Category: US Indo Pacific Command

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia  –  

Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, visited Canada from Nov. 22-24, 2024, where he participated in the 2024 Halifax International Security Forum and met with senior military and government officials.

The forum was attended by government and military officials, academic experts and business leaders from the U.S. and Canada, Europe, the Middle East, East Asia, Africa and Latin America, featuring discussions on the roles of technological innovation and regional collaboration for a resilient and adaptive security framework.

Paparo participated in two panel discussions. During the first panel, “Era of Action: Sinking CRINK (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea) Inc,” he focused on the Indo-Pacific’s impact on global security and the critical role of solidarity between Allies and partners to collectively address multi-faceted challenges throughout the region. He also noted the transactional symbiosis among CRINK nations and the importance of leveraging individual relationships to impose costs.

The second panel, “Era of Integrity: AI Applications Evolve,” focused on the ethical and practical implications of AI and the importance of international standards and cybersecurity. Paparo underscored maintaining human accountability in the use of AI on the battlefield and the need to establish guardrails for AI in military applications.

While in Canada, Paparo hosted and participated in bilateral and multilateral meetings to underscore commitments to multinational engagements that showcase capabilities and increase understanding of regional challenges; demonstrate efforts to enhance coordination and information-sharing arrangements; and deepen cooperation to confront common threats and protect shared interests.

Paparo met with: Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly; U.S. senators Jeanne Shaheen and Jim Risch; Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard Adm. Linda Fagan; Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan; NATO’s most senior military officer, Chair of the Military Committee of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Royal Netherlands Navy Adm. Rob Bauer; Australia’s Director-General of National Intelligence Andrew Shearer; and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Arctic and Global Resilience Iris Ferguson.

The U.S. and Canada share the longest international border on the planet and our bilateral relationship is one of the closest and most extensive in the world, based on robust security and defense cooperation, mutual interests and enduring people-to-people ties.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei  –  

The 30th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Brunei maritime exercise concluded Nov. 25, following eight days of enhanced training and collaboration between the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the U.S. military.

Participating U.S. assets in CARAT Brunei 2024 included staff from U.S. 7th Fleet, Commander, Task Force (CTF) 72, CTF 73, CTF 74, CTF 75, and CTF 76, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA), Naval Special Warfare, the U.S. 7th Fleet Band, and the U.S. Embassy Brunei.

“Building maritime relationships is what the CARAT exercise series is all about,” said Rear Adm. Katie Sheldon, Vice Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. “Over the past week, the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and Royal Brunei Armed Forces trained together with the aim of further strengthening their cooperative maritime security capabilities in support of peace and stability.”

This year’s CARAT exercise featured a variety of subject matter expert exchange events, covering topics that included cyber security, emission control, force protection, international maritime law, maritime domain awareness, public affairs for humanitarian assistance disaster relief, and women, peace and security. Bilateral training opportunities also included best practices for a medical evacuation, mine countermeasures, visit, board, search and seizure, underwater demolition, amongst other topics.

“Exercise CARAT provided a very good platform for us to hone these capabilities,” said Yang Mulia Colonel Aldi Bin Haji Hassan, Deputy Joint Force Commander, Royal Brunei Armed Forces. “Over the past several days, we have witnessed the seamless integration of our forces in diverse scenarios. Beyond the tactical and operational gains, CARAT is also about fostering relationships. Every skill refined, every lesson learned and relationship built contributes to the greater goal of maintaining peace, stability and security in the region.”

CARAT Brunei 2024 focused on a full spectrum of dynamic naval capabilities, featuring cooperative evolutions that highlight the U.S.-Brunei partnership and its shared goal of ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. This bilateral exercise demonstrates the United States’ longstanding commitment to allies and partners, respect for international law, as well as regional prosperity.

