Category: Defence Intelligence

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

ZAMA, Japan  –  

U.S. Army Garrison Japan leadership attended a neighboring city’s festival here Nov. 17, which helped enhance the partnership between the Army and its host nation, the garrison commander said.

The city of Zama’s 39th annual Hometown Festival gave Col. Marcus Hunter and Command Sgt. Maj. David A. Rio, along with Hunter’s family, the chance to experience the food and wares of local vendors, as well as traditional Japanese performances.

Kazumi Naito, chairman of the Zama City Chamber of Commerce, said the festival is a showcase for the city’s locally produced vegetables, cuisine and other goods. The live entertainment also highlights Zama’s connection to Japan’s history, he said.

Showcasing the festival to garrison leadership and encouraging Camp Zama families to attend the event helps bring the two communities together, Naito said.

“Zama City and the Camp Zama community have a great partnership as neighbors,” he said. “Experiencing each other’s cultures at open-post events and local festivals like this one is a great opportunity for both sides to get to know each other better and build a stronger relationship.”

Hunter echoed the comments, adding that getting to interact at the event with people like Zama Mayor Mito Sato, Chamber of Commerce representatives, and other city personnel was a great opportunity to come together and share in one of the many fun activities the city offers.

“We are essentially adopted members of the community of Zama City,” Hunter said. “In every way, it means a lot to be able to get back and share [in events] with the city.”

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

CAMP ZAMA, Japan  –  

U.S. Army Soldiers and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members here worked together Nov. 19 to beautify a piece of history on the installation that dates to World War II.

The effort marked the first time both groups partnered to clean the large, hand-etched stone, known as the “Sobudai” monument, which sits near the Camp Zama Chapel.

The Soldiers, assigned to the 765th Transportation (Terminal) Battalion, and the JGSDF members, stationed on Camp Zama, also raked leaves and neatened the area around the monument.

The monument has been on the site where Camp Zama now sits for more than 80 years, going back to when it was formerly the home of the Japanese Imperial Military Academy. It is inscribed on the front with the word “Soubudai.” Then-Emperor Hirohito gave the campus the same name, which means “military training heights in Sagami,” when he attended the academy’s first graduation ceremony held there in 1937.

Command Sgt. Maj. David A. Rio, the U.S. Army Garrison Japan garrison senior enlisted leader, said the Soldiers here regularly work with the JGSDF to clean the installation and its neighboring areas outside the gate. Their first effort cleaning the monument was notable because of its importance to the installation, Rio said. Before the group began, the command sergeant major explained to the Soldiers the monument’s history and its significance.

“It’s important for them to know [about the monument],” Rio said. “It’s a representation of the alliance between our two nations.”

JGSDF Capt. Michiko Mukaiyama, assigned to the 441st Finance Unit, said that joining the cleanup effort gave her some unique insight about the history of the monument. When it was first erected, she said, the United States and Japan were on different sides of the war. But today, she said, the two nations have come together and are now allies.

“This monument watched time go through,” Mukaiyama said. “It tells us something, and we all need to share that.”

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

SASEBO, Japan  –  

Capt. Michael Fontaine, Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo (CFAS), Command Master Chief Alan Benavidez and 12 other CFAS personnel along with citizens of Isahaya, Japan and members of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Fleet Air Wing 22 attended a memorial ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the loss of the 11-man crew of the U.S. Army Air Force B-29 Super Fortress heavy bomber “Acid Test” and four Imperial Japanese Navy fighter pilots Nov. 21, 2024. The Japan-America Friendship Memorial Service Society comprised of local citizens organized the commemoration for the crews of a B-29 heavy bomber, the Japanese fighter which rammed it and three other pilots who gave their lives during a battle over Isahaya City, located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan in World War II.

