Category: Indo-Pacific

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan  –  

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Katie McCool, Pacific Air Forces command chief, toured Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 17, 2024.

The purpose of the visit was to discuss the welfare and readiness of Airmen during an all-call, recognize Airmen for their outstanding performance, and assess facilities and equipment conditions.

During the all-call, McCool and 18th Wing senior noncommissioned officers discussed the safety and responsibility of utilizing mission command for better equipment and facilities and quality of life for Airmen.

“I’m thinking about my own children and the way we treat our Airmen,” said McCool. “I have a responsibility to advocate for Airmen, and I will continue to do so for as long as I can.”

During the tour, McCool coined eight Airmen from different groups across Kadena for outstanding achievements and service:

Tech. Sgt. Thao Chau, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron unit deployment manager, Tech. Sgt. Jaqulyn Payne, 718th CES noncommissioned officer in charge of unaccompanied housing, Staff Sgt. Nikki Sanders, 18th Dental Squadron dental readiness manager, Staff Sgt. Courtney Smith, 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron aeromedical evacuation technician, Staff Sgt. Victor Gould, 18th Wing safety craftsman, Senior Airman Derek Stewart, 525th Expeditionary Fighter Generation Squadron F-22 decentralized materiel support journeyman, Senior Airman Eduardo Torres, 18th Security Forces Squadron law enforcement patrolman, Airman 1st Class Alayya Algere, 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron individual protective equipment apprentice.

In addition, McCool also toured the facilities of Kadena. Airman dorm leaders discussed with McCool the conditions of the buildings and funding.

“It was an amazing feeling to be recognized for the work that my team and I do every day,” said Payne. “It’s crucial for leadership to understand the living conditions of service members and I am confident that we were able to highlight that.”

Overall, the visit addressed some of the hurdles Airmen are facing with facilities and equipment, and gave Airmen an opportunity to discuss welfare and readiness.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

OKINAWA, Japan  –  

Amphibious Combat Vehicles with 4th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division, completed the first open-water amphibious movement in the Kushi Crossing, Dec. 10, 2024.

ACVs are the Marine Corps’ newest amphibious vehicle platform and were first fielded in Fleet Marine Force units on Camp Pendleton, California, November 2022. The ACV was developed for the Marine Corps to replace the Assault Amphibious Vehicle, having began its long period of service in 1972. The ACV underwent close to nearly two years of trials and tests before the platform would make its debut overseas in Okinawa with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit June 24 of this year.

Less than a week later on June 29 III Marine Expeditionary Force units received ACVs of their own when the first vehicles participating in the Unit Deployment Program arrived in Okinawa as part of 4th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division. UDP units stationed in the continental United States rotate to Okinawa for six-month deployments to maintain experience operating in the Indo-Pacific region while providing assurance to allies and partners as well as deterring potential adversaries from conflict. Now as the second ACV platoon is participating in the UDP to 4th Marines, they are breaking new ground for amphibious operations on the island.

“Since the ACV has been fielded here in July, these training areas have not yet been transited by ACVs or validated,” said 1st. Lt. Jacob Yehl, the 4th Marines ACV platoon commander. “Our mission here today, and on this rotation, is to make sure all of those training areas and BLS’s (Beach Landing Sites) are trafficable and supportable for ACV operations in the future.”

Marines and their ACVs spent three days at the beach to validate amphibious operations with the new platform during low tide, high tide, and low-light conditions.

“Kushi Crossing is the only landing site in Okinawa that allows entry into the Central Training Area of Okinawa,” said Yehl. Validation that ACVs can operate in the Kushi Crossing ensures they can integrate seamlessly with other training units in Okinawa. The ACV platoon’s central mission, stated by Yehl, is “to provide ship-to-shore lift for the infantry and reinforcement of their assault to inland objectives.”

After a long period of operating the outdated AAV, experienced Marines are able to bring their tactical knowledge to bear in mastering the new vehicle. Staff Sergeant Juwan White, one of the unit’s section leaders, said “I remember eight years ago I was driving an AAV from Recon Beach, Camp Schwab here to Kushi, regularly. Now here I am today doing the same thing with an ACV for the very first time for the next generations of Marines to do.”

ACVs with 4th Marines will also be attached to the 31st MEU based on Camp Hansen, Okinawa to provide another capable ship-to-shore connector for the Marine Corps’ most rapid response force in the region.

