Category: US Indo Pacific Command

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

TAIWAN STRAIT  –  

A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace on April 17 (local time).

By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations. The aircraft’s transit of the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The United States military flies, sails and operates anywhere international law allows.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea  –  

Approximately 200 U.S. and Republic of Korea special operations forces personnel participated in a static-line Airborne training operation today as part of Korea Flying Training 24, a combined ROK and U.S. exercise running April 12-26.

The jumpers, assigned to the ROK Special Warfare Command and U.S. Special Operations Command Korea, landed in a drop zone at Osan Air Base. They were carried by eight aircraft, including U.S. C-17s, ROK and U.S. C-130s, and ROK CASA 235s, working in concert to complete the jump training.

“Today was a great example of how we can effectively conduct cross-component training in support of various objectives involving a larger scale of combined SOF and joint personnel and units from on and off-Peninsula,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. James P. Johnson III, SOCKOR Special Operations Liaison Element director. “The complexity of this long-planned, mass-jump training complements more discrete or conventional options for senior leaders.”

The successful, routine event required months of deliberate planning between personnel at the tactical and operational levels. The desired training objectives focused on the proficient integration of joint and combined forces, credibly preparing them to defend the Republic of Korea against belligerent aggression while maintaining stability in Northeast Asia.

According to Johnson, credible training reinforces a broader integrated deterrence posture.

“Training like this validates a range of scalable options for our senior leaders to ensure our combined defense of the peninsula,” Johnson said.

Similar to today’s jumps, most special operations missions are enabled by joint service partners, substantially increasing SOF’s capabilities and effectiveness.

“Joint training provides immeasurable value to numerous Airmen across the 7th Air Force, giving our aircrew, airfield operations, and combat support personnel a chance to integrate closely with our SOF partners,” said Maj. Rachel Buitrago, 7th AF Public Affairs director. “It maintains our ability to support the operational effectiveness of the combined force throughout the region.”

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska  –  

The 673d Air Base Wing enhanced its ability to project forces in support of the 3rd Air Expeditionary Wing’s exercise Agile Reaper 24-1 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, April 1 through 17.

Agile Reaper is Team JBER’s effort to exercise agile combat employment, certify Air Force force-generation requirements, rehearse capabilities in an operationally relevant environment, and to provide air dominance, global mobility, and command/control.

Approximately 800 Airmen are currently flying, maintaining and supporting aircraft operating at five separate locations to ensure the collective defense of a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

U.S. Air Force Col. David Wilson, commander of JBER and the 673rd ABW, said JBER’s operations this week were designed to evaluate and exercise their ability to bring mission partners together to project forces in the Indo-Pacific theater for AR 24-1.

“We worked hard this week to focus on putting it all together with speed and agility – readiness, people, logistics, and aircraft movements,” said Wilson. “The last two years our two wings and mission partners have worked closely to tackle complex challenges and I’m really proud of the work done so far. It’s clear that we must move with a sense of urgency if we are to effectively prepare for great-power competition and I believe we’re witnessing transformational change here at JBER.”

During the exercise, the cooperation between the 673rd ABW and the 3rd Wing was crucial in getting the 3rd AEW out the door for AR 24-1.

U.S. Air Force Col. Jessica Regni, 3rd Wing deputy commander, said the importance of working together with the 673rd ABW to get the 3rd AEW into theater was apparent over the course of the week as it required Airmen to work through challenges to generate combat power at the speed of requirements.

“The ‘fight to get into theater’ is one that is often overlooked, but one we must continue to exercise and refine,” said Regni. “Exercises like Agile Reaper give Team JBER the opportunity to work through challenges so that when called upon, the 3rd AEW can explode into theater and provide air dominance for combatant commands. This was the first of many opportunities to become more agile, and I’m excited to watch Team JBER come together to deliver.”

