News

Combat Generation Exercise reinforces trilateral partnerships among U.S., Japanese, Australian Allies
May 20, 2024 — The 35th Fighter Wing conducted the first ever trilateral Combat Ammunition Production Exercise (CAPEX) with munitions specialists from Pacific Air Forces, Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) May 6-9, 2024... MORE

U.S. Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, and Japan Air Self-Defense Force members construct munitions during a Combat Ammunition Production Exercise (CAPEX) at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 8, 2024.

Gobi Wolf 2024 strengthens partnerships for disaster resilience
May 20, 2024 — Exercise Gobi Wolf 2024 culminated with resounding success during a closing ceremony held in Choibalsan, Mongolia, May 10, marking another significant stride in disaster preparedness and global collaboration... MORE

U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Frankie Bolaños, left, lowers himself on the line to simulate the rescue of Tech Sgt. Daniel Kolk, both fire contingency instructors with the Pacific Air Force.

Combined US-Philippine Forces Conduct Largest Tactical Convoy on Palawan Island
May 19, 2024 — Elements of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Philippine Marine Corps’ 3rd Marine Brigade conducted the largest combined military convoy to date on Palawan Island, Philippines, May 15, 2024... MORE

A U.S. Marine Corps Joint Light Tactical Vehicle departs Philippine Marine Base Camp Rodolfo with Philippine Marine Corps vehicles belonging to the 3rd Marine Brigade during a combined convoy and mobile defense exercise as part of Archipelagic Coastal Defense Continuum in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines, May 15, 2024.

DoD Representatives Meet with Residents of Palau; Discuss Proposed Designation of Defense Site in Peleliu
May 17, 2024 — A team of engineers and representatives of the Department of Defense (DoD) met with government leaders and residents of the Republic of Palau to discuss the proposed designation of a new defense site in Peleliu, May 13 and 15... MORE

PELELIU, Republic of Palau (May 16, 2024) – Department of Defense representatives and engineers meet with Peleliu Gov. Emais Roberts ahead of the first of three engagements with Peleliu residents and landowners, May 13.

About 200 residents attended the meetings which were held to discuss the proposed designation of a new defense site in Peleliu. (U.S. Navy photo by Shaina O’Neal)

US Army EOD Group strengthens ROK-US Alliance during meeting on Fort Carson
May 17, 2024 — A U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group helped to strengthen EOD interoperability with the Republic of Korea Army... MORE

A U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group recently helped to strengthen EOD interoperability with the Republic of Korea Army. Capt. Paul Sohn (second from right), the future operations officer for the U.S. Army 71st Ordnance Group (EOD), served as the action officer and translator for a visit by the ROK Army Logistics Command to the headquarters of the 71st EOD Group on Fort Carson, Colorado. Courtesy photo.

USINDOPACOM Statement on DPRK Missile Launches
May 17, 2024 — We are aware of the ballistic missile launches and are consulting closely with our allies and partners. While we have assessed that this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or... MORE

Readout of Assistant Secretary Ratner's Call With PRC Office of International Military Cooperation Director
May 16, 2024 — Dr. Ely Ratner, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, spoke by video teleconference today with People's Republic of China (PRC) Major General Li Bin, Director of the Central Military Commission Office for International Military Cooperation, to discuss issues of mutual concern... MORE

3rd MLR Concludes Balikatan 24, Transitions to ACDC
May 16, 2024 — 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment concluded their participation in the 39th iteration of Balikatan, an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military, on May 10, 2024... MORE

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Tyler Jordan, a native of Illinois and a machine gunner with 3rd Littoral Combat Team, 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, moves through urban terrain alongside a Philippine Marine with Marine Battalion Landing Team 10 while conducting urban operations training during Balikatan 24 at Paredes Air Station, Philippines, April 27, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Malia Sparks)

US Army Pacific, ally military leaders discuss deepening partnership
May 15, 2024 — The most senior military officers with U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC), the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), the Republic of Korea Army, and the Australian Army spoke optimistically about the potential for broader and more frequent cooperation between their forces in a panel May 15, 2024, during the Land Forces in the Pacific (LANPAC) conference hosted here by the Association of the U.S. Army... MORE

Gen. Charles A. Flynn, Commander, U.S. Army Pacific, Gen. Yasunori Morishita, Chief of Staff, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, Gen. An Su Park, Chief of Staff, Republic of Korea Army, and Lt. Gen. Simon Stuart, Chief of Army, Australia present their armies' positions on security issues during an international panel at the Landpower in the Pacific conference in Honolulu, Hawaii, May 15, 2024.

18th MEDCOM Commanding General at LANPAC 24: Remote robotic surgeries to save lives on future battlefields?
May 15, 2024 — What does it take to win in the complex Indo-Pacific region? Spanning over 4,000 miles and consisting mostly of the air and maritime domain, as well as densely populated land masses, the Indo-Pacific creates logistical challenges further complicated by the tyranny of distance and time – both of which feed into the calculus of providing sustained health service support for U.S. Troops... MORE

18th Medical Command Commanding General Paula Lodi discusses Army Medicine in the Indo-Pacific Region during Land Forces Pacific 2024 in Honolulu, Hawaii, May 14, 2024. 18th MEDCOM sets the Joint theater for medical operations while increasing its strategic posture by synchronizing and coordinating health service support and medical logistics across its more than 4,000 square mile area of responsibility.

