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Source: United States Navy Pacific Fleet 1
ARLINGTON, Va.— Vice Adm. Brendan McLane, commander, Naval Surface Force, emphasized the Competitive Edge 2.0 strategy and 250 years of our Navy’s ability to fight and win during his keynote remarks at the 37th Annual Surface Navy Association (SNA) National Symposium in Arlington, Va., Jan. 14.
Source: United States Air Force
A framework to adjust aspects of the T-7A Red Hawk acquisition approach to meet AETC’s operational needs and deliver a platform that is safe, suitable, and sustainable to replace the aging fleet of T-38C Talon has been agreed upon.
Source: United States Navy (Medical)
09 Jan. Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture. The newly built University of the Ryukus Hospital is on land that once housed U.S. military families. The repurposed area will continue to serve many people: Japanese citizens, Japanese Military, American citizens, American service members, and numerous others will all count on the state-of-the-art facility for their medical needs. As you walk around the new facilities, you cannot help but notice the purpose-driven layout that leaves little chance for errors or lost time. The other seemingly obvious observation is the close proximity to Camp Foster in the city of Ginowan where the U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa Hospital is located and shares a fence with the new and impressive Japanese hospital.
Dr. Gen Ouchi is a longtime friend and partner to the leadership and staff at USNHO. Dr. Ouchi and Dr. Takehiro Umemura led the tour of the new hospital for a group consisting of leadership from Naval Hospital Okinawa and leadership from the Japanese Self-Defense Force out of the JSDF Naha hospital. The new hospital is going through a “soft opening” while they are still working to finish the areas related to the university, and it is expected to open this spring. While the hospital “ramps up” operations, they will receive 10 ambulances daily and have scheduled surgeries in the new operating rooms. One area of focus that stood out in the tour was the emphasis on emergencies, disasters, and infectious medicine. Okinawa faces many potential threats from an active annual typhoon season, frequent earthquakes from being a volcanic island, tsunamis, and proximity to an ever-increasing threat over disputed land and sea areas.
Medical resources and specialties have a higher associated cost and are often hard to fill due to the long training pipeline and practical usage requirements. So, where able and when needed, the U.S. works with host nation hospitals to help provide care to our beneficiaries. When the Naval Hospital recently replaced its aging MRI machine, local host nation hospitals provided relief and coverage for the USNHO patients.
The doctors who provide the emergency care were involved all along the way and made suggestions to help the patients flow through the intake areas. There is a helicopter pad on the 12th floor of the hospital and separate landing zones on the ground that can accommodate military helos. JSDF physicians train in all the prefectural hospitals, which makes integration a little more seamless. This summer, the JSDF medical personnel worked side by side with the Navy and Air Force in joint medical support for a more extensive Marine Corps exercise.
A large hypobaric chamber that can accommodate 8-10 people and four negative pressure rooms in a 20-bed Emergency Intensive Care Unit (EICU)/ High-Intensity Care Unit (HICU) are incredible assets that convey the investment the Japanese Government and Okinawan Prefectural Government are making in their citizens and guests here on Okinawa. Another service available that will have an incredible impact on the most vulnerable of patients, pediatric cancer patients, is a school that will ensure the kids stay on track with their classes while in the hospital. The school is for long-term patients going through cancer treatment and is the only one of its kind in Okinawa.
The tour wrapped up with a renewed feeling of progress and purpose. The bulk of the group were providers who have dedicated their lives to helping others. By forming these close relationships with access to expertise, training opportunities, and advanced equipment, the patients in Okinawa and the surrounding area of operations will benefit immensely because of the relationships formed between the U.S. and our Japanese allies.
The U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Okinawa (USNMRTCO) supports the Defense Health Agency’s U.S. Naval Hospital, Okinawa (USNHO) as the largest OCONUS Navy Medicine medical treatment facility and stands at the ready to respond to contingency operations to support the INDOPACOM region. It is a critical regional asset for direct care delivery, regional referrals, and medical contingency operations. The staff of USNHO understands their vital role as pre-positioned, forward-deployed naval forces within the first island chain, aligned and in support of the joint military commands and operations.
Trey Savitz, Public Affairs Officer
U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan
Comm: 011-81-971-7024
DSN: (315) 646-7024
isaac.s.savitz.civ@health.mil
Source: United States Navy (Medical)
This flu season is nothing to sneeze at.
According to the Washington State Department of Health, Communicable Disease Epidemiology, in their last update for the final week of 2024, influenza-like illness activity in the state was very high.
