Category: Indo-Pacific

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

SOUTH CHINA SEA  –  

The U.S. Navy and the Philippine Navy (PN) conducted the third iteration of the Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the South China Sea, reaffirming both nations’ commitment to bolstering regional security and stability, Feb. 9.

Participating ships included Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10), embarked with a MH-60S Sea Hawk from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 from the U.S.; and the Philippine Navy’s BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PS-15) and AW109 Helicopter (NH434).

The MCA displays the enduring partnership between the two militaries and advances combined capabilities in the evolving maritime domain through routine goodwill activities at sea.

During the activity, the allied forces sailed together and participated in advanced planning and maritime communication operations to enhance interoperability.

“We welcome any opportunity to conduct maritime activities with our allies. Sailing and operating together demonstrates our commitment to improving our interoperability and continued coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” said Capt. Sean Lewis, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7 commodore.

The U.S. Navy regularly conducts events to strengthen ties among allied and partner nations. MCA enhances combined readiness and capabilities in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Gabrielle Giffords is on a rotational deployment to the Indo-Pacific, conducting operations, exercises and port visits throughout the region and working hull-to-hull with allied and partner navies to provide maritime security and stability, key pillars of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

DESRON 7 serves as the primary tactical and operational commander of littoral combat ships rotationally deployed to Singapore, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7’s Sea Combat Commander and builds partnerships through training exercises and military-to-military engagements.

U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

SOUTH CHINA SEA  –  

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113) and Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) conducted trilateral operations with allied maritime forces from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in the South China Sea, Feb. 7-8.

“This multinational sail fortifies our relationship between the U.S., Japan and Australian allies,” said Cmdr. Earvin Taylor, commanding officer of John Finn. “We promote transparency, rule of law, freedom of navigation and all principles that underscore security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.”

The U.S. Navy regularly participates with allies and partners in high-end maritime exercises and operations, which have continued to grow in scale, scope, and complexity, to create combined operations that enhance interoperability, boost deterrence, and demonstrate shared resolve.

“Australia has maintained a robust program of international engagement with regional nations for decades and cooperative activities at sea during routine deployments are crucial for enhancing mutual understanding and our ability to operate together,” said Australia’s Joint Force Maritime Component Commander, Commodore Jonathan Ley, RAN.

U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

We mourn the tragic loss of five U.S. Marines earlier this week during a training flight enroute from Nevada to California. My prayers are with these brave Marines and their families, loved ones, and teammates.

As the Marine Corps investigates this deadly crash, it is yet another reminder that across our nation and the world our selfless service members put their lives on the line every day to keep our country safe. The entire Department of Defense honors these brave Marines’ service and grieves their passing.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam  –  

Pacific Defender (PAC-D) Security Forces Key Leadership Engagement (KLE) meetings are held to provide understanding between relationships within partnered nations in the pacific theater and beyond, Jan. 29 – Feb. 3, 2024.

PAC-D is a multilateral training exercise that primarily focuses on sharing, incorporating, and applying a range of security tactics and force protection practices among the different allied and partner nations.

While PAC-D exercises were being conducted in the field, there were also KLE meetings happening throughout the week, where not only partnered countries participated, but also two NATO allies, German Air Force and Royal Air Force.

“Each year Pacific Defender grows and becomes more important to the security architecture of the larger Indo-Pacific strategy,” says Lt. Col. Marc Stanco, commander of the 647th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. “By forging strong alliances and partnerships, we not only deter aggression but also promote regional stability and security, reducing the likelihood of conflict.”

Along with the U.S. Air Force and the two NATO allies, leaders from Japanese, Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore militaries also actively participated in the meetings.

Together, they explained the types of security methods their bases use and helped each other pinpoint strengths and weaknesses by sharing their knowledge of what does and does not work for their respective forces.

“The U.S. demonstrates its commitment to upholding international standards and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific, safeguarding both our interests and those of our allies and partners,” Stanco said.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea  –  

Members assigned to Osan Air Base conclude Beverly Midnight 24-1, a combined tactical and operational training event hosted jointly by the 51st and 8th Fighter Wing, at Osan AB, Republic of Korea, from Jan. 28 – Feb 2, 2024.

BM24-1 is part of an annual, continuous training schedule designed to strengthen the capabilities and readiness of the 51st and 8th FWs.

Some of the 51st FW’s priorities for this training event included: generating and employing combat airpower in support of allied efforts, defending the base to protect mission generation capabilities, recovering the base, and receiving and staging inbound forces.