In the Indo-Pacific, ACVs deliver commanders the ability to deploy a landing force to respond to crisis or conflict. When asked about the significance of the training’s completion, White said “The primary message of the training we conducted is that we’ve proven and shown that ACVs belong here in Okinawa for III MEF to have at their disposal.”

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

CAMP ASAKUSA, Japan  –  

American Soldiers and Army civilians from the U.S. military’s premier Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command participated in Exercise Yama Sakura from Japan and Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington.

Highly specialized units from the 20th CBRNE Command took part in the 44th iteration of trilateral exercise that brought together forces from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, the Australian Defence Force and the U.S. Army in Japan, Dec. 7 – 15.

The 3rd Ordnance Battalion (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) and 20th CBRNE Command supported Exercise Yama Sakura, which means “Mountain Cherry Blossoms” in Japanese.

Soldiers and Army civilians from the 20th CBRNE Command deploy from 19 bases in 16 states to confront and defeat the world’s most dangerous hazards in support of joint, interagency and multinational operations.

Headquartered on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in Northeast Maryland’s science, technology and security corridor, the 20th CBRNE Command is home to 75 percent of the U.S. Army’s active-duty Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) specialists and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians, as well as the 1st Global Field Medical Laboratory, CBRNE Analytical and Remediation Activity, Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordination Teams and Nuclear Disablement Teams (Infrastructure).

Exercise Yama Sakura is designed to increase joint force lethality, enhance procedural and technical interoperability, and strengthen alliances and partnerships, while focusing on collaboration across multi-domain and cross-domain operations.

U.S. Army Pacific, Japan Ground Self Defense Force, Ground Component Command, I Corps, Western Army, 11th Airborne Division, Australian 1st Division, Eastern Army, 7th Infantry and U.S. Army Japan took part in the exercise.

The 20th CBRNE Command supports military operations overseas and civil authorities at home.

The multifunctional and deployable 20th CBRNE Command also routinely works to strengthen allies around the world.

Brig. Gen. W Bochat, the commanding general of 20th CBRNE Command, visited Japan during the exercise.

“This exercise was an excellent opportunity to build readiness and focus on training with a valuable ally to our nation. The goal is to strengthen our collective defensive posture and improve our interoperability in the Indo-Pacific theater,” said Bochat, a career U.S. Army Chemical Corps officer who speaks Japanese fluently.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

CAMP ASAKA, Japan  –  

America’s First Corps serves as the U.S. Army’s primary executor of Operation Pathways working with Allies and partners across a vast Indo-Pacific driving readiness in this complex region.

As a campaigning initiative, Operation Pathways reflects the U.S. Army’s broader objective of ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Each year, Pathways can result anywhere from 30-40 major exercises spanning across more than 10 countries working in various training locations, environments and time zones.

Due to the demands and requirements to accomplish mission success, the Joint Base Lewis-McChord-based command calls upon the U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard respectively to support such a vital mission with national security implications.

Most recently, this level of integration was on full display during Yama Sakura 87, the trilateral scenario-driven command post exercise held each year in Japan.

U.S. Army Reserve units across the world were brought together to support, sustain and protect elements across Japan during the concurrent Yama Sakura 87 and Warfighter 25-02 exercise, elevating the combined joint effort with their partners in First Corps and across Allied forces in the Australian Army and Japan Ground Self Defense-Force.

First Corps understands the importance and value the Army’s Reserve and National Guard components offer to increase capacity and capabilities to Pathways exercises like Yama Sakura, and they depend on the unique skill sets these formations and Soldiers bring to the table.

“We have five mission support commands just supporting America’s First Corps for this mission,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Carol Balderas, the Army Reserve Affairs Senior Enlisted Advisor at First Corps. “Of that, there are upwards of 324, plus or minus, that are participating in this Operation Pathways exercise.”

Sgt. Maj. Balderas continued, stating this number represents U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers assigned from the 200th Military Police Command, Army Reserve Civil Affairs personnel, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command, as well as several Main Command Post-Operational Detachments brought to improve logistics, operations and communication with interpreters working with Japanese counterparts.

“Being able to integrate the COMPO 3, the Army Reserve Soldiers, into Pathways allows the Soldiers to apply those critical thinking skills firsthand with their Active Component counterparts and they learn from them,” stated Balderas.

One of these Soldiers, Sgt. 1st Class Naohau Tsuboi, who serves as an interpreter assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve’s 9th Mission Support Command Japan Detachment, was a vital part of mission success helping coordinate efforts between key players and functions in the exercise by translating briefs, meetings and documents.

