DPAA Conducts Honorable Carry Ceremony from Philipine Mission

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

On 28 January, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency conducted an honorable carry ceremony to honor service members from World War II at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

An honorable carry ceremony is a tradition that honors unknown service members as they return to American soil for the first time in over 80 years.

The 18 U.S. flag-draped transfer cases contained the potential remains of 36 unknown World War II service members who were interred at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines. The cases were repatriated to the DPAA’s laboratory in Hawaii for identification and analysis.

“Thirty-five of these brave individuals perished in captivity at the Cabanatuan prison camp, while one gave their life in the Tokyo Prison Fire during World War II,” said John M. Figuerres, the DPAA’s acting deputy director for operations.

These service members were among those who fought bravely at the battles of Bataan and Corregidor in 1942. With no supplies, reinforcements or hope of relief, they held their ground longer than any Allied force against the Imperial Japanese army’s initial attacks.

“After being forced to surrender, many of these service members suffered through the brutal 65-mile Bataan Death March and lost their lives while being held as prisoners,” Figuerres explained.

The DPAA launched the Cabanatuan Project in 2014 and has since accounted for more than 90 personnel. However, more than 900 individuals remain unaccounted for.
“As part of its ongoing efforts, the agency’s annual goal is to conduct two Philippine disinterments and repatriate about 70 transfer cases”, said U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Jordan Underwood, DPAA team leader for the disinterment.

Additionally, the DPAA continues working to identify service members who perished in the Tokyo Military Prison in May 1945, initiating the Tokyo Prison Fire Project in 2022. Dozens of American Airmen who were being held in the Tokyo Military Prison died during the Allied firebombing of the Japanese capitol in March 1945, trapped amidst the blaze engulfing the city.

The agency identifies potential remains using a wide variety of methods, some examples include anthropological testing, dental analysis and DNA testing in partnership with the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System.

“The DPAA’s mission is to account for missing personnel from past conflicts. We hope to identify these service members and return them home. One family member once told me that it’s not about providing closure, but about closing a chapter of their family history, and I think that’s a great way to describe it”, said Dr. Carrie LeGarde, a DPAA scientific recovery expert. “We cannot achieve this without bringing these remains back to the DPAA laboratory.”

For the men and women of the DPAA, an honorable carry is both a solemn occasion, and a triumph.

“Today, after more than 84 years away from their homeland, we honor their return to the United States,” Figuerres said. “Their sacrifice stands as a testament to the extraordinary courage and resilience of the Greatest Generation. Our mission to identify these heroes continues, ensuring their legacy is preserved and their sacrifice to our nation is never forgotten.”

For more information about the DPAA’s efforts to recover POW/MIA remains, visit https://www.dpaa.mil.

Marine Corps Passes FY24 Financial Audit

Source: United States Marines

For the second year in a row, independent auditors verified that the Marine Corps’ financial records are materially accurate, complete, and compliant with federal regulations and issued an unmodified opinion for Fiscal Year 2024.

This repeat achievement reinforces the service’s reputation for accountability, discipline, and leadership; and this is only the second time such success has been achieved for a military service in Department of Defense history and twice attributed to the Marines.

The findings produced by the audit help the service to more efficiently and accurately plan, program, budget, and spend funds appropriated by Congress.

The Marine Corps’ audit process enabled accurate global tracking and reporting of financial transactions, inventory of facilities, equipment and assets, and accounting for taxpayer dollars spent during the last fiscal year. The auditors also tested the Marines Corps’ network, key business systems, and internal controls.

“I am immensely proud of this historic achievement and the hard work done by the thousands of Marines, sailors, and civilians across the Marine Corps that made this happen,” said Gen. Eric M. Smith, Commandant of the Marine Corps. “Their efforts tell the American people that a dollar invested in the Marine Corps is a dollar well spent. Passing a second annual audit demonstrates our commitment to being good stewards of our nation’s tax dollars and is part of how we distinguish ourselves as a professional warfighting organization. Make no mistake, passing an audit makes us more ready to fight when our nation calls.”

Since becoming the first service to pass an annual financial audit, the Marine Corps took additional steps to stabilize its new accounting system and procedures. Independent public accountants contracted by the Department of Defense Inspector General audited all records. Financial management personnel also gained more hands-on experience, which set conditions for a smoother audit this year.