“We conduct full-spectrum exercises like these to refine our readiness,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Willliam McKibban, 51st FW commander. “This guarantees we can generate, execute and sustain combat airpower at the highest operational tempo in order to defend the freedom of the more than 51 million lives here on the peninsula.”

Throughout the training event, Airmen were evaluated on response and recovery procedures, tactical combat casualty care, mission-oriented protective posture, and post-attack reconnaissance actions amongst several other unit-specific measures.

“Our wing has made continuous improvements to guarantee we are capable to Fight Tonight,” said Maj. Alexandria Schwartz, 51st FW director of inspections. “With Osan being the most forward deployed permanently-based wing in the Air Force, our responsibility under the Inspector General office is to ensure we identify any discrepancies or safety concerns by helping continuously train to maintain the high level of full-spectrum readiness required to execute the mission proficiently and effectively.”

Routine training events like BM24-1 help maintain the 51st FW level of readiness required to accomplish the ‘Fight Tonight’ mission and allow members to practice contingency response, evaluate performance while sharpening critical skills.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

CAMP CASEY, South Korea  –  

American Soldiers from a forward deployed U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) company improved their technical and tactical readiness during a nine-month rotational deployment to South Korea.

Soldiers from the Fort Drum, New York-based 59th CBRN Company (Hazardous Response) leveraged unit and individual training opportunities to increase mission readiness.

The 59th CBRN Company “Mountain Dragons” deployed to Camp Casey, South Korea, near the world’s most heavily armed border in support of the 23rd CBRN Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division and Eighth Army.

CBRN Soldiers graduated from the Advanced Chemical Biological Course in December 2023. Sponsored by the 23rd CBRN Battalion, the Advanced Chemical and Biological Course was held on Camp Humphreys, South Korea.

A mobile training team from the Special Programs Division on Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, conducted the course.

“The course was an in-depth education on all the chemical and biological agents and targets that Dragon Soldiers might encounter while on mission,” said 1st Lt. Aidan J. Naylor, the executive officer of the 59th CBRN Company.

“The instructors were composed of biologists, chemists and virologists who were informed on the cutting edge of science behind the chemical and biological warfare agents employed by the adversaries of the United States and her allies,” said Naylor. “I was personally grateful for the personable and accessible instruction that the Advanced Chemical and Biological Course team gave to every Soldier who attended the course.”

From the 59th CBRN Company, Naylor, Warrant Officer 1 Hwanglyong Hwangbo, Sgt. 1st Class Alvin Dela Cruz, Sgt. 1st Class Michael Kotz, Staff Sgt. Santos Carlos-Gonzalez, Staff Sgt. John Rybicki, Sgt. Branson Cody, Sgt. Nayara Gomez, Sgt. Sanisha Lewis, Spc. Dennis Chang, Spc. Timothy Crespin, Spc. Jayden Delair, Spc. Hannah Jobes, Spc. Martin Virgil, Spc. Jacob Oliver, Pfc. Sang Kim and Pfc. Won Seo completed the course.

Spc. Dennis Chang, a Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle (NBCRV) surveyor, said the course covered the potential impact of chemical and biological hazards.

“The instructors were passionate about their field of study and explained in detail how the chemical functions down to the molecular level or how the bacteria and virus act in our bodies to make us ill,” said Chang.

The Mountain Dragons also tested their mettle during the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge qualification event, hosted by the 501st Military Intelligence Brigade on Camp Humphreys, South Korea, in January. The course is overseen by the German Armed Forces defense attaché in South Korea.

During the qualification event, Soldiers had to complete a basic fitness test, 100-meter swim in uniform, pistol qualification and 12-kilometer foot march to earn the badge.

Staff Sgt. Stephen Craddock said swimming in uniform was the most challenging part of the qualification event.

“It is one thing to swim with physical training uniforms but it’s a whole different ballgame when we are wearing our duty uniform. It made me realize that we need to be more diverse in our PT planning,” said Craddock. “But I am proud of every single candidate that passed not only the pre-assessment but the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge as a whole.”

Craddock, Sgt. Robert Errington, Cpl. Alexander Cargal, Spc. Dennis Chang, Pfc. Nikolay Zelikov and Pfc. Conner Ossont earned the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge during the qualification event.

Sgt. Robert Errington and Spc. Jacob Oliver earned black belts in Taekwondo during their deployment to the birthplace of the famous martial art. Errington also won a gold medal in a Taekwondo sparring competition at the Kukkiwon, the World Taekwondo Headquarters.

Spc. Jayden Delair also studied Brazilian Ju Jitsu for the first time and competed in two tournaments during the deployment.