“I was born and raised in Japan, so I understand the Japanese culture,” said Tsuboi. “But I spent a long time in the states of course, and now I’m an American citizen so I understand the American culture as well.”

Tsuboi reflected how his experiences across both walks of life improved coordination and planning functions in the face of language barriers, and helped facilitate cultural exchanges between each nation’s forces.

“I’m always excited to talk about the mutual cooperation, the mutual understanding,” said Tsuboi. “Especially, I’m excited that I can help them [U.S. and Japanese] service members understand each other – that’s the biggest part I enjoy.”

It is not just the U.S. Army components that employed these reserve forces to support Yama Sakura. Military reservists from the U.S. Navy were brought out to help coordinate efforts to make the training as realistic as possible.

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Andrew Thornburg, a reserve anti-submarine officer with 7th Fleet, acted as a liaison officer during the exercises, working with components across the Japan Ministry of Defense, Australian Defence Force, and U.S. personnel, to contextualize the realities of coordination in large-scale operations in the Indo-Pacific during the exercise.

“We brought people with expertise in sustainment, we brought people with expertise in surface operations,” Thornburg said. “Several of us are submarine experts and know maritime planning. Of course, we have the air component as well, so we brought some pilots out. They were extremely helpful.”

For several of these reservists, Yama Sakura 87 and Warfighter 25-02 provided the first opportunity for them to serve beyond the United States’ border bringing a unique experience to their Army experience and personal fulfillment.

For U.S. Army Spc. Alvin Corado, a military policeman assigned to U.S. Army Reserve’s 396th Military Police Detachment, based in Denver, Colo., this was a unique opportunity to support efforts at Camp Asaka, Japan.

“This is my first time being out [of] the country,” Corado said. “Working with different countries and how they establish their work has been an amazing experience.”

Corado’s patrol partner, Spc. Cole Schuymanski, share similar sentiments when speaking about his experiences during the exercise.

“The best part is just getting to work with our Japanese and Australian Allies,” reflected Schuymanski. “Getting to work with our policing, getting to work with our dialog, seeing the differences on their methods.”

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia  –   PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, traveled to Cambodia, Dec. 18, to strengthen and expand the U.S-Cambodia partnership as the two nations enter the 75th anniversary of bilateral relations.

He met with senior government and military officials including Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Defense Rath Dararoth, and Commander in Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Gen. Vong Pisen.

Paparo, joined by U.S. Chargé d’Affaires to Cambodia Bridgette L. Walker, discussed the recent visit of U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin, where Austin highlighted confidence-building measures to strengthen U.S.-Cambodia relations and rebuild bilateral defense and security cooperation. They focused on relations being based on the principles of sovereignty, mutual respect and upholding the international rules-based order. Paparo also underscored U.S. commitment to ASEAN-centrality and expressed support for cooperation in the areas of international military education and training; peacekeeping operations; demining and unexploded ordnance removal; and medical medicine.

Throughout his trip, Paparo expressed appreciation for the U.S.-Cambodian efforts, through the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, to achieve the fullest possible accounting of all missing U.S. personnel in Cambodia and Southeast Asia.

Paparo also visited the Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Savannah (LCS 28) at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, where he engaged with Governor of Preah Sihanouk province Mang Sineth and the commander of Ream Naval Base Rear Adm. Mey Dina during a press event and ship tour. USS Savannah’s presence in Sihanoukville marks the first time in approximately eight years that a U.S. Navy ship has visited Cambodia, symbolizing the catalyst for expanding defense exchanges.

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

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam  –  

Allied aircrews from five nations took to the skies together as U.S. Air Force, Japan Air Self Defense Force, Republic of Korea Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, and Royal Australian Air Force aircrews executed a multinational “interfly” mission to culminate Operation Christmas Drop 2024, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.

In a display of aerial precision and international cooperation, each allied nation flew in formation across the Pacific while conducting a series of coordinated airdrops using practice bundles.

Capt. Sam Vincent, OCD 24 assistant director of operations from the 36th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan, said the coordinated flight highlighted the operational readiness and mutual trust built through years of joint training and mission execution.

“The Indo-Pacific theater is vast, and we rely on our partners to operate here effectively,” he said. “This mission offered a low-threat environment where we could work closely with our allies, learn from each other, and build interoperability through real-world missions.”

Maj. Jon Balfe, commander of the OCD 24 Canadian Detachment from the 436th Tactical Transport Squadron based at 8 Wing Trenton in Trenton, Ontario, said that established relationships between each nation made the interfly possible. However, flying together during OCD enabled greater mutual understanding.