AR 24-1 facilitates better readiness and performance in the high-end fight and preserve forces as the Air Force moves away from the hardened and entrenched physical and logistical structures of the past toward a more sustainable model where force packages are light and lean in personnel and cargo requirements.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

YAP, Federated States of Micronesia  –  

Following a high-profile rescue of three mariners from Pikelot Atoll, the U.S. Coast Guard, operating through the USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC 1140) and coordinated by U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam with U.S. Embassy and USAID partners, continued their vital service in the Pacific by conducting a critical medical evacuation and delivering more than 15,000 lbs. of essential drought relief supplies to several island communities from April 9 – 13, 2024.

“This past week, the crew demonstrated profound capability and compassion,” said Lt. Ray Cerrato, commanding officer of the Oliver Henry. “The little moments of true empathy—from CS1 Pablo, our ship’s cook and a certified EMT, who cared for the boy during our overnight transit, to GM2 and MKC, who gave up their own sleeping quarters so that the boy’s parents could rest— really reflect the deep humanity and commitment of our team. It’s personal, and they make these sacrifices without second thoughts. That is the true spirit of the Coast Guard.”

Drought Relief Efforts:

From April 10 to 13, the USCGC Oliver Henry delivered drought relief supplies, including water, food, and reverse osmosis systems, to four outer island communities: Satawal, Woleai, Fais, and Ulithi, in a 1,200 nautical mile round trip across Yap State in FSM. This mission supported a request from the U.S. Embassy and in partnership with USAID and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), highlighting the U.S. commitment to providing essential aid and enhancing resilience against natural disasters in FSM.

“We take immense pride in our ability to execute complex operations and work effectively with our partners, as well as in bringing crucial water and supplies to remote communities affected by severe drought,” said Cerrato. “The good news is, at pretty much all the islands we just visited it either started to rain as we were leaving, or it’s rained in the past 48 hours.”

Annual rainfall in Yap is around 121 inches (3090 mm). Northeast tradewinds blow from November to May, resulting in less rain and lower humidity during these months. The National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Guam states extreme drought conditions persist across the Federated States of Micronesia and below-normal rainfall is still expected in the long-term for much of Yap State and Palau.

Medical Evacuation:

During the ongoing drought relief mission, the crew was again called to action on April 11 to assist a 9-year-old boy from Satawal who suffered a serious head injury in a fall from a tree. The medical evacuation occurred promptly, with the boy, accompanied by his parents and the cutter’s EMT, being transported to Woleai Atoll for enhanced care. Approximately 13 hours after boarding the USCGC Oliver Henry, the crew launched the small boat, and the guests from Satawal were transferred ashore at Woleai to board a Yap State government-chartered flight for further transport to a higher level of medical care in Yap.

“Search and Rescue is our no-fail mission, and the successful outcomes of these recent operations in Micronesia—rescuing stranded mariners and conducting a critical medical evacuation—prove this point. Beyond these life-saving actions, our commitment extends to addressing humanitarian challenges, many exacerbated by climate issues. Working in concert with partners like the U.S. Embassies, local governments, USAID, and IOM, each operation not only reinforces our readiness and resolve to save lives and safeguard our Pacific communities but also demonstrates our dedication to cooperation, providing comprehensive support in the face of diverse challenges,” said Capt. Nicholas Simmons, commander of U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam.

-USCG-

About U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam:

U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam plays a critical role in promoting maritime safety, security, and environmental stewardship in the Pacific. The sector’s capabilities are integral to executing a wide range of Coast Guard missions, from protecting the maritime economy and the environment to defending maritime borders and saving those in peril.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

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

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Admiral Dong Jun, Minister of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), spoke today via video teleconference.

The two officials discussed U.S.-PRC defense relations and regional and global security issues. Secretary Austin emphasized the importance of continuing to open lines of military-to-military communication between the United States and the PRC, following the 17th U.S.-PRC Defense Policy Coordination Talks (DPCTs) in January 2024 and a round of working-level Military Maritime Consultative Agreement (MMCA) talks in early April 2024. He reaffirmed the announcement by President Biden and PRC President Xi Jinping in November 2023 that both sides will resume telephone conversations between theater commanders. The Secretary also reiterated that the United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate – safely and responsibly – wherever international law allows.