“We’re grateful to exercise alongside the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, seeing firsthand the progress our combined forces make when working together towards a common goal,” said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Stuart W. Glenn, commanding officer, MRF-SEA. “CARAT Brunei 2024 has showcased the strength of our Navy and Marine Corps team, demonstrating our unique strengths and providing regional stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region. We look forward to continuing to train and reinforce our strong partnership with our Brunei counterparts in the years to come.”

After 30 years of annual training events between the armed forces, CARAT Brunei remains a model for cooperation that has evolved in complexity and enables both navies to refine operations and tactics in response to both traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges. It symbolizes the enduring trust between the U.S. and Brunei.

MRF-SEA, the U.S. Marine Corps’ newest rotational force, is derived from elements of I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) executing a U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific operational model that involves training events and exchanges with partner military subject matter experts, promotes security goals with allies and partner nations, and ensures a persistent I MEF presence west of the International Date Line.

As the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed DESRON in Southeast Asia, DESRON 7 serves as the primary tactical and operational commander of littoral combat ships rotationally deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, functioning as Expeditionary Strike Group 7’s Sea Combat Commander and building 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

PORT KLANG, Malaysia  –  

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), arrived in Port Klang, Malaysia for the second scheduled port call on its 2024 deployment, Nov. 23.

Marking the first U.S. aircraft carrier visit to Malaysia since 2012, the visit demonstrates the continuation of a long-standing partnership between the two countries, rooted in close people-to-people, economic, and security ties.

“This historic visit reaffirms Malaysia’s importance to the United States,” said U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard D. Kagan. “It highlights our shared commitment to regional stability and Malaysian sovereignty, providing an invaluable opportunity for collaboration between our navies and key leaders.”

Prior to pulling into Port Klang, Abraham Lincoln hosted Malaysia distinguished visitors including officials and media who toured the ship, observed flight operations, and engaged with U.S. Navy Sailors. While in port, the Abraham Lincoln will also host Malaysian leaders for exclusive tours, further strengthening bilateral ties.

“Our visit to Kuala Lumpur is important to the U.S. Navy. It is the first time an aircraft carrier has visited in 12 years,” said Rear Adm. Adan Cruz, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 3. “I deeply value the opportunity to strengthen the U.S. and Malaysian partnership while providing an opportunity for our Sailors and Marines to experience the amazing city of Kuala Lumpur.”

More than 4,200 Sailors and Marines stationed aboard Abraham Lincoln, will enjoy the culture and history of the country. During their time in Malaysia, Abraham Lincoln crewmembers will have the opportunity to tour the local area, through tours and conduct community relations (COMREL) projects where Sailors will volunteer at local soup kitchens, senior citizen’s and children’s homes.

“On behalf of the Abraham Lincoln crew, I would like to extend our sincerest thanks to Port Klang and Kuala Lumpur for welcoming the Abraham Lincoln with such warmth and enthusiasm,” said Capt. Pete Riebe, commanding officer, USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). “We look forward to taking time in-port to explore the rich history and culture of Malaysia and engage with local community groups throughout our visit and conversely welcoming key Malaysian Navy and government officials aboard Abraham Lincoln while in Port Klang.”

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group consists of USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), embarked staffs of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) Three and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 21, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) Nine, integrated air and missile defense Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121), and Destroyer Squadron 21’s USS Spruance (DDG 111) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112).

USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. conducted a port call to Singapore, while USS Spruance (DDG 111) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) ported in Thailand, demonstrating the inherent flexibility of a carrier strike group.

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS O’Kane (DDG 77) and USS Stockdale (DDG 106) remain deployed in the 5th Fleet area of operations supporting global maritime security operations.

CVW-9 is comprised of nine aircraft squadrons representing over 70 aircraft aboard Abraham Lincoln: two helicopter squadrons operating the MH-60R & MH-60S Seahawk; three F/A-18E/F Super Hornet squadrons; one EA-18G Growler squadron; one U.S. Marine Corps F-35C Lightning II squadron; E-2D advance Hawkeye airborne early warning squadron; and C-2 Greyhound for carrier logistics.

