Category: US Indo Pacific Command

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  –  

The 2nd Infantry Division / ROK-US Combined Division held a ‘Combined Training Conference’ to discuss over 130 combined trainings scheduled for this year. The conference took place at the War Room of Freeman Hall at Camp Humphreys on the 30th.

The purpose of the meeting was to coordinate the combined training schedule and detailed plans for the year and to establish a cooperation system through systematic discussions from the planning stage. By doing so, the aim was to minimize friction that may occur during training and to maximize training results by implementing, coordinating, and controlling combined training.

Hosted by the 2ID/RUCD, the conference included representatives from the 2nd Brigade 4th Infantry Division (Rotational Stryker Brigade Combat Team), 210th Fire Artillery Brigade, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, ROK Army Headquarters, Combined Forces Command, and 2nd Fleet Command. Approximately 80 education and training officials from the ROK and the U.S. attended.

They discussed major combined training for the second quarter, such as E3B qualification assessment, KCTC, NTC training, and joint tank/striker movement exercise. Over 130 events were discussed.

The 2ID/RUCD has regularly held combined training conferences every quarter since 2019, to increase improve interoperability and improve wartime operational capabilities. This enabled a mutual understanding of tactics, equipment, organization, and force operation.

Brigadier General Kim Jeong-hyuk, Deputy Commander General – ROK of the 2ID/RUCD, said, “The division is playing a pivotal role in ROK-U.S. combined training and making every effort to improve combined combat readiness and cultivate combined operational capabilities.”

Lt. Col. Brennan Speaks, the operational staff in charge of U.S. military operations, emphasized, “The strength of the 2ID/RUCD is our combined nature and it is inherent in our daily operations. We conduct practical combined training to better understand each other’s operations process and verify our mission set. Our constant collaboration ensures readiness, interoperability and mutual trust.”

With the 2ID/RUCD based on the 2nd Infantry Division and integrating ROK Army staff, the division is focused on operational planning, doctrine development, combined exercises, and training to strengthen combined operational capabilities. It was first activated in 2015, and this year marks its 9th anniversary.

Looking ahead, the 2ID/RUCD is committed to continuing its efforts to maintain a strong ROK-U.S. defense posture and further develop the ROK-U.S. alliance.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP BUTLER, Okinawa, Japan   –  

From February 1 to 8, 2024, Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces and U.S. Marines and Sailors from III Marine Expeditionary Force will simulate a large-scale theater-level command post exercise, Keen Edge 24, across the southwest islands.

Approximately 1,350 Marines, Sailors, and Self-Defense Forces from III MEF and Western Army, JGSDF, will rehearse distributed combined joint command and control of maritime terrain in the first island chain. The purpose of the training is to increase bilateral coordination and rehearse stand-in-force concepts for territorial defense.

The Western Army and III MEF will employ bilateral coordination nodes in the prefecture of Okinawa and mainland Japan to synchronize logistics, fires, and maneuver as part of a stand-in-force.

“The Western Army and III MEF’s bilateral relationship sets the benchmark for mutual defense,” said Lt. Gen. Roger B. Turner, the commanding general of III MEF. “This exercise will enhance our joint coordination for complex multi-domain operations as part of the stand-in-force.”

Keen Edge 24 is Lt. Gen. Turner’s first bilateral exercise working alongside Lt. Gen. Toshikazu Yamane, commanding general of Western Army, JGSDF, since his assumption of command in January 2024. The exercise will provide both generals the opportunity to enhance bilateral relationships.

Exercise Keen Edge 24 is a biannual, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed, and Indo-Pacific Command and Japan Joint Staff-led exercise designed to increase combat readiness and interoperability of the JSDF and U.S. forces.

For more information regarding exercise Keen Edge, contact the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command public affairs office at pacom.pao.duty@navy.mil.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Department of Defense Spokesman Lt. Col. Martin Meiners provided the following readout:

Assistant Secretary of Defense Ely Ratner met with Australia’s First Assistant Secretary Bernard Philip at the Pentagon today to discuss growing defense and security cooperation between the United States and Australia.

