News

Indo-Pacific Senior Military Official, Federated States of Micronesia Representatives Wrap Up Robust Joint Committee Meeting in Guam
May 9, 2024 — The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Senior Military Official in Guam and Micronesia Rear Adm. Greg Huffman, Federated States of Micronesia Vice President Aren Palik and U.S. Ambassador to the FSM Jennifer Johnson hosted another bilateral FSM-Joint Committee Meeting from May 1-2 at the Joint Region Marianas headquarters in Nimitz Hill... MORE

Joint Region Marianas Hosts Delegates from the Federated States of Micronesia for the 2024 FSM-JCM

ASAN, Guam (May 3, 2024) – Joint Region Marianas hosted delegates from the Federated States of Micronesia during the FSM Joint Committee Meeting held May 1-2 in the JRM headquarters building on Nimitz Hill. Commander Joint Region Marianas Rear Adm. Greg Huffman led the discussion alongside the FSM Vice President Aren B. Palik and the U.S. Ambassador to the FSM Jennifer Johnson. In attendance were representatives from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. Pacific Fleet, FSM national delegates, members of the FSM Congress, as well as state leaders and representatives from Chuuk, Pohnpei, Yap and Kosrae.

The JCM is in accordance with the Compact of Free Association (COFA) Title III: Security and Defense Relations and promotes ongoing dialogue between nations with the objective to enhance security and defense responsibilities in the region. (U.S. Navy photos by Rey Rabara)

Philippine, US forces conclude Balikatan humanitarian efforts
May 9, 2024 — Service members from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military successfully completed a series of humanitarian civic assistance efforts focused on community health engagements, engineering civic action projects, and civil-military engagements during Exercise Balikatan 24... MORE

U.S. Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, pose alongside soldiers with the Philippine Army for a group photograph at the conclusion of a groundbreaking ceremony at Alannay Elementary School prior to the commencement of Exercise Balikatan 24 in Cagayan, Philippines, March 26, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and 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. Trent A. Henry)

USINDOPACOM supports Papua New Guinea infrastructure development plan
May 9, 2024 — PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea — A team from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command visited Papua New Guinea to further the development of joint infrastructure, April 30 - May 2. This scoping mission is in support... MORE

U.S. Space Force top general visits Space Forces Korea
May 8, 2024 — U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman met with Guardians as well as government and military officials during a visit to Osan Air Base and Seoul May 5-7... MORE

Republic of Korea Gen. Kim, Myung-Soo, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, discusses the integration between ROK and U.S. space personnel and operations during a meeting with U.S. Space Force Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, in Seoul, ROK, May 7, 2024.

Philippine, US, Australian forces show off combined fires capabilities, destroy ship in Balikatan training event
May 8, 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)

CSO visits US Space Forces Indo-Pacific, focuses on integrated space operations in priority theater
May 7, 2024 — Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman and his wife, Jennifer, paid a visit to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii to visit Guardians and meet with key players in the support and operation of space assets in the Indo-Pacific theater, May 3, 2024... MORE

Photo of Chief of Space Operations, Gen. Chance Saltzman

Philippine, US forces demonstrate flexibility, operational reach in simultaneous missions during Balikatan
May 7, 2024 — Philippine and U.S. military forces participating in Balikatan 24 concluded the second iteration of maritime key terrain security operations today, exercising their collective ability to secure several islands in the Batanes Island group approximately 1,000 miles north of where combined forces conducted similar operations in Palawan last week... MORE

U.S. Navy Landing Craft, Air Cushion 45, attached to AssaultCraft Unit 5, prepares to land ashore with an M142 High Mobility Rocket System assigned to 3rd Platoon, Alpha Battery, 1st Long Range Fires Battalion, 1st Multi-Domain Task Force as part of a HIMARS Rapid Infiltration drill during Exercise Balikatan 24 at San Vicente, Philippines, May 1, 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. Kyle Chan)

Secretary Austin Concludes Trip to Hawaii
May 6, 2024 — Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III concluded his travel to Honolulu, Hawaii, today... MORE

Pacific Air Forces facilitates Integrated Air Missile Defense SMEE during Balikatan 24
May 6, 2024 — The Pacific Air Force’s Pacific Integrated Air & Missile Defense Center, with support from the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, and the Philippine Air Force facilitated an inaugural multilateral and joint service subject matter expert exchange in preparation for Balikatan24 at Clark Air Base, Luzon City, Philippines April 22 through 26... MORE

Service members from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, U.S. Military, and Japan Air Self-Defense Force stand in front of the Patriot M903 Launching Station belonging to Bravo Battery, 1-1 Air Defense Artillery, as part of the week-long Joint Integrated Air And Missile Defense exchange during Exercise Balikatan 24 at Clark Air Base, Philippines, April 25, 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. Army photo by Maj. Trevor Wild)

Philippine, US forces conduct counter-landing exercise
May 6, 2024 — Combined forces from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and U.S. military rehearsed defending the coastline today during a Balikatan counter-landing live-fire exercise... MORE

U.S. Marines with 3rd Littoral Combat Team, 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, fire Javelin shoulder-fired anti-tank missiles as part of a counter landing live-fire exercise during Balikatan 24 at La Paz Sand Dunes, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, May 6, 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. Eric Huynh)