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. 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.
For more news from CSG-3, http://www.dvidshub.net/unit/USSAL-CVN72#

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III’s twelfth visit to the Indo-Pacific included stops in Australia, the Philippines, Laos, and Fiji. While in the region, he participated in the Australia-U.S.-Japan Trilateral Defense Ministers’ Meeting, the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus, meetings with regional counterparts, and engagements with key Fijian leaders.

Secretary Austin’s trip builds on historic milestones and unprecedented cooperation with allies and partners to strengthen deterrence and secure a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

AUSTRALIA

The United States, Australia, and Japan are taking decisive steps to deepen trilateral cooperation in the Indo-Pacific by:

• Integrating Japan into U.S. force posture initiatives in Australia by announcing annual trilateral training among the Australian Defence Force, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, and United States Marine Rotational Force-Darwin in Northern Australia and the Indo-Pacific region, beginning with TALISMAN SABRE 2025.
• Expanding the scale and scope of trilateral military exercises by opening major U.S.-Japan bilateral exercises to Australian participation and evolving the complexity of trilateral exercises such as SOUTHERN JACKAROO.
• Advancing trilateral cooperation on integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) by incorporating live-fire events into large-scale multilateral exercises such as TALISMAN SABRE.

THE PHILIPPINES

The United States and the Philippines are modernizing combined alliance capabilities and bolstering deterrence in concrete and tangible ways by:

• Concluding a General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), which enables the United States and Philippines to share, handle, and protect each other’s classified military information.
• Standing up a new Combined Coordination Center in Camp Aguinaldo that will improve bilateral operational planning and allow U.S. and Philippine forces to work side-by-side in response to real-time incidents, including those in the South China Sea.

LAOS

The United States continues to support collaboration between allies and partners to build regional capacity and uphold international laws and norms by:

• Announcing the second-ever ASEAN-United States Maritime Exercise in 2025 to advance maritime safety and rule of law in the region.
• Releasing the first-ever “U.S. Department of Defense Vision Statement for a Prosperous and Secure Southeast Asia,” which promotes practical cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and includes activities to improve air, cyber, and maritime domain awareness, establish emerging leaders exchanges, and increase trainings and exercises.

FIJI

The United States and Fiji are strengthening partnerships and facilitating greater engagement with Pacific Island Countries by:

• Announcing initiation of negotiations with Fiji on a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which will advance U.S. efforts to work more closely with the region and build on a growing foundation of important cooperative agreements with Pacific Island Countries.
• Signing an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) with Fiji, which will bolster bilateral logistics cooperation, including by enabling efficient transfer of fuel and medical supplies as well as use of maintenance facilities during emergencies.
• Committing $4.9 million in new U.S. security assistance to support Fiji’s military modernization through enhanced Foreign Military Financing, pending congressional approval.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III concluded his engagements with counterparts in Laos today, where he attended the 11th annual ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus).  His participation reflects the importance of ASEAN centrality to the Department of Defense, and highlights the practical cooperation with ASEAN since the United States elevated its relationship with ASEAN to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022. 

ADMM-Plus Plenary Session
On November 21, Secretary Austin participated in the ADMM-Plus plenary session, marking the fourth ADMM-Plus meeting of his tenure. In his remarks, Secretary Austin emphasized the U.S. commitment to ASEAN centrality as a key pillar to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific.  He detailed how current and future U.S. security cooperation with ASEAN partners is contributing to a more stable and prosperous region. Secretary Austin discussed plans for the second-ever ASEAN-U.S. Maritime Exercise, which will be conducted in 2025. Secretary Austin also discussed challenges, including coercive PRC activities in the South China Sea, the violence in Burma, and the Russian war against Ukraine. 

Following the plenary, the Department released the first-ever U.S. Department of Defense Vision Statement for a Prosperous and Secure Southeast Asia, which detailed U.S. initiatives that will continue to implement the U.S.-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2025 and beyond. 

Engagements with Allies and Partners
Secretary Austin also met together with close allies from Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the Republic of Korea, as well as separately with his counterpart from India.