80 years ago, on Nov. 21, 1944, the U.S. Army Air Force 462nd Bombardment Group was sent to attack targets in Omura City, Japan. During their return flight, they were set upon by Japanese fighter planes. In the battle that ensued, three Japanese fighters were shot down and Capt. Joseph Killebrew’s B-29, nicknamed “Acid Test”, was rammed over Isahaya City by a Japanese fighter plane piloted by Imperial Japanese Navy Lt. Cmdr. Mikihiko Sakamoto. Which resulted in both aircraft crashing in the Isahaya area, killing the pilots and crew of both aircraft.

“May they rest in peace and find comfort in the fact that the United States and Japan today are stalwart allies,” said Fontaine. “The U.S. military and Japan Self-Defense Forces are partners dedicated to peace and Americans and Japanese live in harmony bound by the bonds of friendship and family.”

In 1992 and 1993, Isahaya residents erected a memorial for Sakamoto and the B-29 Crew, at each crash site respectively, and have held a memorial ceremony approximately every ten years to remember the sacrifices of service members and civilians on both sides who gave their life during the war. This year, three additional Imperial Japanese Navy pilots who had been confirmed to have been killed in action during the air battle were included in the memorial ceremony for the first time.

“When I stand in front of this monument, I still feel deep sadness for those who died in the war in distant lands, wishing for peace and development of our country and for their loved ones,” said Isahaya City Vice Mayor Naoko Ishibashi, on behalf of Mayor Yukishige Ookubo.

At each of the memorial sites, ceremony attendees poured alcohol on the cenotaphs, a Japanese religious ritual that offers a drink to the souls of the deceased. On the Japanese monument, Japanese sake from Sakamoto’s hometown of Karatsu City in Saga Prefecture was used. Having found a bottle of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey in the crashed B-29, the local community members brought the same brand of whiskey to be used in place of sake to honor them with a drink they preferred. Additionally, they laid flowers at a table with photos of the deceased and offered words of condolence.

“When I think of the heroes of Japan and the U.S. who died for their country and their families with no personal grudge,” said Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Rear Adm. Katsuya Suzuki, Commander, Fleet Air Wing 22. “I cannot help but feel the tragedy of war once again. We must not forget that the peace and prosperity of the United States and Japan today is built on the sacrifices of these heroes.”

The ceremony was also live streamed and viewed remotely from the United States by Emily Link Miller (Killebrew), the 80 year-old daughter of Capt. Killebrew. Miller, who never met her father, was born while Killebrew was deployed: five months prior to his death in 1944.

During the ceremony, Fontaine read aloud from a letter Miller had written to the people of Isahaya City, “The kindness and respect shown by the Japanese people to my father and his crew is so incredible that I hardly know what to say except thank you. That you continue to honor my father, his crew, and Mikihiko Sakamoto with memorial gardens and events is a monument to the peace and friendship between our two nations.”

Those remembered were Imperial Japanese Navy Lt. Cmdr. Mikihiko Sakamoto, Ens. Masaaki Kawahara, Warrant Officer Yukio Sawada, Warrant Officer Sadaharu Shimizu and U.S. Army Air Force Capt. Joseph Killebrew, 1st Lt. Paul Meeks, 1st Lt. Emsley Eggers, 1st Lt. Earl Heins, 2nd Lt. Spirito Ovial, Staff Sgt. John Normand Jr., Staff Sgt. Edward Morrow, Staff Sgt. Vincent Sheridan, Staff Sgt. Luther Young, Sgt. Gail Cornelius and Sgt. Gordon Chard.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke yesterday and today with several service members from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving.

During the conversations, Secretary Austin expressed his deep gratitude to the service members and their families for their unwavering dedication and sacrifice in defense of the nation. He commended their critical role in ensuring the safety and security of the United States, as well as their continued commitment to supporting America’s allies and partners around the globe. Secretary Austin acknowledged the professionalism and integrity with which they carry out their duties, recognizing the vital contributions they make every day in service to the country.