The two officials emphasized their commitment to further deepen defense cooperation across several key priority areas for the U.S.-Australia alliance, including defense industrial base collaboration through Australia’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise, and bilateral force posture initiatives that focus on implementing last year’s announcements of priority locations for build-out in Australia. They also discussed a range of regional security issues, including the importance of operational safety in the East and South China Seas, and they reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and across the Indo-Pacific region.

Both officials affirmed their countries’ commitment to advancing a shared regional vision for peace and security in a free and open Indo-Pacific, including through enhanced cooperation with regional allies and partners like Japan, as the “Unbreakable Alliance” between the United States and Australia continues to strengthen.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  –  

The 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division announces the arrival of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment to the Republic of Korea as the next Korea Rotational Force, continuing the longstanding commitment to regional security and stability.

Transitioning from the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division, the 3rd Cavalry Regiment assumes its role as the newest rotational force in Korea, enhancing readiness and interoperability with allies and partners in the region. This is the first time 3CR has been deployed to Korea.

The Commanding General of 2ID/RUCD, Maj. Gen. Willian “Hank” Taylor expressed his confidence in the regiment’s ability to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and readiness while serving as the Korea Rotational Force.

“The 3rd Cavalry Regiment is a historically battle-hardened organization and I look forward to seeing them train alongside our 2ID/RUCD Soldiers and ROK allies,” said Taylor. “I am excited to welcome 3CR in their very first deployment to Korea as they replace 2/4 Styker Brigade.”

“Stryker brigade combat teams provide the mobility and flexibility needed to meet a range of contingency requirements. 2/4 Stryker Brigade elevated the combined arms readiness of our division and ROK partners,” Taylor explained. “We are better because of their professionalism and dedication during the nine-month rotation.”

An official Transfer of Authority ceremony between 2/4 Stryker Brigade and 3CR will be held at the end of February.

For more information about the 2nd Infantry- ROK/U.S. Combined Division, visit: https://www.2id.korea.army.mil

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Adm. Samuel Paparo hosted the Ninth Multilateral Maritime Virtual Key Leadership Engagement from Washington, D.C., on Jan. 24, 2024.

Representatives from 16 nations participated in the engagement, including 10 heads of navies within Oceania, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South America and the Indian Ocean regions.

The leaders engaged in a comprehensive discussion, focusing on the challenges and opportunities of delivering humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HA/DR) to affected nations in the Indo-Pacific and how we can strengthen our response together.

They discussed prospective opportunities to develop an effective and practical disaster response system within a law and rules-based international order. They acknowledged the delivery of HA/DR by military forces has become standard practice and one of many expanding areas of military cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

The leaders agreed the demand for HA/DR is highest in the Indo-Pacific, and the common challenges incentivize strong, inter-regional partnerships for HA/DR operations. They emphasized the successful disaster relief involves the sharing of resources and interoperability.

They discussed the significance of training for disaster missions, stressing the value of integrating efforts to enable operations, and building trust among collaborators.

The leaders extended condolence to the people of Japan for the loss of lives from the recent earthquake.

The multinational maritime engagement program underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening alliances and partnerships for an enduring resilient, free and open Indo-Pacific.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Homeland Security Advisor Jen Daskal will lead an interagency U.S. delegation to Beijing, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on January 30-31, to launch the U.S.-PRC Counternarcotics Working Group.  The Counternarcotics Working Group is part of ongoing efforts to resume bilateral cooperation to combat global illicit drug manufacturing and trafficking, including of synthetic drugs like fentanyl, at the direction of President Biden and President Xi Jinping. 

The U.S.-PRC Counternarcotics Working Group will provide a platform to facilitate ongoing coordination designed to tackle the illicit production, financing, and distribution of illicit drugs, and to support bilateral enforcement actions.

The delegation includes high-level officials from the Department of Homeland Security,  Department of Justice, Department of State and the Department of the Treasury.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan  –  

The HH-60W Jolly Green IIs from the 55th Rescue Generation Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, arrived at their new duty station, Kadena Air Base, Japan, January 26, 2024.

The HH-60W is the successor to the HH-60G “Pave Hawk” and built on the established framework of the UH-60M “Black Hawk” production model.

