Photos

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBORHICKAM, Hawaii

U.S. Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force safety experts pose for a group photo during U.S. Pacific Command's annual Asia-Pacific Aviation Safety Subject Matter Expert Exchange (APASS) in Sydney, Australia. APASS creates a forum for discussing a wide range of aviation safety issues, sharing aviation safety concepts, tools, and techniques; and facilitates trust, cooperation and interoperability in an effort to improve aviation safety standards amongst Indo-Asia-Pacific nations. Share

TOKYO, AICHI, Japan

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis shakes hands with the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Prime Minister’s office in Tokyo, Feb. 3, 2017 Share

OKINAWA, Japan

Instructors demonstrate how to set up a pulley system to retain equipment in the jungle Sept. 20 at the Jungle Warfare Training Center, Okinawa, Japan. The Jungle Warfare Training Center has provided terrain and climate-specific training to units serving across the Asia-Pacific region since 1958 and stretches over more than 17,000 acres. Training aboard the installation reinforces service members’ ability to carry out tactical operations in a jungle environment. Share

Camp H.M. Smith, Hi

U.S. Marines with Task Force Koa Moana 16.2 and Soldiers from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces conduct integrated fire-team buddy rushes on Ovalau, Fiji, July 13, 2016. Fiji is part of Task Force Koa Moana’s deployment throughout the Asia-Pacific region, where Marines and Sailors will share engineering and infantry skills with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces to strengthen mil-to-mil relationships and interoperability. Share

RoK

A Republic of Korea, or ROK, Marine sights in alongside U.S. Marines as ROK Assault Amphibious Vehicles shoot off smoke behind them July 6, 2016 at Suseong Range, South Korea during a Korean Marine Exchange Program, or KMEP. The goal of the KMEP is to sustain the combined force and enhance the ROK-U.S. team at the tactical level to build combined warfighting capabilities. During this exercise the Marines carried out a bilateral regimental-sized Marine Air-Ground Task Force operation for the first time. The ROK Marines were a part of 73rd Battalion, 7th Regiment, 1st Marine Division. U.S. service members participating in KMEP 16-11 as part of the ground combat element are with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force through the unit deployment program. Share

Papua New Guinea

A Papua New Guinean naval ship heads toward USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE 2) for Task Force Koa Moana to disembark their gear and personnel, off the coast of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, June 17, 2016. This marks the first time the Papua New Guinea Defence Force and U.S. Marines will train together directly. Papua New Guinea is the second of four destinations for the task force during their deployment in the Asia-Pacific region. Their deployment consists of multiple multi-national, bilateral exercises designed to increase the interoperability and relations between participating nations by sharing infantry, engineering, law enforcement and medical skills. The Marines and Sailors are originally assigned to I and III Marine Expeditionary Force. Share

Papua New Guinea

Lance Cpl. Nathan H. Steed demonstrates room-clearing techniques while training with a Papua New Guinean soldier, June 19, 2016, at Taurama Barracks, during Exercise Koa Moana. This is the first exercise for U.S. Marines and service members of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force. The exercise is designed to increase interoperability and relations by sharing infantry, engineering, law enforcement and medical skills. Steed, from Pagosa Springs, Colorado, is an infantryman with Task Force Koa Moana, originally assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. Share

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Papua New Guinea soldiers and U.S. Marines and Sailors stand in formation during the opening remarks for Exercise Koa Moana, June 18, 2016, at Taurama Barracks, Papua New Guinea. The multi-national, bilateral exercise is designed to improve interoperability and relations through mil-to-mil training and by sharing infantry, engineering, medical and law enforcement skills. The Papua New Guinea soldiers are with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Royal Pacific Islands Regiment, Papua New Guinea Defence Force. The Marines and Sailors are with Task Force Koa Moana, originally assigned to I and I Marine Expeditionary Force. Share

Timor Leste

Cpl. Preston G. Thompson (Right) instructs Pvt. Fransicso Araujo how to properly operate the X26-E Taser during Exercise Crocodilo 16, June 7, 2016, at Metinaro, Timor Leste, as part of Task Force Koa Moana’s deployment to nations in the Asia-Pacific region. The task force brings capabilities in law enforcement, infantry, engineering and combat lifesaving skills to increase interoperability and relations with participating nations. Araujo is with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, Timor Leste Defense Force. Thompson, from Wyoming, Michigan, is a military police and chief instructor for the non-lethal weapons course with Task Force Koa Moana, originally assigned to Charlie Company, 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Share

Camp Smith, Hi

A MV-22 Osprey sits on display for Thai, Malaysian and Japanese service members and spectators to tour during a noncombatant evacuation demonstration as part of exercise Cobra Gold 16 at Utapao, Thailand, February 17, 2016. The Osprey brings a longer travel range and bigger capacity for supplies compared to traditional helicopters, but it can access tighter spaces than a traditional fixed-wing aircraft. Cobra Gold is a multi-national exercise designed to increase cooperation and advance the Pacific region’s peace and interoperability. The Osprey is with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Share

Camp Smith, Hi

Seaman Michael J. Stark prepares the simulated casualty, Sgt. Stephanie M. Hauer-Velez, to be loaded onto an MV-22B Osprey during the scenario based training mission of a tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel during Cobra Gold 16 at Utapao, Thailand February 15. A TRAP mission is when a TRAP force goes into potentially dangerous area to rescue an aircraft and its crew. Exercise Cobra Gold is a multi-national event with purpose to increase relationships and cooperation of participating nations. Hauer-Velez, from Bellevue, Nebraska, and Stark, a corpsman, are with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Share

Camp Smith, Hi

Sgt. Eric M. Ekelund prepares an MV-22B Osprey to land the tactical recovery of aircraft and personal force during a Cobra Gold 16 demonstration at Utapao, Thailand February 15. During the scenario-based training the MV-22B Osprey unloads the TRAP force personnel so they can continue on foot to rescue the simulated casualty. Cobra Gold is a multi-national exercise that focuses on increasing relationships and capabilities of participating countries by training to form solutions to common challenges. Ekelund, from Bay Shore, New York is with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Share

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