US, Dominican Republic Militaries Partner to Develop Enlisted Leaders

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

A group of enlisted leaders from the United States Army kicked off a subject matter expert exchange with fellow enlisted leaders from the Dominican Republic’s military just outside of the Caribbean nation’s capital in Santo Domingo – further progressing the professional development of noncommissioned officers in the Dominican armed services.

Facility Dog Brings Smiles to CENTCOM One Wag at a Time

Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)

TAMPA, Fla. – The month of May is Mental Health Awareness month, an opportunity to highlight the importance of mental health within the military community and to bring awareness to the challenges service members, veterans and their families often face. It’s also a time to recognize the vital role therapy dogs play in supporting mental health.

PACAF commanders and chiefs gather to advance warfighting concepts

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii — U.S. Air Force commanders and command chiefs from around the theater gathered for the bi-annual U.S. Pacific Air Forces Commanders Conference, which focused on advancing warfighting concepts, held here, Apr. 28 through May 2, 2025.

From the Top End to the Philippines: MRF-D 25.3 bolsters U.S.-Philippine alliance

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines — From the northern coast of Australia to the southern edge of the Philippine archipelago, U.S. Marines with the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) 25.3 Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) spent the last month executing rapid maneuver, joint and combined integrated fires, and combined exercises alongside Philippine and Australian allies across one of the world’s most complex and challenging maritime regions.

Arkansas Guard Participates in CENTAM Guardian 2025 in Guatemala

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

More than 60 Arkansas National Guardsmen are participating in CENTAM Guardian 2025 in Guatemala. CENTAM Guardian 2025 is an annual multi-national exercise designed to strengthen interoperability, information sharing and counter-threat capabilities between the United States and participating Central American and Caribbean partner nations.

Continuing Promise 2025 Set to Begin

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

The U.S. Navy Mercy-class hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) will deploy this June-August to the U.S. Southern Command area of operations as part of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet’s Continuing Promise 2025 mission. After several months of detailed planning, USNS Comfort is scheduled to visit Grenada, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic during the nearly three month-long mission.

USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul Scores Another Bust

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

The littoral combat ship USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (LCS 21) interdicted a suspected drug smuggling vessel May 1 while supporting Joint Interagency Task Force South. This is the ship’s third successful interdiction during its maiden deployment. In mid-April, the Minneapolis-Saint Paul interdicted two vessels, confiscating 580 kilograms (1,279 pounds) of cocaine valued at $9,463,860 and 1,125 kilograms (2,480 pounds) of marijuana valued at $2,807,360.

U.S. Engineering Team Assesses Colón, Panama’s Infrastructure Challenges, Strengthening Bilateral Partnership

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

A team from the U.S. Army’s 553rd Forward Engineer Support Team-Advance (FEST-A) drove around important parts of the city of Colón, Panama, surveying the stormwater and wastewater systems on May 13, 2025. The survey was designed to find ways to bolster the ongoing partnership between the United States and Panama while addressing one of Panama’s largest city’s long-standing infrastructure issues.

USNH Sigonella and USNMRTU Bahrain Honor Nurses with Blessing of the Hands Ceremonies

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

SIGONELLA, Italy – On May 6, 2025, United States Naval Hospital (USNH) Sigonella and U.S. Naval Medical Readiness and Training Unit (USNMRTU) Bahrain marked the beginning of Nurses Week with solemn Blessing of the Hands ceremonies—a cherished tradition that recognizes the sacred role of nurses and corpsmen in healing and compassionate care.

The ceremonies, led by Navy chaplains at each location, served as a spiritual and symbolic gesture to affirm the healing mission at the heart of military medicine. At USNH Sigonella, Lieutenant Pedro Fernandez Soto guided staff through the ritual, while in Bahrain, Lieutenant Commander James Hardy facilitated the event for deployed and stationed personnel.