The Secretary met with Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy, Japanese Minister of Defense Nakatani Gen, Philippines Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro, and Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun.  During this unprecedented meeting of U.S. allies, the defense leaders underscored their shared commitment to advance a vision for a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, where international law and sovereignty are respected.  The full readout can be found here: 

In his meeting with India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, both leaders shared appreciation for the growth of the U.S.-India defense relationship and successful completion of several complex bilateral and multilateral military exercises this year, including TIGER TRIUMPH and MALABAR. They noted the commencement of the deployment process of the first Liaison Officer from India in U.S. Special Operations Command as another example of deeper defense cooperation. The Secretary and Minister Singh hailed the two countries’ deepening defense industrial cooperation, taking note of sustained progress on initiatives outlined in the Roadmap for U.S.-India Defense Industrial Cooperation. And they discussed ways to increase technology cooperation through INDUS-X. Secretary Austin detailed additional opportunities for collaboration in maritime domain awareness through bilateral and multilateral initiatives. 

Secretary Austin’s twelfth trip to the Indo-Pacific region continues with a final stop in Fiji.  Each of the Secretary’s stops thus far — in Australia, the Philippines, and Laos — has underscored the longstanding U.S. commitment to strengthening the Indo-Pacific’s dynamic security architecture.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy, Japanese Minister of Defense Nakatani Gen, Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro, Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III met together for the first time on November 21 in Vientiane, Laos PDR.  The defense leaders underscored their shared commitment to advance a vision for a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, where international law and sovereignty are respected.

The Ministers and Secretaries emphasized the importance of close multilateral cooperation in support of regional security and stability, and underscored the importance of ASEAN centrality and unity and ASEAN-led regional architecture.  The leaders highlighted the progress made in strengthening their defense cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to working together moving forward.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

The United States aims to support a Southeast Asian region free of coercion where safety, security, sovereignty, self-determination, and prosperity are shepherded by ASEAN centrality.  U.S. defense cooperation with Southeast Asian allies and partners, centered on ASEAN and its member states, seeks to empower the region through practical cooperation on building capabilities, exchanging expertise, ensuring free trade, and bolstering sovereignty, all underscored with collaboration and mutual respect. 

The United States has worked closely with ASEAN on defense and security in the Indo-Pacific region since former Defense Secretary Robert Gates attended the inaugural ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in 2010.  And at every ADMM-Plus since, a U.S. Secretary of Defense has attended and supported ASEAN.  As we mark the fifteenth anniversary of the ADMM-Plus in 2025, we reflect on the ties of friendship and cooperation among our countries and those who defend us.  The United States welcomes a strong ASEAN that speaks with a powerful voice on key issues and plays a leading role in upholding shared principles and international law.  These aspirations, as articulated in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, envision ASEAN playing a central role in ensuring peace, security, stability, and prosperity for the peoples across the Indo-Pacific.  The principles on which the Outlook is based are complimentary with those in the United States’ Indo-Pacific Strategy, which seeks to promote sovereignty, transparency, good governance, and a rules-based international order in conjunction with our allies and partners.

The United States’ vision for defense capacity building reflects the history of U.S. investment in the Indo-Pacific’s regional security architecture, which has supported the sovereignty, self-determination, and defense capabilities of Southeast Asian countries.  Since 2005, the United States has:

• Elevated the U.S.-ASEAN relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022, under the leadership of President Biden.
• Delivered more than $17 billion in foreign military sales to ASEAN Member States, providing world-class capabilities to address our partners’ security needs.
• Conducted 40 bilateral and multilateral exercises with Southeast Asian nations on an annual basis, representing a commitment of 30,000 forces to support our partners’ readiness and interoperability.
• Provided world-class professional military education to more than 76,000 students from Southeast Asia since 2005, advancing people-to-people ties and partner capabilities.
• Provided a maritime common operating picture and enhanced the maritime operational capabilities of seven ASEAN Member States through more than $475 million via the Maritime Security Initiative since 2016.
• Trained together with regional allies and partners to respond to natural disasters and operated together in real-world relief efforts in their wake.