Guam Guard Recruits jump from 3 to 75 in the Northern Marianas Islands
May 6, 2024 — Guam National Guard troops hailing from the neighboring Northern Marianas Islands have increased 2,400 percent from three in 2022 to 75 in 2024. Driving this effort is Sgt. Juan Camacho, heavy equipment operator with the 1224th Engineer Support Company and native of Saipan... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. Juan Camacho of the Guam National Guard mans his makeshift recruiting office on Captiol Hill, Saipan, April 20, 2024. Camacho has helped increase the number of NMI Guardsmen from three to over 70 in two years. (U.S. National Guard photo by Mark Scott)

Deputy Secretary of Defense Hicks Announces First Tranche of Replicator Capabilities Focused on All Domain Attritable Autonomous Systems
May 6, 2024 — Exemplifying the Department’s focus on harnessing the value of commercial technology to solve critical operational challenges, the first iteration of the Replicator initiative has reached an execution milestone... MORE

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Holds Change of Command Ceremony
May 3, 2024 — Adm. Samuel J. Paparo assumed command of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command from Adm. John C. Aquilino during a change of command ceremony May 3, 2024... MORE

Adm. John Aquilino, right, outgoing commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and Adm. Samuel Paparo, incoming commander of USINDOPACOM exchange salutes during the USINDOPACOM change of command ceremony on Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, May 3. During the ceremony, Paparo assumed command from Aquilino, who retired with 40 years of service in the Navy. 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 John Bellino)

Philippine, US forces advancing territorial defense, rapid infiltration capabilities at Balikatan
May 3, 2024 — Philippine and U.S. military forces participating in Balikatan 24 are conducting multiple synchronized, combined and joint all domain operations across more than 1,000 miles of Philippine territory over 16 days, involving more than a dozen units across the combined force... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 3rd Platoon, Alpha Battery, 1st Long Range Fires Battalion, 1st Multi-Domain Task Force fire an M142 High Mobility Rocket System during Exercise Balikatan 24 at Rizal, Philippines, May 2, 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. Kyle Chan)

Osan A-10s ‘hog’ the skies in KFT 24
May 3, 2024 — Personnel and aircraft assigned to the 51st Fighter Wing participated in the Korea Flying Training 2024 at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, April 11-26, 2024... MORE

A U.S. Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt II assigned to the 25th Fighter Squadron, taxis during the Korea Flying Training 2024 event at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, April 26, 2024. KFT 24 focused on the tactical execution of combat missions to maintain military readiness and reinforced the 51st Fighter Wing’s capabilities to operate from locations with varying levels of resources and support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jovan Banks)

United States-Japan-Australia Trilateral Defense Ministers' Meeting (TDMM) 2024 Joint Statement, May 2, 2024
May 3, 2024 — Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, Japanese Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III convened a Trilateral Defense... MORE

Austin Lauds Strong Ties Between Key Allies in Indo-Pacific
May 3, 2024 — Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III underscored the United States' commitment to deepening ties with key allies throughout the Indo-Pacific after meeting with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines. ... MORE

A service member in uniform shakes hands with a civilian man wearing a suit.

Nurturing Communities: U.S., Philippines Share Ideas During Civil-Military Operations SMEE
May 2, 2024 — Service members from the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps gathered at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Civil-Military Operations school to conduct a subject matter expert exchange on humanitarian civic assistance best practices during Exercise Balikatan 24 at Camp Aguinaldo, Philippines, April 29, 2024... MORE

Armed Forces of the Philippines Spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla-Taborlupa, speaks on the topic of civil affairs’ role in national defense matters during a Civil-Military Operations subject matter expert exchange as part of Exercise Balikatan 24 at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, April 29, 2024. AFP and U.S. CMO specialists joined together to share the best civil affairs practices and their experiences when military forces were called to support civilian populations during the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and refugee crises. 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)

Guam National Guard launches State Partnership with Palau
May 2, 2024 — In a historic ceremony at the Ngarachamayong Cultural Center in downtown Koror, Palau President Surangel Whipps, Jr., Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero, and Col. Michael Cruz, adjutant general of the Guam Guard, signed a declaration formalizing the nation’s newest State Partnership between the U.S. Territory of Guam and the Republic of Palau... MORE

From left, Senior Enlisted Advisor Tony Whitehead, senior enlisted advisor to the chief of U.S. National Guard Bureau; U.S. Ambassador Joel Ehrendreich; Palau President Surangel Whipps; Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero; and Col. Michael Cruz, adjutant general of the Guam National Guard, formalize a State Partnership Program partnership between Guam and Palau in Koror, Palau, April 29, 2024. The partnership builds on thousands of years of common ancestry between the Second Island Chain islands and seeks to mutually benefit both partners in defense and security cooperation.

U.S. Marines, Okinawa citizens honor World War II casualties | Ie Shima Lighthouse Memorial Service 2024
May 1, 2024 — U.S. Marines, Japanese coast guardsmen, and Okinawan officials honored the casualties of WWII during the annual Ie Shima Lighthouse Memorial Service on Ie Shima, Okinawa, Japan, April 21... MORE

Japanese coast guardsmen decorate the Ie Shima Lighthouse Memorial Monument for Martyrs in preparation for the annual Ie Shima Lighthouse Memorial Service on Ie Shima, Okinawa, Japan, April 21, 2024. The memorial service was held to commemorate the casualties of World War II, the Ie Shima lighthouse keeper, and his family. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brody Robertson)