“We’ve seen plenty of our Mountain Dragons step outside of their comfort zone this rotation, and it’s been an honor to see the growth they’ve experienced from taking on new challenges,” said Naylor, the company executive officer.

Capt. Evan P. Shortsleeve, the commander of the 59th CBRNE Company, said he has challenged his Soldiers to continue to focus on personal and professional development.

“I remind the 59th CBRN Soldiers of my standing charge every week at closeout formations to be 1 percent better every day,” said Shortsleeve, a native of Litchfield, Connecticut, and graduate of Norwich University.

“Ultimately, some of the best and worst days of our lives will take place when we only have 10 percent in the tank,” said Shortsleeve. “My charge to our Soldiers is to maximize what that 10 percent is capable of so that they can compete and win in their lives and defeat our adversaries in any condition.”

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Defense scientists from Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States collaboratively tested a range of robotic vehicles and their sensors during a trial at Cultana Training Area, South Australia.

The Trusted Operation of Robotic Vehicles in a Contested Environment (TORVICE) trial was conducted in fall 2023 to identify and resolve vulnerabilities faced by autonomous systems in a congested electronic warfare environment.

Dr Peter Shoubridge, Chief Land and Joint Warfare at Defence, said the trial was designed to test autonomous vehicle behaviour when under attack.

“Understanding how robotic vehicles react in contested environments accelerates our collective know-how and helps improve the system to overcome such attacks,” Dr Shoubridge said.

A network of robotic ground vehicles from the United Kingdom and the United States were configured to represent autonomous Multi-Domain Launchers and Uncrewed Ground Vehicles conducting Long Range Precision Fires and associated missions. The vehicles carried no weapons during the trial.

Australian scientists then subjected the vehicles to electronic warfare, electro optical and position, navigation, and timing attacks.

“Transitioning trusted robotic capabilities into the hands of our warfighters safely and ethically is a priority,” Dr Shoubridge said.

TORVICE is part of the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia’s commitment to the AUKUS Advanced Capabilities Pillar, known as Pillar II, under the Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy Working Group. The trial is part of an ongoing series pursuing a trilateral program of work on a range of leading-edge technologies and capabilities to promote security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. 

Dr. Kimberly Sablon, the U.S. Department of Defense’s Principal Director for Trusted Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy, said “The TORVICE project builds upon the work the AUKUS partners demonstrated in Salisbury in April.  During this exercise, we performed rigorous red teaming of our autonomous/AI systems to assess and mitigate vulnerabilities and to improve their resilience in contested and complex environments.”

Through AUKUS, Australia, the UK, and the United States have collaborated to accelerate collective understanding of AI and autonomy technologies, and how to rapidly field robust, trustworthy AI and autonomy in complex operations, while adhering to the shared values of safe and responsible AI.

TORVICE follows the first AUKUS artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomy trial held in the UK in April. The aim of this AUKUS collaboration is to rapidly drive these technologies into responsible military use.

VIDEO

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam  –  

U.S. Air Force, Marines and Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, French Air and Space Force, and Republic of Korea Air Force aircraft participated in an Elephant Walk for Cope North 2024, Feb. 5, 2024.

This Elephant Walk was a coalition of 33 aircraft, operating together to present a united front with Allies and partners to enhance integrated deterrence.

The United States does not fight alone, nor do we deter alone. Relationships and increased operational capabilities with Allies and partners are vital to preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific.

“Being able to direct and oversee this amazing showing of interoperability from Andersen AFB has filled me with awe,” said SrA Robert Rennie, Air Traffic Controller. “The sheer amount of aircraft and the way our Allies and partners operate together with us is inspiring.”

Elephant Walks date back to World War II, where aircraft assembled in a single file line. Events like this demonstrate the airpower presence, strength, and preparedness that exists across the Indo-Pacific region.

“When I see something like an Elephant Walk, I know we are moving in the right direction to ensure deterrence,” said Rennie. “This showcase proves to our adversaries that we aren’t afraid to work together, and we are the best at it.”

As long-term strategic competition persists and continues to challenge international institutions, it is vital that bonds are strengthened with Allies and partners to sharpen the competitive edge, secure common interests, and promote shared values.

“On behalf of RAAF, JASDF and the USAF exercise leadership, we are excited to kick off Cope North 24 with this successful demonstration of interoperability through the Elephant Walk,” said Lt Col David Overstreet, Cope North Lead planner. “Throughout the exercise we aim to aggressively practice combat air forces and mobility air forces dispersal activities in concert with all six participating nations. Our network of alliances and partnerships remains the backbone of global security.”