Secretary Austin spoke with service members from the following units:

• 2^nd Battalion, 12^th Cavalry Regiment. Soldiers from this unit are deployed in Poland to deter Russian aggression and support NATO allies in the U.S. European Command.
• Combat Logistics Battalion 31. This Marine Corps unit is deployed to Camp Hansen, Okinawa, supporting combat logistics within the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
• USS Stockdale (DDG 106). This Navy unit is deployed in the Fifth Fleet Area of Responsibility supporting operations in U.S. Central Command.
• 379^th Expeditionary Medical Squadron. These airmen are deployed at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, delivering care to service members in U.S. Central Command.
• 4^th Space Operations Squadron. This unit is stationed at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, operating the U.S. Space Force’s protected Military Satellite Communications system.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

MAJURO, Republic of the Marshall Islands  –  

From Nov. 6 to 18, 2024, representatives from U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam and U.S. Coast Guard District 14 supported critical engagements with Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) partners, advancing maritime security and fostering collaboration under the Compact of Free Association (COFA).

During the visit, the team worked with key RMI agencies, including the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority (MIMRA) and Sea Patrol, and also volunteered in the community.

“Our mission is rooted in action and partnership. Every flight, every discussion, and every engagement reflect our commitment to safeguarding lives, securing lawful seas, and empowering Pacific communities,” said Lt. Anna Maria Vaccaro, U.S. Coast Guard COFA liaison officer.

Key Activities and Accomplishments:
Enhanced Bilateral Maritime Law Enforcement Agreement Discussions
Building on discussion from the RMI Joint Committee Meeting in October, U.S. Coast Guard personnel met with RMI representatives to discuss an addendum to the existing bilateral maritime law enforcement (MLE) agreement. These discussions centered on clarifying operational procedures and addressing sovereignty concerns while ensuring the agreement reflects mutual interests and aligns with U.S. and RMI laws. The meeting highlighted the ongoing commitment to fostering a peaceful, secure, inclusive, and prosperous Pacific region.

Aerial Maritime Domain Awareness Operations
A U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Hawaii conducted maritime domain awareness operations, temporarily basing out of Kwajalein Atoll. Over two days, the aircraft crew flew sorties totaling 15 hours, covering over 51,000 square nautical miles, sighting 23 vessels, and completing 100 percent of their assigned tasking. Their findings were shared with the Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency, a regional organization that assists Pacific Island member countries in managing and developing their tuna fisheries. Although severe weather prevented the inclusion of RMI air riders, the mission underscored the U.S. Coast Guard’s adaptability and steadfast support for RMI maritime operations.

Local Outreach and Collaboration
Petty Officer 2nd Class Clayton Garcia, deployed as a U.S. Coast Guard operations specialist, engaged extensively with MIMRA and Sea Patrol, ensuring continuous U.S. Coast Guard presence and operational support and aiding the Hercules crew in their MDA effort. Garcia’s professionalism reinforced trust and cooperation with local partners.

“The U.S. Coast Guard remains committed to supporting the RMI in safeguarding its maritime sovereignty, promoting sustainable fisheries, and enhancing regional security,” said Vaccaro. “These efforts underscore our enduring partnership between the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.”

-USCG-

About the Compact of Free Association (COFA)
The COFA is a mutually beneficial agreement promoting cooperation and security in the Pacific. It provides unique provisions for defense, economic assistance, and access between the U.S. and RMI and emphasizes shared goals of regional stability, sustainable development, and prosperity. The Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau are also freely associated states under COFA.

About U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam
U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam supports the Coast Guard’s missions of ensuring maritime safety, security, and stewardship in the Pacific. Through search and rescue, law enforcement, and partnership-building efforts, the FM/SG team enhances the peace, stability, and prosperity of the Pacific.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii  –  

In a historic visit, Gen. Kevin Schneider, Pacific Air Forces commander, traveled to Vietnam for the delivery of five T6-C training aircraft to the Vietnamese Air Defence Air Force November 18-21, 2024.

Schneider landed in the first T6-C aircraft before providing remarks at the formal acquisition ceremony Nov. 20, hosted by the ADAF at Phan Thiet Air Base in Binh Thuan province.

“This event is not about reaching an endpoint in delivering these aircraft,” Schneider said. “It’s about achieving a modernized air force, advancing Vietnam’s ability to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and ensuring our common commitment to peace and the rule of law that governs the seas and skies.”