“The Marine Corps culture has always emphasized accountability to yourself, your fellow Marines, your unit, down to the lowest tactical levels,” said LtGen. James Adams III, Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources. “But financial reporting for $49 billion in financial assets requires a holistic view from the ground level up to the highest service levels. The audit process demonstrates Marines’ inherent integrity – opening up and illuminating potential audit mistakes and inventory miscounts across the entire chain of command. That can be an uncomfortable experience for Marine leaders of all ranks. Now magnify that across an entire service. By educating all Marines on the importance of accurate counts, and through our use of independent audit and inspection teams, we were able to gain an accurate accounting of the resources entrusted to the Corps.”

The auditor’s final report, enclosed in the Marine Corps’ Fiscal Year 2024 Agency Financial Report, highlights seven areas for the Marine Corps to improve upon, referred to as material weaknesses.

The Marine Corps will continue to drive to eliminate these weaknesses through systems improvement and internal controls. While doing this, the Corps will still prioritize the accurate counting and management of its global assets, a challenging task given the vast scope of its operations. By repeating and refining this process, the Corps aims to develop a more fluid and efficient enterprise resource planning system, ultimately positioning itself for long-term mission success and accountability.

The Agency Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2024 is available at: https://www.pandr.marines.mil/

Forging Readiness: Navy Reservists Train for Expeditionary Operations at NEMWDC

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Six Navy reservists sharpened their expeditionary warfare skills during an integrated Expeditionary Resuscitative Surgical System (ERSS) and En-route Care System (ERCS) training at the Naval Expeditionary Medicine Warfighter Development Center, Camp Pendleton, Jan. 14-21.

The ERSS and ERCS training helps test the expeditionary medicine systems capabilities and reinforces essential operational skills, including combat lifesaving, tactical communications, weapons handling and mission planning.

For the reservists, the training ensured they remain proficient and mission-ready, prepared to integrate seamlessly with active-duty forces to support the fleet while integrating their unique blend of expertise and military experience. Their role is crucial in providing surge capacity, specialized expertise and operational flexibility, strengthening the Navy’s ability to respond to global missions and maritime security challenges.

During the training, the reservists worked alongside active-duty personnel to respond to simulated combat scenarios, including a bomb threat and a firefight. In one scenario, two service members sustained life-threatening injuries from an improvised explosive device and multiple gunshot wounds. Cmdr. You Wei Lin, a reservist anesthesiologist with the 4th Medical Logistics Group, 4th Medical Battalion Surgical Company Alpha, provided critical care and support to the simulated patients, ensuring they were safely sedated and monitored throughout a critical surgical procedure.

Lin’s expertise allowed the surgical team to focus on life-saving interventions, such as controlling internal bleeding and repairing damaged tissue, under challenging condition. This collaboration demonstrated the importance of having skilled reservists integrated into expeditionary medical teams, showcasing their ability to perform seamlessly alongside active-duty counterparts in high-pressure scenarios.

“I believe our team members integrated much more and started working together more cohesively after each evolution,” Lin said. “With high-fidelity simulation training, this course prepared our team both physically and mentally for the upcoming deployment.”

The participation of the reservists in the training highlighted their importance to operational readiness.

“Reservists bring specialized expertise and civilian medical experience that enhance the capability and flexibility of expeditionary medical teams, ensuring the highest level of care in combat and humanitarian missions,” explained Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Jeffrey Reyes, the leading petty officer of education and training at NEMWDC.

The Naval Expeditionary Medicine Warfighter Development Center, located at Camp Pendleton, is a center of excellence for unit-level medical training, advancing combat trauma skills and certifying expeditionary medical platforms to ensure readiness for future operations. The center’s training programs, like the one the reservists participated in, are critical to preparing medical personnel for the challenges of combat and contingency operations.

Five ISIS Operatives Killed in Iraqi Precision Airstrike, Enabled by CENTCOM Forces

Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)

Feb. 4, 2025
Release Number 20250204-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA, Fla. – On 31 Jan., Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), enabled by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces, conducted precision airstrikes in the vicinity Kirkuk, Iraq, killing five ISIS operatives.

An initial post-strike clearance found multiple explosive suicide belts and other materials.

The ISF-led operation is part of the ongoing Defeat-ISIS campaign to disrupt and degrade ISIS’ capabilities, dismantle their attack networks, and ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS. Coalition Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CTF-OIR) enabled ISF during the operation by providing technical support and intelligence

ISIS remains a threat to the region and beyond, and CENTCOM, along with partners and allies, will continue to aggressively pursue these terrorists to protect the homeland.

Destroyer Squadron 50 Assumes Operation Prosperity Guardian Mission

Source: United States Naval Central Command

MANAMA, Bahrain —

Combined Maritime Forces’ (CMF) Combined Task Force (CTF) 153 handed over responsibility for Operation Prosperity Guardian, the presence and information-sharing mission to counter unlawful Houthi attacks on maritime shipping in the Red Sea region, to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 50, Feb. 1.