Key Lines of Effort

Building on this robust base of defense cooperation, the United States seeks to advance the collective capacity of ASEAN and individual Southeast Asian nations by investing in the following areas: 

• Domain Awareness and Defense:  Securing domain awareness, whether in the air, maritime, cyber space, or information environment — is a foundational aspect of supporting Southeast Asian allies and partners’ sovereignty.  It is the first step to enabling domain defense, including the capacity to respond to illegal intrusions and coercion.  The United States will advance Southeast Asian nations’ capacity building in domain awareness through the following programs:
  • Air:  The United States will continue ongoing efforts to improve the capability of Southeast Asian partners to detect and identify activity within their sovereign airspace, their Exclusive Economic Zones, and their Air Defense Identification Zones; fuse that information within their government information systems; and exercise their sovereign authorities, commitments to international agreements, and their ability to share the information regionally.
  • Cyber:  The United States will enhance engagement with the ADMM Cybersecurity and Information Centre of Excellence (ACICE) in Singapore through programs including table-top exercises to identify capacity gaps in regional response to cyber threats and training courses for cyber security professionals.
  • Maritime:  The United States will enhance maritime capacity building programs with a focus on using commercially available technologies to expand maritime domain awareness, continuous presence, and scientific research through unmanned systems complemented by artificial intelligence and machine learning tools to maximize awareness.  Experts on maritime domain awareness will identify opportunities to support regional cooperation and synergies in this area, enabling Southeast Asian partners to protect their maritime territories more effectively under international law.
• Exercises:  In addition to the annual comprehensive calendar of bilateral and multilateral exercises undertaken alongside Southeast Asian allies and partners throughout the Indo-Pacific region, including BALIKATAN, COBRA GOLD, and SUPER GARUDA SHIELD, the United States will convene a second ASEAN-U.S. maritime exercise in 2025.  We will also work to develop targeted capabilities through U.S. participation in the ADMM-Plus Expert Working Groups and related training exercises.  Finally, we will work to expand the cooperation of Southeast Asian allies and partners through multilateral exercises and activities, building interoperability and relationships that promote resilience and peace.
• Education and Training:  The United States will continue to offer a broad range of training and educational opportunities to ASEAN partners, with the Emerging Defense Leaders’ Program — which supports the professional development of young Southeast Asian defense officials — as a core offering.  These specialized courses exist in addition to longstanding International Military Education and Training (IMET) courses for Southeast Asian ally and partner military officers and defense civilians.  Furthermore, the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program — executed through the National Guard Bureau — has created lasting partnerships between the United States and six Southeast Asian nations.
• Defense Industrial Capacity Building:  In addition to security assistance, the United States will work to promote the defense industrial capacity of our Southeast Asian partners by leveraging government, academic, and industry engagements to deepen collaboration and promote mutually beneficial investments toward a more robust and integrated defense industrial base.  These activities may include components such as science and technology demonstrations, academic exchanges and workshops, and industry prize challenges.
• Defense Institutional Capacity Building:  The United States supports the development of ASEAN’s institutional capacity through robust participation in ADMM-Plus Expert Working Groups (EWGs).  Between 2011-2013, the United States served successively as a co-chair for the Counterterrorism, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, and Maritime Security EWGs, upholding international rules and norms focused on practical cooperation with ASEAN partners.  In 2024, the United States became co-chair of the Military Medicine EWG with Indonesia, increasing medical expertise and incorporating the application of Women, Peace, and Security principles in partners’ defense planning and operations.  Additionally, our Ministry of Defense Advisors will continue to support professional development within partner ministries of ASEAN member states on a bilateral basis.
• Defense Mitigation of Climate Impacts:  With input from ASEAN Member States, the United States will develop a series of workshops, technical demonstrations, and tabletop exercises to address climate resilience shortfalls and provide a platform for member states to share expertise in addressing climate change impacts to their respective defense organizations, readiness, and operational capacities. 