Enhancing communication capabilities with the Philippine Air Force
May 15, 2024 — Bilateral exercises such as Cope Thunder 24-1 underscore the importance of allied and partner nations coming together to enhance interoperability between participating forces. One key aspect of this collaboration is ensuring secure communications are established to reduce barriers to sharing information during realistic training scenarios... MORE

Photo of U.S. Air Force Airmen speaking with a Philippine Air Force officer

U.S. Navy Destroyer Conducts Freedom of Navigation Operation in the South China Sea
May 15, 2024 — On May 10, USS Halsey (DDG 97) asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands, consistent with international law... MORE

240510-N-IM467-1007
SOUTH CHINA SEA (May 10, 2024) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG-97) conducts routine underway operations in the South China Sea, May 10, 2024. Halsey is forward-deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ismael Martinez)

Statement from NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson on the U.S.-PRC Talks on AI Risk and Safety
May 14, 2024 — Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Technology and National Security Tarun Chhabra and Department of State Acting Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technologies Seth Center will lead an interagency U.S. delegation to Geneva, Switzerland on May 14, for talks on artificial intelligence (AI) risk and safety with the People’s Republic of China (PRC)... MORE

U.S. Army provides legal training to Papua New Guinea Defence Force officers
May 14, 2024 — A U.S. Army national security law attorney conducted Defense Institute of International Legal Studies training with Papua New Guinea Defence Force officers in an effort to enhance their legal expertise April 4, 2024, in Tunmon Guam... MORE

(Left to right) U.S. Army Capt. Matthew Lillard, national security law attorney, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, U.S. Air Force Maj. Gabriel Bush, deputy staff judge advocate, Andersen AFB, Guam, and Maj. Christopher Niemiec, international operations officer, Defense Institute of International Legal Studies pose for a photo with Papua New Guinea Defence Force officers April 6, 2024, Tumon, Guam, during Defense Institute of International Legal Studies training. The three-day training session covered a wide range of topics crucial to the legal aspects of detainee operations, law of armed conflict, and legal considerations in conflict zones to four PNGDF officers re-introducing aircraft to their air wing. (Courtesy)

CARAT Indonesia Celebrates 75 Years of Diplomatic Relations Between U.S., Indonesia
May 13, 2024 — The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps began Exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Indonesia 2024 with the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) and Marine Corps (KORMAR RI) in Bandar Lampung, Indonesia, May 13... MORE

MV-22B Ospreys touch down in the top end for MRF-D 24.3
May 13, 2024 — The rumble of U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Ospreys echoed across Port Darwin and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Darwin as Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 (Reinforced) (VMM-268 (Rein.)) arrived as the Aviation Combat Element of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3 (MRF-D) Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF), finalizing the formation of the 13th rotation of MRF-D on May 11, 2024... MORE

U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Ospreys assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, take off for the first flight of the MRF-D 24.3 rotation at Port Darwin, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 11, 2024. The Ospreys were flown from Port Darwin to Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, where they will be hosted for the duration of the rotation. VMM-268 (Rein.) makes up the Aviation Combat Element, out of Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, completing the structure of the MAGTF with the arrival of 10 MV-22B Ospreys. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Colton Martin)

51st FW F-16 Fighting Falcons take the lead in Red Flag-Alaska 24-1
May 10, 2024 — The 51st Fighter Wing took charge as the lead wing in Red Flag-Alaska 24-1 hosted at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, from April 18 - May 3, 2024... MORE

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron lands on a runway at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, May 8, 2024. The 36th FS aircraft returned from the Red Flag-Alaska 24-1 training event with sustained operational capabilities and improved interoperability with allies. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Kaitlin Frazier)

Philippines and U.S. Conclude Balikatan Exercises, Shoulder-To-Shoulder
May 10, 2024 — The Armed Forces of the Philippines hosted the closing ceremony of Exercise Balikatan 2024, marking the successful conclusion of the largest annual combined military exercise between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America... MORE

Armed Forces of the Philippines Maj. Gen. Marvin L Licudine, Philippines Exercise Director, and Lt. Gen. Michael S. Cederholm, U.S. Exercise Director representative and Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force, furl the exercise flag during the closing ceremony to conclude Exercise Balikatan 24 at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, May 10, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Pedro Tenorio)

Philippine, US, Australian Forces Show Off Combined Fires Capabilities, Destroy Ship in Balikatan Training Event
May 10, 2024 — Philippine, U.S. and Australian military forces integrated land, sea and air platforms to simultaneously sense, target, strike and destroy a decommissioned ship off the western coast of Northern Luzon today... MORE

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 13th Fighter Wing conduct preflight checks on a F-16 Fighting Falcon before a maritime strike during Exercise Balikatan 24 at Basa Air Base, Philippines May 8, 2024. Armed Forces of the Philippines, U.S. and Australian military forces integrate land, sea and air platforms to simultaneously sense, target, strike and destroy a decommissioned ship off the western coast of Northern Luzon. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kyle Chan)

DOD Releases Fiscal Year 2023 Freedom of Navigation Report
May 9, 2024 — The Department of Defense (DoD) released its annual Freedom of Navigation (FON) Report for Fiscal Year 2023... MORE