DESRON 50, the surface warfare task force under U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, will continue OPG’s commitment to freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in the Southern Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab, and Western Gulf of Aden.

“CMF’s CTF-153 has done a spectacular job leading OPG and I thank all of the members who committed to this important mission,” said Vice Adm. George Wikoff, commander of CMF. “There will be no change to the important role OPG contributes to regional maritime security.”

“DESRON 50 brings immediate continuity to the mission,” Wikoff said.

More than 20 nations participated in OPG, providing ships, personnel, and information support since the focused operation was announced in December 2023. Wikoff said CMF personnel who participated in OPG, “performed their duties with exceptional professionalism.”

The Joint Maritime Information Center, established in February 2024 as part of OPG’s information sharing mission, will expand its role within the CMF as an authoritative information source for regional maritime reporting.

“Through dialogue and building close relationships with industry and with CMF, JMIC continues to provide real-time information to enable informed decisions, contributing to overall domain awareness,” said Capt. Lee Stuart, JMIC Director.

Combined Maritime Forces, a 46-nation naval partnership, is headquartered in Bahrain and is the world’s largest multinational naval partnership, committed to upholding the rules-based international order at sea. It promotes security, stability and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters, encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

Cope North 25 Send Off

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

As Cope North 25 approaches, members of the 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron (LRS) and Traffic Management Office (TMO) are ensuring the seamless shipment of essential cargo to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The annual multinational exercise strengthens ties between the U.S., Australia and Japan, enhancing interoperability and regional security in the Indo-Pacific.

“Right now, the squadrons are getting ready to ship their cargo off to go and support the mission for Cope North over in Guam,” said Senior Airman Rhett Hammon, 35th LRS inbound cargo technician. “What we’re doing here is ensuring that everything that is being shipped is strapped, packaged and weighed properly, and we’re working with the loadmasters to get them ready to go.”

Cope North 25 serves as a platform for combined air tactics, techniques and procedures, ensuring participating nations can operate effectively in real-world scenarios. To facilitate this, LRS and TMO personnel are responsible for coordinating logistics, verifying load safety, and processing necessary documentation.

“Our responsibility here is to train the base on how to prepare their cargo and get all the paperwork together in order to ship it out when the time comes, be it exercise or deployment,” said Staff Sgt. Shanks, 35th LRS air transportation technician.

Much of the cargo consists of maintenance tools and equipment crucial to the 13th Fighter Generation Squadron’s ability to sustain operations during the exercise.

“Without sending this cargo there, they would not even be able to participate, or it would severely limit their capabilities to meet their objectives in the exercise,” Shanks said.

Beyond logistical coordination, Cope North 25 also provides a valuable experience for participating Airmen.

“This will actually be my first time going to Cope North, but I’m excited to go and support everyone up there and learn new things outside of my comfort zone,” Hammon said.

As preparations continue, Misawa Air Base remains committed to ensuring mission success, strengthening alliances, and contributing to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

51st Fighter Wing completes readiness exercise, ACE dispersal despite heavy snowfall

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Despite historical snowfall during Korea’s Lunar New Year holiday, the 51st Fighter Wing completed its first wing readiness exercise of 2025, Beverly Herd 25-2, generating combat airpower from both Osan and Kunsan Air Bases, Jan. 26 – 31.

Wing exercises like BH 25-2 are a necessary and recurring requirement in Korea, where continuous robust readiness is vital to deterring aggression and maintaining stability in the region. Throughout the week, base personnel strengthen their skills in multiple areas, practicing everything from proper protective gear wear, weapons handling, and small unit tactics; to defending the base and rapidly launching combat aircraft in response to threats.

In addition to base-specific scenarios, the 51st FW also executed an Agile Combat Employment deployment in support of the exercise, sending F-16 Fighting Falcons and a detachment of supporting personnel to operate out of Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea.

“It’s vital that we exercise our ability to generate airpower from any location,” said Col. William McKibban, 51st FW commander. “Partnering with our wingmen at Kunsan strengthens readiness across the peninsula and lets us refine how we rapidly deploy airpower from outside our home base.”

“The relationship between the Kunsan and Osan is rock solid,” said Col. Peter Kasarskis, 8th FW commander. “Being able to synchronize on readiness exercises like this only makes us stronger and gives Kunsan vital training on our ability to receive follow-on forces.”

