U.S. Air Force Capt. Michael Pyles, 36th Airlift Squadron C-130J pilot, performs a visual confirmation over Mount Aso, Japan, July 16, 2019, during a flight training mission. The training allows USAF and JGSDF units to work alongside each other while improving the readiness of our armed forces.

A Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldier assigned to the 1st Airborne Brigade is ready to jump from a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules from the 36th Airlift Squadron over Hiju-dai exercise area, Oita prefecture, Japan, July 16, 2019. The training allows USAF and JGSDF units to work alongside each other while improving the readiness of our armed forces.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63) arrives in San Diego, where she will be homeported and undergo her midlife modernization. Stethem arrives in San Diego following 14 years of forward-deployed service in the Indo-Pacific region operating from Japan.

A delegation from the Republic of Korea Army tour the Logistical Support Vessel 2, CW3 Harold C Clinger on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a capabilities brief as part of a Logistics Coordination Council July 16 hosted by the 8th Theater Sustainment Command, The LCC provided an opportunity for both armies to gain a better understanding of each other's sustainment capabilities and also demonstrates the strong U.S. and ROK alliance and friendship. (Photo by Staff Sgt. John Portela)

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska - A pararescueman with the Alaska Air National Guard's 212th Rescue Squadron assesses an injured hiker inside an Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter after two hikers were hoisted off of an Alaskan mountain, July 17, 2019. One of the hikers was injured after falling about 30 feet from a ridge into a saddle, and was unable to walk.

U.S. service members from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC), and guests stand as “Taps” is played during an honorable carry for the possible remains of unidentified service members lost in the Battle of Tarawa during WWII conducted by DPAA and MARFORPAC at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, July 17, 2019. The remains were recently recovered from the Republic of Kiribati by History Flight, a DPAA partner organization, and will be accessioned into DPAA's laboratory facility in Hawaii to begin the identification process in support of DPAA's mission to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and the nation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacqueline Clifford/Released)

File photo: East Air Forces (FEAF), or PACAF as we know it today, celebrates 75 years of service on August 3, 2019. PACAF's humble origins start as a subordinate command to the U.S. Army Forces Far East, headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, and led by Lt Gen George Kenney. By 1945, the command expanded to include three Numbered Air Forces supporting operations in the Pacific Theater.

The “Fighting Tigers” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 8 conduct Anti-Submarine Warfare operations with USS Milius (DDG 69), during Ship Anti-Submarine Warfare Readiness and Evaluation Measurement (SHAREM) 199. VP-8 is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet (C7F) area of operations conducting maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations in support of Commander, Task Force 72, C7F, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command objectives throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

Capt. Patrick Hannifin, commanding officer of the Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), greets Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, deputy prime minister of Australia, on the flight deck during Talisman Sabre 2019. McCormack was among a group of dignitaries including the Honorable Sharon Hudson Dean, U.S. Consul General and Vice Adm. Michael Noonan, Chief of the Australian Navy who were given a tour of the hangar bay and flight deck control before observing flight operations. Talisman Sabre 2019 illustrates the closeness of the Australian and U.S. alliance and the strength of the military-to-military relationship. This is the eighth iteration of this exercise.

Lt. Cmdr. Chad Tella, executive officer of USS Asheville (SSN 758) describes the submarine's control room to members of the Pacific Century Fellows Program-Marianas Chapter during a tour, July 18. The purpose of the fellowship program is to develop potential leaders by creating leadership learning opportunities and experiences.

Maj. Jama Stillwell, 718th Force Support Squadron commander, speaks to the audience during the 718th FSS activation ceremony at Kadena Air Base, July 16th, 2019. Stillwell made history as the first to command the 718th FSS.

In front of the Japanese Ship Kunisaki, a landing craft, air cushion approaches Langham Beach, Queensland Australia, July 16, during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019. Talisman Sabre 19 is a bilateral exercise that provides U.S. and Australian forces realistic and relevant training to strengthen regional security, peace and stability.

Amphibious assault vehicles approache Langham's Beach in Stanage Bay during a multinational amphibious landing as part of exercise Talisman Sabre 2019. Talisman Sabre 2019 (TS19) is a bilateral combined Australian and United States (US) training activity. \r\rTS19 is designed to practice our respective military services and associated agencies in planning and conducting Combined and Joint Task Force operations, and improve the combat readiness and interoperability between Australian and US forces.\r\rTS19 will be the eighth iteration of the exercise and consists of a Field Training Exercise incorporating force preparation (logistic) activities, amphibious landings, land force manoeuvre, urban operations, air operations, maritime operations and Special Forces activities.

Samuel Coleman, a Tennessee State University senior civil engineering major, is interviewed at a construction site, Camp Humphreys, South Korea, July 15. Coleman is currently working as an intern at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Far East District, as a part of the Advancing Minorities Interest in Engineering program.

Lt. Gen. Gary Volesky, I Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord commander passes the USARAK colors to Maj. Gen. Peter Andrysiak, U.S. Army Alaska commander, during a change of command ceremony on Pershing FieldJuly 16.

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor assigned to the 3rd Wing taxis after performing an aerial demonstration during the 2019 Arctic Lightning Airshow (ALA 2019) at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, July 13, 2019. ALA 2019 afforded the community a rare opportunity to see both the F-22 and F-35A Lightning II in action together.

A landing craft, air cushion, assigned to Navy Beach Unit 7, leaves the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp, flagship of the Wasp Expeditionary Strike Group, with embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is currently participating in Talisman Sabre 2019 off the coast of Northern Australia. A bilateral, biennial event, Talisman Sabre is designed to improve U.S. and Australian combat training, readiness and interoperability through realistic, relevant training necessary to maintain regional security, peace and stability.

Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Richard V. Spencer walks into his office following the announcement of the nomination of Secretary of the Army Dr. Mark T. Esper to Secretary of Defense by President Donald J. Trump on July 15, 2019. Secretary Esper will reassume the role of Secretary of the Army during his process of confirmation.

From left to right, U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard Fuerst, the commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Yasutake Iida, the director of Iwakuni Citizens Affairs Bureau with Yamaguchi Prefectural Government, Haruo Morita, the director general of Chugoku-Shikoku Defense Bureau and Yoshihiko Fukuda, the mayor of Iwakuni City, give speeches during the 11th annual Joint Leadership Walk in Iwakuni City, Japan, July 12, 2019. During the walk, they spoke to local Japanese residents, business owners and residents of the air station. The walk was Fuerst’s final goodbye to the Japanese local community.

Untying the Lei -- Col. Thomas J. Barrett, commander, U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii, unties the lei to open Microsoft Software & Systems Academy at Schofield Barracks, July 10, with retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Chris Cortez, vice president of Microsoft Military Affairs, and Lyndsay Beaulieu, associate executive director, U.S. Campus Operations, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide, as Kahu Victoria Lanakila Tuggle-Togafu chants in Hawaiian.