“(Interfly missions) allow us to plan together, spot differences in procedures, and adjust accordingly. Many of our procedures are similar, but it’s often in the small details where missions succeed or fail,” he said. “Discussing those details, troubleshooting together, and being in the same room to work through differences are invaluable.”

Balfe noted that, while the humanitarian mission of OCD delivers a heartwarming impact, it also provides critical operational experience to prepare aircrews for real-world contingencies.

“Building relationships is critical, especially considering the strategic focus on this part of the world,” he said. “You can’t wait until a crisis happens to figure out how to work together. Flying, planning, and learning from each other now ensures we’re ready when it matters.”

Vincent added that, while differing languages between aircrews needed navigation, aircrews were able plan, operate, and learn together thanks to a common skillset.

“We share a common language of aviation, even with some language barriers. During planning meetings, we learned how different nations approach tactical challenges and how we could apply those lessons to improve how we operate,” he said. “On the other hand, it demonstrates that we can coordinate large-scale, multinational airlift operations safely and effectively. It’s a thing not many can do.”

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

JUNGWON AIR BASE, South Korea  –  

Members of the Wolf Pack traveled to Jungwon Air Base, Republic of Korea, to participate in Buddy Squadron 25-3 from Dec. 9-13, 2024. Buddy Squadron is a regular joint training exercise between the U.S. and ROKAF used as an opportunity to build trust, introduce new tactics and exchange ideas among pilots, maintenance technicians and support personnel from both partner countries.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

PACIFIC OCEAN  –  

On the surface, Sailors assigned to the Undersea Rescue Command (URC) and Unmanned Undersea Vehicle Group ONE (UUVGRU-1) received a notification of a disabled submarine (DISSUB) in need of assistance. These Sailors and the DISSUB Response Team sprang into action, deploying a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to assist in recovery efforts. The ROV’s destination? Peruvian submarine BAP Pisagua (SS-33), joining the exercise as part of the Diesel-Electric Submarine Initiative (DESI).

The DESI program was established in 2001 by U.S. Fleet Forces Command and partners the U.S. Navy with South American submarine-operating navies as they participate in fleet readiness exercises. The initiative brings these South American submarines to the United States for a series of drills, exercises, and interoperability events. While in southern California, Pisagua’s crew strengthened relationships with U.S. Navy personnel and honed their skills in a variety of areas, including damage control, communications, hoisting exercises, and undersea rescue fundamentals.

It is the focus on undersea rescue fundamentals that brought Pisagua’s crew together with the professionals of URC, the U.S. Navy’s sole provider for U.S. and Allied Submarine Rescue support.

”This exercise enhances our coordination with allies and partners in the mission of submarine rescue. It enables us to develop, refine, and practice our TTPs [tactics, techniques, and procedures] for rescue while building relationships in the international community and strengthening relationships in critical regions,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Skiles, executive officer of URC. “It builds confidence for both parties in the ability to get our sailors and our allies and partners home safe in the event of a major casualty.”

This particular exercise involved Pisagua descending to the bottom of the ocean and establishing underwater communications with the would-be rescue team. The rescue team then coordinated with personnel assigned to UUVGRU-1 to localize the submarine while also using a DISSUB Response Team from URC to minimize the intervention time for a subsequent rescue.

It is the fourth time that URC has worked with DESI partners in this fashion, and the second time with BAP Pisagua. Working together through exercises like this demonstrates the deepening coordination with URC and international Allies and partners.

“The coordination for submarine rescue is a unique mission set in the international community. We all acknowledge the inherent danger in submarining and being part of one of the world’s rescue capabilities enables us to teach and learn from our international partners through that mission,” Skiles added. “Through events like DYNAMIC MONARCH and DESI, we can maximize the probability of a successful rescue through our own capabilities or international capabilities that we’ve had the opportunity to operate and train with. These events are even more crucial for countries that don’t have inherent submarine rescue capabilities and will rely on external support from other countries in the event of a DISSUB event.”

For the Peruvian Navy, this exercise further reinforced the importance of the DESI program and its ability to enhance cooperation and collaboration between the U.S. and Peru in a variety of areas and battlespaces.

“We have learned so much from this program with the U.S. Navy and we are already looking forward to our next opportunity to participate in DESI,” said Cmdr. Raul UGARTE Aguayo, Peruvian Navy Submarine Liaison Officer. “In 2026, we will further strengthen our cooperation by incorporating our new rescue seat recently installed on our submarine Chipana.”