Large force exercises like BH 25-2 often involve multiple units and simulate enemy threats across a variety of contingency scenarios. This iteration, however, Mother Nature herself decided to become an exercise player, bringing realistic scenarios to the wing in the form of record snowfall across the Republic of Korea.

According to the 51st and 8th Operational Support Squadron Weather Flights, Osan Air Base experienced a total of 9 inches of snow, while Kunsan received approximately 5 inches, stressing and validating exercise player’s abilities to continue contingency operations in unplanned weather conditions.

During the week, personnel across the base worked to keep walkways and facilities clear while 51st CES personnel worked 24-hour operations to keep roadways and the airfield open, supporting both exercise and real-world operations.

“Without the ‘dirt boys’ specialized skill set on snow removal and Rapid Airfield Damage Repair, the flying mission would not be possible,” explained Master Sgt. Walter Urbina Hernandez, 51st CES horizontal repair section chief. “We must project airpower effectively while ensuring seamless launch and recovery operations for critical cargo and personnel aircraft moving to and from the port.”

Simultaneously at Kunsan, ACE-deployed 51st FW Airmen battled similar weather conditions while working out of unfamiliar facilities, working with minimal personnel and equipment to generate F-16 airpower in response to BH 25-2 training scenarios.

“Even though Kunsan is another U.S. Air Base, it poses different challenges for our Osan personnel,” said Capt Terrell Willis, 51st FW Mission Assurance Officer. “Exercising our ability to rapidly deploy aircraft, personnel, and cargo from Osan to different locations across the peninsula increases the survivability and lethality of our forces.”

Korean weather officials cited the 2025 Lunar New Year week as having had a heavier than normal snowfall in relation to previous years, making it one of the snowiest Lunar Near Years in 30 years. Despite this, Osan Air Base suffered no damage or degradation to its facilities or aircraft.

“In many ways, inclement weather actually enhances our training,” said Lt. Col. Andrew Myers, 51st CES Commander and BH 25-2 Wartime Operations Center Defensive Director. “Learning to adapt operations to unpredictable events is an essential skill, so exercising our tactics, techniques and procedures during heavy snow is extremely valuable to reinforcing our agile mindset.”

The 51st FW concluded the exercise on Friday, Jan. 31; metaphorically, and in some cases, literally clearing the way for the remaining planned exercises this year.

“The whole point of exercises like this is to prepare our airmen to generate combat airpower under any conditions, including when under attack, snowed in by weather, or both,” said McKibban. “We will continue to regularly practice and stress-test our readiness, and a little bit of bad weather isn’t going to stop us. Team Osan is ready to fight tonight to defend the peninsula and our nation, no matter what.”

Readout of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.’s Phone Call with Algerian Minister Delegate to the Ministry of National Defense and Chief of Staff Gen. Said Chanegriha

Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff

February 3, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Joint Staff Spokesperson Navy Capt. Jereal Dorsey provided the following readout:

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., spoke with Algerian Minister Delegate to the Ministry of National Defense and Chief of Staff Gen. Said Chanegriha today by phone.

Gen. Brown and Gen. Chanegriha discussed the recent signing of the first-ever Security Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. and Algeria, which sets the stage for future security cooperation activities and agreements.

Additionally, the military leaders conferred about the instability of the Sahel region. Gen. Brown commended Algeria’s counterterrorism cooperation and encouraged Gen. Chanegriha to continue coordinating with U.S. Africa Command to further enhance this vital relationship.

A stable, prosperous African continent is important to global security, and the U.S. will continue to build military capabilities with Algeria and other regional countries through security force assistance programs, exercises, key leader engagements and operations.

For more Joint Staff news, visit: www.jcs.mil.
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Deputy Commandant for Aviation Unveils 2025 Aviation Plan, Reinforcing Future Readiness and Technological Integration

Source: United States Marines

Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation released the 2025 Marine Corps Aviation Plan, outlining a strategic framework that balances responding to today’s crises with modernizing Marine Aviation to ensure the Corps is prepared for tomorrow’s fight. The plan focuses on key areas of transformation, including technological advancements, expeditionary mobility, sustainment, and total force integration. This plan is a roadmap to enhancing operational readiness and ensuring Marine Aviation remains a lethal force in support of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) throughout the spectrum from competition to conflict.

The Aviation Plan introduces Project Eagle, a modernization strategy that prioritizes Distributed Aviation Operations (DAO) and Decision-Centric Aviation Operations (DCAO) to maintain operational effectiveness in contested environments. By fully embracing cutting-edge technologies such as AI-driven decision-making software, autonomous systems, advanced digital command and control capabilities, unmanned systems, and manned-unmanned teaming, the Marine Corps will be better positioned to operate in increasingly complex and dynamic theaters of operation.