Timor Leste Accession:  The United States supports ASEAN’s decision-in-principle to admit Timor Leste as the eleventh member of ASEAN.  We envision including Timor Leste in all lines of effort listed above as appropriate and in accordance with the Road Map for Accession.  The United States is prepared to offer Timor Leste capacity building assistance in the defense sector to help it meet accession milestones.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

CAMP ZAMA, Japan  –  

The commander of U.S. Army Garrison Japan joined members of a local organization in harvesting bamboo stalks that will be used to construct a giant kite to be flown next year during a large festival.

Col. Marcus Hunter welcomed representatives from the Sagami Giant Kite Preservation Association, Kassaka District, and Sagamihara City’s Minami Ward director to Camp Zama Nov. 15 to cut down bamboo in what has become an annual tradition.

Every year, a USAG Japan representative — typically the garrison commander — helps harvest about 200 bamboo stalks from an area on the installation. The bamboo is dried and later used to build the frame of a large kite. The kite is one of several prepared for two giant kite festivals the neighboring cities of Sagamihara and Zama host in May at the nearby Sagami River.

Hunter said he enjoyed the opportunity to host the city officials and kite association members as they prepare for the festival.

“This is a great opportunity, both with the kite association and with the city officials to be able to share what is a great resource that we have, and it supports the wonderful festival,” Hunter said.

Hiromi Kato, Minami Ward director, has been participating in the bamboo harvesting since last year. She learned after taking the position of director about the history of both organizations coming onto Camp Zama, and she is excited to be part of the continuing tradition.

“We are grateful that Sagamihara City can continue to carry on the culture of our world-class giant kites with the support of Camp Zama while also strengthening our partnership.”

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

PYEONGTAEK, South Korea  –  

American and Korean families gathered Nov. 16 to participate in a thousand-year-old tradition that continues to remain relevant today.

Kimjang, a communal gathering to make and preserve large amounts of kimchi for the winter, is considered to be as old as the fermented dish itself.

This weekend at Pyeongtaek University, the Korean-American Children’s Cultural Exchange Association hosted its 7th annual US-ROK Kimchi-Making Festival, which drew more than 40 U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys community members and 100 local Korean residents.

Together, the group turned 300 heads of cabbage into “baechu” kimchi that will be donated to less-fortunate members of the community.

Local Pyeongtaek civic leaders, including Mayor Jung Jang-seon and Council Chairman Kang Jeong-gu, along with U.S. Army Col. Ryan Workman, U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys commander, opened the event with words of gratitude, encouragement and highlighted its significance.

“Today, we are not just making kimchi, we are also building bridges of friendship and cultural understanding between our people,” Workman said. “This experience will not only enrich their memories and understanding of Korean culture, but create lasting memories and friendships.”

Participants donned brightly colored aprons, elbow-length pink rubber gloves and huddled around three sections of 40-foot-long tables, massaging red sauce between cabbage leaves.

U.S. Army Maj. Jeremy Larson, operations officer in charge, 3rd Battlefield Coordination Detachment-Korea, Osan Airbase, was all smiles as he worked efficiently alongside with his wife, Challis, and five children.

“This is awesome,” he said. “I’m enjoying it.”

“It’s neat for my kids to experience this event,” said Challis, whose family is now on its third multi-year tour in Korea since 2011. “It’s not just the food – it’s the culture.”

Although the family was attending the event for the first time, their second youngest, Rayce, 8, had made kimchi in a Korean kindergarten class during their last tour from 2018-2022.

“My favorite is the cucumber kimchi,” he added.

The familial atmosphere permeated the courtyard where the event was being held.

Smiling aunts, mothers and grandmothers – seasoned veterans of the kimjang – wrapped kimchi around bite-size slabs of pork and fed them to participants as they worked.

