April 26, 2017 — CAMP LAPULAPU, PHILIPPINES -- Communication is vital to any mission, exercise or daily operation. That is especially true for the Combined Joint Civil-Military Operations Task Force for Exercise... MORE

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Alexander Davis adjusts a satellite communication antenna during Balikatan 2017 at Camp Lapulapu, Cebu, April 25, 2017. Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine military bilateral exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and counterterrorism.

Bilateral Dialogue Between the United States and the Republic of Korea on Counterterrorism
April 26, 2017 — Washington, DC -- On April 25, U.S. and South Korean officials met in Seoul, Republic of Korea (ROK), for the fifth bilateral dialogue between the United States and the ROK on Counterterrorism.Acting... MORE

Mobile Training Team Conducts First Military Freefall Jumpmaster Course Outside U.S.
April 26, 2017 — OKINAWA, Japan -- For the first time in history, the military freefall jumpmaster course was delivered outside of the continental United States. Hosted by the U.S. Marines Corps 3rd Reconnaissance... MORE

U.S. Special Operations Forces personnel take part in a military freefall jumpmaster course on Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, April 19, 2017. This marked the first time in history that the course was delivered outside of the continental United States. Hosted by the U.S. Marines Corps 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion and administered by a Mobile Training Team, the course qualified 27 Marines, Soldiers and Airmen as military freefall jumpmasters in Okinawa.

Misawa F-16 Maintainers Crank 100 Percent Mission Readiness
April 26, 2017 — MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Readiness is a quintessential part of the Air Force, allowing for assets and personnel to be mission ready at a moment’s notice.Due to the high-paced and demanding mission... MORE

A little Stroll through a Lot of Jungle: Medical Personnel Participate in Preventative Aerospace Medicine Convention
April 26, 2017 — KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Members of the 18th Medical Group participated in the Preventative Aerospace Medicine Convention April 21, 2017, here.The PAMACON is a series of exercises focusing on... MORE

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 18th Medical Group navigate a jungle as part of the Preventative Aerospace Medicine Convention April 21, 2017, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Correctly and safely navigating potentially dangerous terrain was one of the focal points of the PAMACON.