“We are committed to shaping a future aviation force that is ready, resilient, and capable of rapidly responding to emerging threats, wherever they may arise,” said Col. Derek Brannon, Branch Head for the Cunningham Group, Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation. “Project Eagle builds on the progress we’ve made, and it prepares us to embrace technological innovation while ensuring we can deliver combat power across all domains.”

The 2025 plan underscores additional key priorities, including:

  • Aviation Readiness:  Ensuring Marine Aviation remains poised to respond to any crisis at a moment’s notice, with the readiness to deploy rapidly and provide immediate support when the nation calls.

  • Enhanced Expeditionary Mobility: Strengthening the Marine Corps’ ability to operate from austere, distributed locations through the modernization of platforms like the MV-22B Osprey, CH-53K King Stallion, and KC-130J Hercules, ensuring agile mobility and support for maritime and littoral operations.

  • Modernizing Aviation Logistics: Modernizing sustainment practices to ensure readiness in contested environments through the creation of Maintenance Operations Centers, streamlined supply chain reforms, and enhanced aviation logistics packages. These innovations will better support DAO and MAGTF operations while improving sustainment across the force.

  • Marine Air Command and Control System (MACCS) Modernization: Transforming air command and control capabilities with advanced technologies like the TPS-80 radar and Ground-Based Air Defense Systems. The integration of regional air defense concepts will support Expeditionary Advance Base Operations (EABO) and enhance digital interoperability for joint and coalition operations.

  • Total Force Integration: Strengthening collaboration between active-duty and reserve forces, particularly through the integration of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, to enhance operational flexibility, sustainment, and warfighting readiness across the total force.

These advancements solidify Marine Aviation’s role as an indispensable force within the MAGTF, ensuring it remains agile, lethal, and fully integrated with the Joint Force, partners, and allies.

“Through continued modernization and an unwavering commitment to current readiness, Marine Aviation is prepared to support the MAGTF through competition to conflict,” said Lt. Gen. Bradford Gering, Deputy Commandant for Aviation. “The 2025 Aviation Plan demonstrates our resolute dedication to maintaining operational superiority and ensuring we are always ready to project force, wherever and whenever needed.”

As Marine Aviation transitions into a new era, the 2025 Aviation Plan is a bold declaration of the Corps’ commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and unmatched warfighting capability.

To learn more about the 2025 Marine Corps Aviation Plan: https://www.aviation.marines.mil/

USNMRTC Sigonella Expands Trauma Readiness with ATLS Certification

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

USNMRTC Sigonella Expands Trauma Readiness with ATLS Certification

By: CDR Radhames E. Lizardo
January 29, 2025

Sigonella, Italy – In a major step toward enhancing medical readiness, U.S. Naval Medicine Readiness and Training Command (USNMRTC) Sigonella partnered with Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) to bring the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) course to its medical personnel. This milestone marks a significant achievement for the small overseas command, equipping its healthcare professionals with critical trauma management skills.

Over two intensive 12-hour days, nine students completed rigorous academic and practical training in ATLS. The course covered life-saving techniques, including chest tube placement, cricothyrotomy procedures, Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST) exams, and pelvic binder application. The training culminated in the certification of all nine participants and the development of a new ATLS instructor, further strengthening the command’s ability to sustain and expand this vital program.

“This training is a game-changer for our medical team,” said Lieutenant Kristen Shafer [ER Physician & ATLS Instructor]. “By enhancing our trauma management capabilities, we are not only improving our confidence but also ensuring that we are prepared to respond effectively in high-pressure situations.”

The introduction of ATLS at USNMRTC Sigonella aligns with the command’s commitment to support the U.S. Navy Surgeon General’s Line of Effort 3 to “Provide Quality Healthcare and Patient Safety Programs Across the Naval Force.” Looking ahead, the command aims to continue offering this program, fostering a culture of excellence and preparedness in trauma care.

As a forward-deployed medical facility, USNMRTC Sigonella plays a crucial role in supporting service members and their families in the region. By integrating ATLS training into its readiness efforts, the command reaffirms its dedication to providing high-quality, immediate care when it matters most.

USNMRTC Sigonella is one of The Defense Health Agency’s Overseas Military Treatment Facilities (MTF). The staff are comprised of active duty service members, General Service (GS), contractors, and Local Nationals. It ensures maximum readiness by providing high-quality, safe patient and family-centered care to maximize force health protection for all beneficiaries, to included NATO and transient DoD forces in the U.S. Fifth Fleet and U.S. Sixth Fleet areas of operation.