News

MV-22s Return to Flight Status
April 5, 2024 — The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing returned its MV-22s to flight status on March 14, as the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) deemed the aircraft safe to fly based on a meticulous and data-driven approach that prioritized flight worthiness and safety... MORE

PHILIPPINE SEA (April 2, 2024) An MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 262, prepares to land on the flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault carrier USS America (LHA 6), while conducting routine operations in the Philippine Sea, April 2. America, lead ship of the America Amphibious Ready Group, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cole Pursley)

Wisconsin Guard seizes opportunity to grow relationship with Papua New Guinea
April 5, 2024 — Forty Wisconsin National Guard Airmen and Soldiers spent the week of March 17-22 collaborating with, and training alongside, members of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force in support of the State Partnership Program... MORE

Maj. Gen. Paul Knapp, Wisconsin’s adjutant general, presents Commodore Philip Polewara, acting defence chief of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, with a framed print March 18 of an interaction between Soldiers of the 32nd Division and a Papua New Guinean sketching a diagram of Japanese military positions from Nov. 15, 1942 during the campaign to drive the Japanese army out of Buna. The 32nd Division was largely composed of Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers when World War II began. The photo underscores how far back Wisconsin’s history goes with Papua New Guinea. Forty Wisconsin National Guard Airmen and Soldiers spent the week of March 17-22 in Papua New Guinea collaborating with and training alongside the Papua New Guinea Defence Force as part of the State Partnership Program. This current exchange includes meetings between leadership along with training in instruction, medical, security forces, and collaboration with senior non-commissioned officers. The Wisconsin National Guard and Papua New Guinea began their partnership in 2020 and have since had several key leader engagements and site visits to strengthen that relationship. Wisconsin National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Kati Volkman

U.S. lndo-Pacific Command representatives meet with Chinese counterparts at Military Maritime Consultative Agreement working group
April 5, 2024 — Military representatives from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and U.S. Pacific Air Forces met with People's Republic of China People's Liberation Army representatives for the Military... MORE

Military representatives from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and U.S. Pacific Air Forces met with People's Republic of China People's Liberation Army representatives for the Military Maritime Consultative Agreement Working Group in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 3-4, 2024. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Randi Brown)

B-52 Bombers return home after BTF deployment to Diego Garcia
April 4, 2024 — A Bomber Task Force deployment of two U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortresses, Airmen and support equipment from the 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, concluded at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, April 3... MORE

A B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, takes off to return home from a Bomber Task Force deployment at Navy Support Facility, Diego Garcia, April 3, 2024. The U.S. routinely and visibly demonstrates commitment to our Allies and partners through the global employment of our military forces.(U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Staci Kasischke)

US, Philippine armies enhance interoperability and defense capabilities during Salaknib 24 exercise
April 4, 2024 — In a significant effort to bolster relations and underscore mutual dedication to regional security and stability, the United States Army and the Philippine Army are conducting Salaknib 24... MORE

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command recognizes Women of Excellence in Emergency Management and Contingency Planning during Women’s History Month
April 3, 2024 — U.S. Indo-Pacific Command hosted a luncheon March 25, to recognize and celebrate the impact of more than 30 service members and civilians within the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility... MORE

240325-N-XX566-1216 PEARL HARBOR (Mar. 24, 2024) – Dede Dede Kalaukoa Figueira, deputy director, manpower and personnel directorate for USINDOPACOM, speaks during an honorary luncheon. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command hosted a luncheon on March 25 to recognize and celebrate the impact of more than 30 service members and civilians within the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility.(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Andre T. Richard)

Readout of the U.S.-Singapore Mid-Term Defense Review
April 3, 2024 — Department of Defense spokesperson Lt. Col. Martin Meiners provided the following readout... MORE

US Army CBRN company assumes rotational mission near Korean Demilitarized Zone
April 3, 2024 — A deployed U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) company has assumed the rotational U.S. Army forces mission near the world’s most heavily guarded border... MORE

American Soldiers from the Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington-based 45th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Company (Hazardous Response) are contributing to the Republic of Korea-U.S. Alliance during a rotational deployment near the Korean Demilitarized Zone. The company assumed the Korean rotational force mission from the Fort Drum, New York-based 59th CBRNE Company on Camp Casey, South Korea, Feb. 28. Courtesy photo.