URC, comprised of active and Reserve component Sailors, and civilian contractors, is the U.S. Navy’s only submarine rescue-capable command ready to deploy around the world in the event of a submarine emergency.

Commander, Submarine Squadron 11 provides training, material and personnel readiness support for the medium auxiliary floating dry dock ARCO (ARDM 5), Undersea Rescue Command and four Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarines, capable of supporting various missions, including: anti-submarine warfare; anti-ship warfare; strike warfare; and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

For more information, contact SPSC_CSS11_PAO@navy.mil, call +1 (619) 553-1278, or visit Submarine Squadron 11’s command website at https://www.csp.navy.mil/css11/.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

BANGKOK, Thailand  –  

Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, traveled to Thailand, where he met with senior government and military leaders to reinforce the enduring U.S.-Thailand Alliance, Dec. 15-18.

He met with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Phumtham Wechaychai, Chief of Defence for the Royal Thai Armed Forces Gen. Songwit Noonpackdee, Deputy Chief of Defence for the Royal Thai Armed Forces Gen. Paiboon Vorravanpreecha, Royal Thai Air Force Assistant Commander in Chief Air Chief Marshal Sakesan Kantha, Royal Thai Army Commander in Chief Gen. Pana Klaewblaudtuk, Royal Thai Navy Commander in Chief Adm. Jirapol Wongwit, and U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Robert F. Godec. 

They discussed shared commitments to key priorities such as maritime security, cyber security, military modernization, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. They also focused on expansion of people-to-people ties through diplomatic and commercial relations.  

While in Bangkok, Paparo participated in an honors ceremony at the Royal Thai Armed Forces headquarters. The visit not only showcased strategic alignment and initiatives, but also highlighted the deep appreciation and strength between the two nations. 

During their annual Senior Leader Dialogue, Paparo and Songwit committed to increased military-to-military planning and activity, including continued growth of Exercise Cobra Gold. Now in its 43rd year, Cobra Gold is a Thai-U.S. training event that builds on the long-standing friendship between the two allied nations and brings together a robust multinational force to promote regional peace and security. 

The U.S. and Thailand have been defense treaty allies since the signing of the Southeast Asian Collective Defense Treaty in 1954 and demonstrate continued allegiance through the signing of the 2022 U.S.-Thailand Communiqué on Strategic Alliance and Partnership. As enduring friends, military allies and economic partners, they remain steadfast in safeguarding regional security and sovereignty in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. 

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines  –  

U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs assigned to the 25th Fighter Squadron completed a Dynamic Force Employment exercise with the Philippine Air Force at Clark Air Base, Philippines, Dec. 9-13, 2024. U.S. Pacific Air Forces Airmen conducted integrated training with Philippine Air Force Airmen, offering pilots and maintenance teams a valuable opportunity to strengthen shared skills and enhance the two forces’ interoperability.

Dynamic Force Employment, or DFE, is an operational strategy across the Joint Force to remain strategically predictable, but operationally unpredictable, in an ever-evolving, challenging, and contested environment.

The bilateral training conducted with the Philippine Air Force consisted of pilots, maintainers, and other support assets, utilizing the minimal amount of personnel and equipment possible to conduct flight operations within the Philippines at different spoke locations. The hub and spoke training missions demonstrated the combined air forces’ ability to rapidly project air power and sustain such flight operations across dispersed locations.

“DFE’s are important because it allows us to project airpower at the time and place of our choosing with as small footprint as possible at the location we conduct these DFE’s at,” said Maj. Gregory St. Clair, Pacific Air Forces chief of future operations. “In addition to that it allows us to train closely with our allies and partners which is our greatest strength.”

The exercise reinforced the two nation’s defense partnership and commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. The successful completion of this DFE marks another milestone in U.S.-Philippine military enhanced cooperation.

“Flying with the Philippine Air Force has been incredible, I was blown away by how willing they were to work and engage with us to continue to strengthen this alliance we have in the Indo-Pacific,” said Capt. Ben Burmester, 25th Fighter Squadron project officer. “We continue to promote stability and freedom to all our partners in the region”

The U.S. Air Force and Philippine Air Force worked together through bilateral training and subject matter expert exchanges to promote interoperability, strengthening our alliance and enhancing security and stability within the Indo-Pacific region.

“The main goal of this DFE was to show we are super close with our allies and partners so that we can train and be effective together,” said St. Clair. “DFE’s are not a new concept and we will continue to do them in the future and we’re only going to get stronger by continuing to do them.”