While in Vietnam, Schneider met with U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper and U.S. Consul General Susan Burns. He also toured the historic consulate grounds.

Schneider spent time at the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City and met with the Vietnamese and U.S. Agency for International Development dioxin remediation team at Bien Hoa Air Base to discuss the ongoing clean-up project.

“The United States and Vietnam are working to bolster security through enhanced cooperation that will improve our collective air and maritime domain awareness,” Schneider said. “This is a moment of affirmation to the commitment we have made to each other, and a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished when we are committed to mutual understanding and building a forward-looking path together.”

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii  –  

Enlisted leaders from air forces across the Indo-Pacific region gathered for the Inter-Pacific Air Forces Academy training at the Binnicker Professional Military Education Center on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii from Nov. 11 – 22, 2024.

The training, which focuses on cross-cultural competency, resilience, leadership, and mission command, fosters multinational collaboration and strengthens partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. Participants engage in tailored professional development activities designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for complex joint environments.

Royal Australian Air Force Warrant Officer Anita Godfrey, Pacific Air Forces IPAFA commandant, explained the origins of the program.

“The Inter-Pacific Air Forces Academy is a collaborative endeavor,” Godfrey said. “It was conceptualized during the Senior Enlisted Leader International Summit in 2022 as a way forward to professionally develop the multinational enlisted cadre operating in the Indo-Pacific region together. In 2023, the inaugural IPAFA program was successfully delivered. This year, we designed and delivered IPAFA’s second program, the Inter-Pacific Combined Enlisted Leader Forum.”

Godfrey elaborated the forum enables enlisted leaders to share insights and experiences with one another, identifying commonalities and differences. In turn, enhancing leadership capabilities while building networks among multinational participants.

“IPAFA aims to provide professional development programs that adapt to both the needs of the region and the participants,” explained Godfrey.

Republic of Singapore Air Force 2nd Warrant Officer Yudhish Jayakumaran, 605 Squadron training warrant officer, shared his perspective as a participant, describing the program as an eye-opening opportunity to collaborate with multinational enlisted leaders.

“The bonds we’ve formed here will undoubtedly strengthen our military partnerships,” Yudhish said. “Sharing our experiences and gaining new insights has helped us build strong cross-cultural relationships, which will aid us in leading in complex and evolving environments.”

A key component of IPAFA is its focus on fostering trust and communication among participants, even when faced with challenges like language barriers. Jayakumaran reflected on how the program fosters bonds and emphasizes the importance of working together.

“At the end of the day, we are all people from the force, and that’s what binds us together,” he said. “More importantly, I also feel that the course promotes interoperability between our forces in the Pacific region, where you are learning more about someone’s culture.”

Godfrey expanded on how they don’t all speak the same language, but find other ways to communicate, mirroring a real-world multinational operation.

“Not everyone in the program has the same level of English comprehension, and that was done by design,” Godfrey said. “Because in the real world, you’re not going to all speak the same language.”

Activities like resilience-building exercises emphasized collaboration under pressure. Participants worked together to construct models while navigating real-world barriers, such as one team member being unable to speak, another unable to see, another only speaking their native language, and another providing opposing arguments.

“That scenario was my fondest memory, because it gave us a sense of the many challenges and differences,” Yudhish shared. “But if we work together and we recognize strengths and weaknesses, we can get things done.”

The camaraderie built during the program extended beyond the classroom. Participants stayed together in dormitories, simulating the conditions of a joint mission.

“When living together, spending the whole time together, and eating together, it brings us closer,” Yudhish said. “It made a difference. You learn to rely on each other in ways that prepare you for real-world operations.”

The program’s success lies in its ability to bring together leaders from diverse nations and foster mutual understanding, strengthening alliances and partnerships.

“We are all wearing different uniforms, we operate in different environments, but there’s always commonality,” Yudhish said. “We all have that same mission of leadership, taking care of people, caring for people, leading them, and developing them.”