USAMMC-K provides MEDLOG support during Freedom Shield 2024
April 2, 2024 — Sustainers at the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Center-Korea exercised their role as the theater lead agent for medical materiel for U.S. Forces Korea during Freedom Shield 2024... MORE

A Republic of Korea Soldier and U.S. Soldier work in the shipping area of the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Center-Korea, March 8. The two Soldiers took part in training activities as part of Freedom Shield 2024, an annual joint exercise held March 4-14, to enhance alliances and ensure defense fortification abilities on the Korean Peninsula. (Courtesy)

Kunsan AB maintainers generate airpower, protect assets
April 2, 2024 — Airmen from the 8th Maintenance Group further diversified their knowledge and skill set of security and threat response during a week-long exercise, Beverly Sentinel 24-1, Mar. 25-29... MORE

Staff Sgt. Justin Aaron provides armed guard surveillance.

U.S., Japan, Republic of Korea Conduct Third Trilateral Aerial Exercise
April 2, 2024 — For the third time following the historic trilateral summit at Camp David in fall 2023, fighter aircraft from the U.S., Japan, and the Republic of Korea conducted the third trilateral aerial escort flight of U.S. bombers operating in the Indo-Pacific, April 2, 2024... MORE

Fighter aircraft from the U.S. 8th Fighter Wing, Japan, and the Republic of Korea conducted a trilateral escort flight of a U.S. B-52H Stratofortress Bomber operating in the Indo-Pacific, April 2, 2024.

USINDOPACOM Statement on DPRK Missile Launch
April 1, 2024 — We are aware of the DPRK’s ballistic missile launch and are consulting closely with the Republic of Korea and Japan, as well as other regional allies and partners... MORE

U.S., Philippine Air Force to conduct exercise Cope Thunder for enhanced bilateral cooperation
April 1, 2024 — Cope Thunder - Philippines 24-1, a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored exercise, is scheduled to begin on April 8 with primary flight operations over the newly renovated runway at Basa Air Base, Philippines, and run through April 19... MORE

U.S., Thailand hold Annual Senior Leader Dialogue at USINDOPACOM Headquarters
March 29, 2024 — Adm. John C. Aquilino, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, hosted a delegation led by Gen. Songwit Noonpackdee, Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF) Chief of Defence, for the annual U.S.-Thailand Senior Leader Dialogue (SLD) in Honolulu on March 27-29, 2024... MORE

Adm. John C. Aquilino, commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, hosts Gen. Songwit Noonpakdee, Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF) Chief of Defence, at USINDOPACOM headquarters, Camp H.M. Smith in Honolulu on March 27, 2024. The visit was a part of the annual U.S.-Thailand Senior Leader Dialogue (SLD), which included exchanges on regional security and expanded the scope and complexity of the strong U.S.-Thai relationship, which dates back to 1833.

USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, fighting to win.

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Randi Brown)

U.S. Space Forces Indo-Pacific participates in Aerospace Corporation Center panel
March 29, 2024 — Brig. Gen. Anthony J. Mastalir, commander, United States Space Forces Indo Pacific, participated in a Space Partnership & Competition in the Pacific conference panel at the Aerospace Corporation’s Center for Space Policy and Strategy in El Segundo, California, March 18, 2024... MORE

MDA, Navy Conducts Successful Intercept with SM-6; Advances collaboration with Australia
March 29, 2024 — On March 28, 2024, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, in cooperation with the U.S. Navy, successfully conducted an intercept of an advanced Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) test target utilizing the Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) Dual II with Software Upgrade (SWUP)... MORE

The Pentagon Transfers Authority to the Navy to Ensure the Safe Closure of Red Hill
March 28, 2024 — The Department of Defense announced today that the Joint Task Force-Red Hill has completed its defueling mission at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Hawai’i and shifted command and control of the facility to the United States Navy... MORE

U.S. Marines, Sailors arrive in Darwin for 13th iteration of MRF-D
March 28, 2024 — A new group of Marines and Sailors arrived in the Northern Territory to begin the 13th annual iteration of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin... MORE

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Brian Mulvihill, right, the commanding officer of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, shakes hands with Royal Australian Navy Capt. Mitchell Livingstone, the commanding officer of Headquarters Northern Command at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, NT, Australia, March 24, 2024. MRF-D 24.3 is part of an annual six-month rotational deployment to enhance interoperability with the Australian Defence Force and Allies and partners and provide a forward-postured crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific. Mulvihill is a native of New York. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Cristian L. Bestul)

Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
March 27, 2024 — Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout... MORE

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Lindsey Ford Concludes Visit to Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines
March 27, 2024 — Department of Defense spokesperson Lt. Col. Martin Meiners provided the following readout... MORE