Alternatively known as the “Whiskey” model, the HH-60W is designed from the ground up with integrated mission systems that improve situational awareness for aircrews conducting the combat search and rescue missions in contested environments.

“The new avionics systems and multifunctional displays provide the pilots with critical flight data,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Anthony Canlas, 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron HH-60 dedicated crew chief. “These new models will improve our continued search and rescue missions throughout the Pacific.”

The HH-60W is intended for a variety of mission critical operations to include recovering isolated personnel from hostile or denied territory, day or night, in adverse weather, and in a variety of threat environments from terrorist to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.

Its capabilities also include humanitarian missions, civil search and rescue, disaster relief, medical evacuation, and non-combatant evacuations.

With water rescues being an ever-present reality for Okinawa, these new aircraft will allow Kadena Airmen to be better equipped to save not just American lives, but also Okinawan lives.

“These models are the new standard for combat search and rescue operations for PACAF and nationwide,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Bryan Donnelly, 718th AMXS, 33rd Helicopter Maintenance Unit production superintendent. “All HH-60G models will be replaced on Kadena.”

The name “Jolly Green II” designated to the HH-60W was coined in a ceremony in February of 2020. It honors Jolly Green crews of previous generations who set the precedent for the AF combat rescue crews who operate today.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea  –  

Jan. 20, 2024, marked the 50th anniversary of the F-16 Fighting Falcon’s first flight and its addition as a U.S. Air Force platform. Also popularly known as the ‘Viper,’ the F-16 has been used in every major American conflict since its onboarding in 1974. A half-century later, the F-16 now makes up approximately 50% of USAF fighter jet inventory and has become one of the most recognizable fighter jets globally.

The Fighting Falcon made its way to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing (redesignated the 8th Fighter Wing in 1992) at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, in 1981; the first overseas unit to receive the platform. Today, the 8 FW’s two flying squadrons, the 35th & 80th Fighter Squadrons, are still utilizing Block 40 F-16s to maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula and support the prosperity of the ROK.

As the 8th FW’s sole aircraft platform, the F-16 has participated in countless exercises, represented the United States on international stages, and even made recent history in 2023 by participating in the first-ever trilateral aerial exercise between U.S., ROK and Japanese forces.

“The fight is evolving, the threat is evolving, and fortunately, so is the F-16,” said Col. Matthew C. Gaetke, 8th Fighter Wing commander. “Flying the F-16 throughout my career has been an incredible experience, and looking forward with the new capabilities from the PoBIT upgrade and with the young pilots we have now doing things I never did as a wingman, the Viper will play an incredible role in the Future Fighter Force.”

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

CAMP CASEY, South Korea  –  

A U.S. Army sergeant won the Gold Medal during an international Taekwondo competition in South Korea.

Sgt. Robert J. Errington from the 59th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Company (Hazards Response) took first place during the international competition at the Kukkiwon, the World Taekwondo Headquarters in Seoul.

Errington also earned his Taekwondo black belt in six months during his deployment to South Korea, the birthplace of the famous martial art, which is also an Olympic sport.

In the 1950s – 1960s, many of the American martial arts pioneers earned black belts while stationed in the U.S. military in Northeast Asia.

Chuck Norris, a six-time world Professional Middleweight Karate Champion and action star, earned his first black belt in the Korean martial art Tang Soo Do while serving as a U.S. Air Force Air Policeman on Osan Air Base in South Korea in the late 1950s.

Errington, a Chemical Corps sergeant, first became interested in the martial arts during a family trip to Vietnam when he was 8 years old.

“During my stay there, I was able to watch monks from the Buddhist temple perform martial arts which piqued my interest in starting,” said Errington. “Coming to Korea, I wanted to embrace the culture as much as I could.”

Two company leaders, 1st Lt. Aidan J. Naylor and Sgt. 1st Class Sun-kyong Jung, who both used to practice Taekwondo, encouraged Errington to sign up for courses on Camp Casey, South Korea. The U.S. Army provides Kukkiwon-certified Taekwondo grandmasters for the courses. Yi Yong-son, a 7th degree black belt, is Errington’s grandmaster.