“We are asking everyone to be vigilant about symptoms such as nasal drainage, cough, sore throat, fever or chills. If you start to have symptoms, wearing a mask can help reduce spread and protect others. Good hand hygiene and some social distancing can reduce spread as well. If you haven’t received your flu vaccine, now is still a great time to get it,” said Capt. Carolyn Ellison, Naval Hospital Bremerton Director for Public Health.
“We closely monitor all three of the acute respiratory illnesses – influenza, RSV [respiratory syncytial virus] and COVID – nationwide, state, local and from our own lab. Each one of them continues to trend upwards,” noted Dr. Dan Frederick, NHB Population Health Officer, also advocating that getting vaccinated is the best way to stop the flu.
“Being vaccinated strengthens our immune system against illness. If someone does get the highly contagious COVID-19 virus or the flu, any symptoms will be less severe and reduce potential for requiring in-patient hospital care,” added Frederick.
But with the holiday season passed, winter weather limiting outdoor activities, vacationers back at work and students returned to school, the communal illnesses have fertile ground for affliction.
The viruses are spread from person to person, especially between those in close contact – six feet or less – with each other. The viruses are shared by droplets that occur when someone with the illness coughs, sneezes, or talks. The droplets spray out and land on someone else and get inhaled into their lungs. A person can also get physically infected by shaking hands, touching a handrail or doorknob that has the virus on it and then touching their own nose, eyes or mouth.
There are also multiple protective measures which everyone can apply daily to mitigate the potential spread of the viruses, such as hand washing; avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands; avoid close contact with sick people and maintain social distancing of at least six feet; cover cough/sneezes and discard used tissues and wash hands immediately afterwards; clean/disinfect frequently touched surfaces at least daily and cover your nose and mouth with a face mask when around others.
Even for the common cold, the CDC notes people can reduce the risk of getting a cold by hand washing often, for at least 20 seconds with soap and water and avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
Those who are at high risk – such as older adults, people with underlying medical conditions and those who are pregnant – can become severely sick by either and possibly deal with a host of complications such as pneumonia, respiratory failure, and the worsening of chronic medical conditions.
NHB’s Preventive Medicine team took the lead in coordinating the 2024-25 Flu Campaign throughout October 2024 in four evolutions for NHB staff, tenant commands, eligible beneficiaries and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard employees.
The 2024-25 Flu Shot Exercise campaign had an increase of 57.5 percent over the previous year with over 2,300 flu vaccinations provided and approximately 225 COVID shots also given.
The annual influenza vaccination is required for all active-duty military personnel, selected Reservists and healthcare workers.
The CDC notes that most people who get colds in the winter do recover in 7-10 days. However, people with weakened immune systems, asthma, or conditions that affect the lungs and breathing passages may develop serious illness, such as pneumonia. Common colds also continue to be a main reason for children to miss school and adults miss work.
“When someone gets vaccinated, they not only protect themselves but also help protect entire communities by preventing and reducing the spread of these infectious diseases,” added Frederick.
Added into the mix has been a reported case of another highly contagious infection. Pertussis – more commonly known as whooping cough – has been treated at Navy Medicine Readiness Training Clinic Everett. Snohomish County is experiencing an increase in cases.
Ellison also advocates for parents to ensure their children adhere to pediatric immunization guidelines and receive TDaP, which in Washington State is a school-required vaccine for students in grades 7-12.
TDaP is a combination vaccine of Tetanus toxoid, Diphtheria toxoid and Acellular Pertussis. Tetanus is a serious illness which can cause convulsions/seizures and severe muscle spasms strong enough to cause bone fractures of the spine in a child. Diphtheria is an acute upper respiratory illness. Pertussis/whooping cough is a bacterial infection which affects the lungs.
For those still in need of their annual inoculation, NHB’s Immunization Clinic is providing vaccinations on a walk-in basis, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, from 8 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
Fighter aircraft from Japan, and the Republic of Korea conducted a trilateral escort flight of U.S. bombers operating in the Indo-Pacific, Jan. 15, 2025.
Two Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2s and two Republic of Korea Air Force F-15Ks escorted two U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers.
This first trilateral flight of 2025 builds upon a history of strong trilateral cooperation, enabling an immediate coordinated response to regional security challenges. This increasingly steady and sophisticated trilateral interoperability of our aerial and maritime forces strengthens our collective deterrence and defense posture.
Our three nations maintain an absolute commitment to the shared vision of a secure, rules-based, free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
SATTAHIP, Thailand –
U.S. Marines with U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and members of the Royal Thai Marine Corps (RTMC) met to discuss future engagements between the two forces, Dec. 10 – 13, 2024.
