Category Added in a WPeMatico Campaign
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.
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.
Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND
Multi-capable Airmen assigned to the 137th Special Operations Wing mission sustainment team of the Oklahoma Air National Guard strengthened critical self-sustaining skills and assessed their ability to operate in multiple expeditionary environments across the Caribbean during TRADEWINDS25, April 21-May 5.
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
KATHMANDU, Nepal — U.S. Marines with Marine Security Guard Detachment Kathmandu, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, Marine Aircraft Group 36, and members of the Nepali Army participated in the 10th Anniversary of Operation Sahayogi Haat Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Nepali Army Military Museum, Nepal, May 12, 2025.
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan – The U.S. Marine Corps deployed Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, an F-35B squadron based out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, under the Marine Corps’ Unit Deployment Program on May 10, 2025. The stealth fighter squadron, known by the moniker “Wake Island Avengers,” joins Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in support of flight operations across the Indo-Pacific region.
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea — The 51st Fighter Wing hosted Osan Air Power Days 2025 at Osan AB, Republic of Korea, May 10-11, welcoming more than 48,575 attendees throughout the weekend. The event aimed to strengthen ties with the local community, celebrate allied partnerships, and highlight the capabilities that support regional deterrence and defense.
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
NORTHERN LUZON, Philippines — Exercise Balikatan 25, the 40th iteration of the long-standing annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military, has officially concluded. As U.S. Marines, Soldiers, Airmen, Australian Defence Force, and Japanese Self-Defense Force servicemembers, along with those from 16 observer nations, begin retrograding from the Philippines, the U.S. Marines with 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, look forward to an extended stay. At the invitation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the forward-deployed Marines with 3d MLR will remain in the Philippines for Exercise Kamandag 9, scheduled to commence May 26 and run until June 6, 2025.
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
HONOLULU, Hawaii — U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Joshua M. Rudd, deputy commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, speaks with retired Australian Defence Force Brigadier Ian Langford, executive director of Security and Defence PLuS, during the Indo-Pacific Security Forum in Honolulu, May 12, 2025
Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND
U.S. and Partner nation forces concluded participation in Southern Defender (SD) 2025 May 9. SD25 is a defensive cyber operations exercise designed to enhance cybersecurity capabilities across the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility. Approximately 320 participants from 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries engaged in intensive training and practical exercises across 15 locations focused on mitigating cyber threats.
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa — The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) conducted training to prepare the unit for future warfighting capabilities. Immersive, scenario-based evolutions focused on lethality, readiness, and interoperability for an upcoming deployment in the Indo-Pacific Region during a MEU Exercise (MEUEX) in Okinawa, from Apr. 28 to May 9, 2025.