“Once I found out how easily Taekwondo was available, I signed up as soon as I could,” said Errington, a native of Buffalo, New York. “There are seven belt levels here starting from white ending all the way to black. From what I was told by my grandmaster, I was quick to promote and got my black belt in six months.”

Errington took all of the three classes offered on post every week. Since he had no prior martial arts experience, he practiced as much as possible.

For the 1st degree black belt test, Errington had to demonstrate the basics, perform four Taekwondo forms, complete 50 pushups and spar with a black belt at a higher level. He then had to break 3/4-inch-thick boards with a roundhouse tornado kick, spinning wheel kick and jumping reverse wheel kick.

During the competition in Seoul in September 2023, he had to overcome two opponents in his weight class to earn his Gold Medal.

“To prepare for this tournament, my grandmaster emphasized the importance of basic kicks and counter attacks. For him to let me even spar, I had to consistently spar against all the black belts for weeks until he became confident enough to let me fight,” said Errington. “My final match was intimidating at first because I was matched up against a 3rd degree black belt who practiced Taekwondo at a university club in South Korea. Even though he was a great practitioner, I was able to come off with a 12 to 6 win.”

The Fort Drum, New York-based 59th CBRN Company “Mountain Dragons” are deployed to South Korea in support of the 23rd CBRN Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division and Eighth Army.

The 59th CBRNE Company “Mountain Dragons” are serving in South Korea on a nine-month rotational deployment. The company is part of the 83rd CBRN Battalion, 48th Chemical Brigade and 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command, the U.S. military’s premier CBRNE formation.

American Soldiers and U.S. Army civilians from the 20th CBRNE Command deploy from 19 bases in 16 states to take on the world’s most dangerous hazards in support of joint, interagency and allied operations.

Since it was activated in October 2004, the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland-headquartered 20th CBRNE Command has been supporting the Republic of Korea-U.S. Alliance.

Errington said he has enjoyed his deployment to South Korea, beyond his success on the mat.

“Korea has so much to offer besides Taekwondo. When I’ve had free time, I’ve explored Korea as much as I could,” said Errington. “From the nature side of Soyosan Mountain, the popular city of Seoul and even to the beaches of Gangwon Province, every weekend was full of excitement and surprises. I have also made a couple good Korean friends here that I’m sure I’ll be keeping in contact in the States.”

Errington chose to serve in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps to protect people from the hazards posed by Weapons of Mass Destruction.

“We protect people from substances that the average person doesn’t even know about,” said Errington. “At some point in my career, I would like to become a recruiter and show people what the Army can offer. After the Army, I would like to finish up my degree and become a professor in Chemistry, Earth Science and Astronomy.”

Capt. Evan P. Shortsleeve, the commander of the 59th CBRNE Company (Hazardous Response), said that Spc. Jacob Oliver from the Mountain Dragons will also test for his Taekwondo Black Belt soon. Shortsleeve said Errington sets a great example of the U.S. Army’s commitment to physical fitness and maintaining strong ties with our allies.

“Sgt. Errington represents our Army well,” said Shortsleeve, a native of Litchfield, Connecticut, and graduate of Norwich University. “He approaches each day with gratitude and leads those around him to live a fuller life. Soldiers and KATUSAs (Korean Augmentees to the U.S. Army) following his example have found a deeper meaning behind holistic health and fitness and forged friendships that will outlast their service with the Mountain Dragon family.”

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

DOD spokesperson Lt. Col. Martin Meiners provided the following readout:

U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Jedidiah P. Royal; Australian Deputy Secretary of Defence Strategy, Policy, and Industry Hugh Jeffrey; Canadian Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy) Peter Hammerschmidt, United Kingdom Director for International Security Policy Nick Gurr; and New Zealand Ministry of Defence Deputy Secretary Policy & Planning Richard Schmidt convened a meeting of senior defense policy officials in Singapore today. 

The senior officials exchanged views on strengthening regional security and upholding the rules-based international order, including the importance of air and maritime operational safety across the Indo-Pacific region. They also reaffirmed the importance of continuing to work together to enhance the collective resilience of the partners, as well as resilience across the broader Indo-Pacific region.