Senior leaders from MARFORPAC traveled over six thousand miles to participate in the multi-day event, known as the USMC-RTMC Future Engagement Planning (FEP) Conference, to further strengthen regional cooperation and collaboration with the RTMC.
While this event gave leaders from both sides an outlet for collaboration, military-to-military relations between the USMC and RTMC is nothing new.
“The alliance between the U.S. and Thailand has been around since the mid 1950’s. The U.S. Marine Corps and Royal Thai Marine Corps have been working together for many years, much longer than I have been alive.” said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Mark F. Schaefer, commanding officer, Headquarters and Service Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific.
Participants discussed various topics during the week including ways to develop RTMC Amphibious Combat Vehicle and Amphibious Assault Vehicle maintenance capabilities, as well as opportunities to increase interoperability between partner nations, including topics such as complex multilateral military medicine.
“I think it was successful in the sense that the Royal Thai Marine Corps have come to us with a list of things that they would like to see come out of our partnership, whether that be training or equipment, and we can work in the coming months and years to continue to integrate our forces and develop our strong partnership with the Thai military as we keep a free U.S. Indo-Pacific Command region,” said Schaefer.
One key individual was Royal Thai Marine Corps Cmdr. Weerakmon Suanchan, a counterintelligence officer, who facilitated the communication between U.S. and Royal Thai Marines, preventing any limitations due to language barriers from hindering their discussions.
“I feel we got a lot of updated knowledge and experiences from the United States Marine Corps, especially MARFORPAC,” said Suanchan. “This is a good time for us to learn from each other, and we are able to continue the connection easily, which we appreciate.”
With an ocean surface area of over 100 million square miles and a total coastline of approximately 155 thousand miles in the Pacific Region, maintaining relationships between partner nations is critical to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
“USMC-RTMC Future Engagement Planning is critical to building upon the decades-old US-Thai alliance,” said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Kyle J. Rempe, Southeast Asia desk officer, G-5 Plans Division, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific.
Events like the USMC-RTMC Future Engagements Planning Conference maintain and strengthen relationships between nations and help the U.S. and its allies more prepared for whatever may come in the future.
U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific is the largest operational command in the Marine Corps. It comprises two-thirds of the Marine Corps’ active-duty combat forces, collectively known as the “Pacific Marines.” Pacific Marines serve as an expeditionary force-in-readiness. They operate as air-ground-logistics teams and are forward positioned and actively employed throughout the Indo-Pacific every day. Pacific Marines live and work alongside the joint force and like-minded allies and partners to prevent conflict, respond to crisis, and if the Nation calls, to fight and win.
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
HONOLULU – Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, delivers a keynote address at the Hawaii Military Affairs Council’s Biannual State of the Indo-Pacific event in Honolulu, Jan. 14, 2024.
Attendees included MAC members from the business community and labor industries; retired flag and general officers; elected officials and employees from the county, state, and federal governments; and military, DoD civilians and contractors.
The Hawaii MAC is a liaison and advocates with military commands to support and emphasize the military’s role and relevance in Hawaii, while identifying potential impacts to the defense industry, Hawaii’s businesses and surrounding communities.
Paparo addressed the regional security environment, highlighting increased activity by adversarial nations. He noted the importance of deterrence and the need for local, state, and government officials to maintain open lines of communication to ensure military training and readiness levels remain high.
Through initiatives such as the Navy’s Project 33, Marine Corps’ Force Design and the U.S. Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment, USINDOPACOM, along with allies and partners, continues to adapt to 21st century challenges.
Hawaii is also home to more than 100,000 service members and their families, and remains the gateway to the Indo-Pacific. While providing a strategic forward base of security against regional threats, the military contributes greatly to the Hawaii economy by increasing job opportunities and driving commerce.
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.
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
TOKYO, Japan –
Yokota participated in a joint, multilateral exhibition for the annual New Year’s Jumps hosted by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force at Camp Narashino, Japan, Jan. 12.
The New Year’s Jumps date back to the 1960s with a goal of bringing good luck to JGSDF paratroopers in the new year.
This iteration of jumps has an official name of New Year Jump in Indo-Pacific 25.
This year, the 36th Airlift Squadron flew three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft to deliver 20 U.S. Army and 46 JGSDF paratroopers. In total, the event saw approximately 200 jumpers from 12 nations, bolstering an ironclad bond between allies and partners while further enhancing readiness and security in the region.
The participating countries included the U.S., Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Philippines and Singapore.