Across the table from the Larson family, Staff Sgt. Tonga Tukumoe’atu, a trombone player with the Eighth U.S. Army Band, his wife, Sharlene, and their three children appeared to have the process down to a science.

Now into their fifth year in Korea, this was the family’s fourth kimchi-making event.

“It’s a tradition now,” Sharlene said.

More photos from the event: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usaghumphreys/albums/72177720322005745

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

DEDEDO, Guam  –  

Serianthes nelsonii is a tree species found only on Guam and Rota. The CHamoru name for the Serianthes tree on Guam is Håyun lågu, meaning “wood of the north” or “foreign wood,” and in Rota, Trongkon guåfi, meaning “fire tree.” Specimens were first collected in the late 1800s and again in 1918 by Peter Nelson, from whom the species was described by Elmer D. Merrill. Although there is no remaining knowledge of traditional uses of the tree in CHamoru culture, early navigator Louis Claude de Freycinet listed Håyun lågu as a tree suitable for timber in his travel journals in the 1800s. Given the tree’s full stature and strength, it would have been suitable for shelter construction or canoe-building. In 1987, Serianthes nelsonii was listed as endangered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service due to its rarity and threats to its survival.

Serianthes trees occur in limestone forest habitats and also on clay soils of southern Guam. Belonging to the Fabaceae family, Serianthes is a large canopy tree that can reach heights of over 90 feet. The current population is estimated at 48 mature wild trees and 74 outplanted trees on Rota, and 383 seedlings on Guam. The single mature tree on Guam, located at Ritidian Point (also known as Litekyan in CHamoru), succumbed to severe damage sustained during Typhoon Mawar in May of 2023. By September of 2024, there was no living tissue observed on the decomposing remains of the tree. Leading up to the typhoon, the Ritidian tree was already in very poor condition due to a split trunk that led to heart rot (a type of fungal infection) that worsened over two decades and had insect infestations.

Aside from typhoons, major threats to Serianthes trees include introduced insect predators and herbivores. Sucking insects can defoliate young trees within 24 hours. Deer eat the seedlings, and pigs can uproot or disturb the seedlings, causing them to dry up and die. Loss of habitat through urban growth and habitat degradation by ungulates (pigs and deer), fire, forest fragmentation, and human activities all contribute risks to the Serianthes tree’s long-term viability.

Since the 1990s, management projects have been carried out through the collaboration of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands’ Department of Lands and Natural Resources, the Department of the Navy, the Government of Guam Department of Agriculture, the University of Guam, and the USFWS. These efforts include barriers to keep ungulates away, maintenance/monitoring of the Ritidian mature tree and its surrounding seedlings, seed collection and storage, development of propagation techniques, and the outplanting and maintenance of propagated seedlings.

More recent management efforts include collecting 176 seedlings at the Ritidian site, stabilizing these collected plants at UOG’s Guam Plant Extinction Prevention Program nursery, followed by the outplanting of healthy seedlings at the Forest Enhancement Site on Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz. To preserve the genetics of the last mature tree on Guam, Joint Region Marianas will continue maintenance of young trees that originated from the Ritidian mother tree: 99 saplings growing at the MCB Camp Blaz Mason Live Fire Training Range Complex, eight saplings growing at Andersen Air Force Base, and 100 saplings outplanted in the MCB Camp Blaz Caiguat Forest Enhancement Site. Through the collection and specialized storage of seeds since 2014, the future propagation of the 4,007 seeds from the Ritidian tree lineage will be utilized to continue the outplanting of trees on Guam in ungulate-free fenced areas.

While not all of the young plants are guaranteed to reach maturity, continued federal and local investment, advances in propagation techniques, and strong stakeholder support offer hope for the species’ recovery on lands under both civilian and military management. Thanks to the efforts of Guam’s conservation managers, plant specialists, and community members, there is hope that Serianthes trees will thrive once again across the island’s forests—standing tall as living symbols of resilience, rooted in the enduring memory of the fallen but unconquered mother tree at Ritidian.