Multilateral training enhances interoperability amongst forces by strengthening ties between allied and partnered nations while improving combat readiness. The event not only showcased combined military capability, but also reinforces the strategic importance of safeguarding a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“The key objectives of these drops were to celebrate long-standing traditions, while increasing combat readiness between U.S. and international partners,” said Capt. Jack Rollings, 36th AS C130-J pilot. “This sets the tone for a year of continuous growth, collaboration and operational excellence.”
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. –
Recently, the Mission Command Training Program (MCTP) supported the U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) combined exercise known as Yama Sakura 87 (YS87), which was a trilateral exercise with two multinational allies tied to USARPAC’s Operation Pathways.
The MCTP’s Chief Controller for the Warfighter Exercise (WFX), U.S. Army Col. Kristopher “Kris” H. Howell, explained the nature of the training event.
“Yama Sakura is traditionally a bilateral U.S. Army and [Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force] exercise with over 40 years of execution history between the two nations. This has recently expanded to include the Australian Army and an element from [III Marine Expeditionary Force],” the Aurora, Ill., native said.
U.S. Army Col. Benjamin “Ben” E. Jackman, who serves as MCTP’s Chief of Operations Group (COG) – Bravo and hails from Plainsboro, N.J., articulated the purpose of YS87 and how it was different than a normal WFX.
“[MCTP] facilitates YS87 / WFX 25-2 supported stimulation of I Corps, 11th Airborne Division, 25th Infantry Div., 7th Multi-Domain Command, and 1st Special Forces Group (Abn.) training objectives during … 07-15 Dec. 2024 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; and Japan to enable professional warfighting through leadership development within a large-scale combat operation setting in a multi-domain environment,” Jackman said. “In terms of terrain, YS87 was 13.14 times larger than any exercise ever conducted by MCTP… [covering] 10,429,900 sq. km.” and 17 time zones. In context, with all these units plus multinational allies, the simulation used 201,414 objects (blue and red units) that averaged more than 1,900 combat interactions every hour making this WFX 1.5 times greater than previous ones. This is the first WFX for the 11th Abn. Div. plus the first one for an arctic division in the U.S. Army.
Meanwhile, U.S. Army Col. David Connor, the MCTP COG – Charlie, added another observation.
YS87 was conducted with WFX 25-2, the first time two such exercises were combined… making the exercise larger and more complex, said Connor, who calls Joliet, Ill., home.
MCTP’s Command Sgt. Maj. Kirk R. Foster, who claims Fort Collins, Colo., as home, summarized the training experience.
“MCTP is a very talented and special unit… a team of teams,” he stated. “[MCTP] is truly enabling professional warfighting and driving change for the Army.”
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan –
F-35A Lightning IIs assigned to 134th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Vermont Air National Guard, touched down at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 13, 2025, the latest round of U.S. Air Force fighter deployments to the Pacific.
As part of its modernization plan, the U.S. Air Force is retiring the aging F-15C/D fleet of aircraft that has been in service for more than 40 years. Kadena maintains a steady-state fighter presence by hosting fourth- and fifth-generation fighters to backfill the F-15C/D Eagles as they return to the United States.
The 134th EFS will be integrating with F-22 Raptors from the 525th EFS and F-16C Fighting Falcons from the 77th EFS to continually provide forward fighter capabilities in support of theater deterrence and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command objectives.
“Our squadron eagerly anticipates the chance to elevate our training by testing ACE concepts during this deployment,” said Lt. Col. Trevor Callen, 134th EFS commander. “We are committed to leveraging our experiences and techniques alongside our bilateral partners and Kadena flying units, which will significantly enhance our operational versatility in the Indo-Pacific.”
As the Keystone of the Pacific, Kadena is a pivotal hub for Agile Combat Employment. The 18th Wing will continue to receive rotational units that strengthen capabilities, such as ACE, and project combat power in concert with allies and partners.
These continuous rotations of aircraft at Kadena ensure the 18th Wing remains flexible and postured to deliver lethal and credible airpower to deter acts of aggression.
“Kadena’s commitment to regional deterrence is ironclad,” said Col. David Deptula, 18th Wing Operations Group commander. “Rotational aircraft are a normal part of Kadena’s operations, and their presence ensures the continuation of our long-standing mission to defend Japan and maintain an open and free Indo-Pacific.”
Throughout these deployments, the 18th Wing will continue to comply with applicable bilateral agreements with the Government of Japan. All visiting aircrews receive thorough briefings on local noise abatement procedures and mission planners will continue to give due consideration to the local community.
Modernizing capabilities in the Indo-Pacific theater remains a top priority. The transition to more capable aircraft at Kadena exemplifies the DoD’s continued commitment to enhancing posture while building on the strong foundation of its Alliance with Japan.