Secretary Austin underscored the importance of respect for high seas freedom of navigation guaranteed under international law, especially in the South China Sea. He also discussed Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine and expressed concerns about recent provocations from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The Secretary also reiterated that the United States remains committed to our longstanding one China policy, which is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three U.S.-China Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances, and he reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Strait.

Today’s call follows President Biden’s November 15, 2023 meeting with PRC President Xi Jinping, as well as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.’s call via video teleconference with his People’s Liberation Army counterpart on December 21, 2023. The Department will continue to engage in active discussions with PRC counterparts about future engagements between defense and military officials at multiple levels.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

MANILA, Philippines  –  

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the U.S. military will conduct the 39th iteration of Balikatan, the largest annual bilateral training exercise between the two Allies, from April 22 to May 10. The exercise directly supports the U.S.-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty by enhancing military cooperation and readiness between the two militaries.

More than 16,000 members of the AFP and U.S. military will train together this year. Contingents from the Australian Defence Force and, for the first time in Balikatan’s history, the French Navy, will also join the exercise as participants. Meanwhile, 14 nations will participate as part of the AFP-hosted international observer program: Brunei, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

During Balikatan 2024, participants will execute a range of complex missions across domains, including maritime security, sensing and targeting, air and missile defense, dynamic missile strikes, cyber defense, and information operations. The Philippine Navy, U.S. Navy, and the French Navy will also conduct a Multilateral Maritime Exercise in the Philippine’s exclusive economic zone.

“This year’s Balikatan Exercise underscores our steadfast dedication to amplify interoperability and readiness by collaborating with our friends, partners, and ally,” said AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr. “Together, we speed up our march towards enhancing our military capabilities for maritime security alongside honing other competencies in order to effectively address the dynamic challenges across all nations.”

“Each year, we work closely with AFP senior leaders to make Balikatan more challenging. This year, we’ve increased the scope, scale, and complexity across all domains,” said Lt. Gen. William M. Jurney, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific and the U.S. military officer responsible for designing, planning and conducting the exercise. “We’re building military readiness across the full range of combined and joint operations. It’s our most expansive Balikatan yet.”

Balikatan 2024 is organized into three main components. The command-and-control exercise includes a cyber defense exercise to strengthen bilateral cyber defense capabilities that protect critical military and civilian cyber infrastructure against simulated threats; a staff planning exercise to increase bilateral planning proficiency by developing the plan for next year’s iteration of Balikatan; and the inaugural information warfare exercise where Philippine and U.S. forces engaged in a week-long wargame on April 1 to synchronize information-related capabilities and advance both nations’ information operations skills.

The field training exercise features four combined joint all-domain operations. This includes exercises in protecting key terrain in Luzon and Palawan in support of territorial defense; rapidly moving long range, precision strike capabilities and using them in targeting simulated threats; tracking simulated air threats and targeting them with multiple air and missile defense systems; and integrating multilateral air and land platforms to increase awareness of the maritime security situation. Exercise forces will conclude by targeting simulated enemy forces and sinking an “enemy” ship.

Lastly, the AFP and the U.S. civil-military operations task force have been conducting humanitarian civic assistance activities at five locations in the western and northern Philippines since late March, with projects expected to be completed by the end of Balikatan 2024. Together, military personnel are building and improving local infrastructure; sharing lifesaving medical skills; and strengthening military ties with local communities.

“Balikatan” is a Tagalog phrase that means “shoulder-to-shoulder,” describing the spirit of the annual exercise and the close friendship between the Philippines and the United States.

“Balikatan is more than an exercise; it’s a tangible demonstration of our shared commitment to each other. It matters for regional peace, it matters for regional stability,” Lt. Gen. Jurney said. “When we increase our mutual response and defense capabilities, we strengthen our ability to promote regional security and protect our shared interests.”

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

TINIAN, Northern Mariana Islands  –  

The remote island of Tinian, located in the western Pacific Ocean, represents a vital chapter in military and world history. The island once was home to the U.S. military’s largest B-29 Superfortress fleet, which launched the two bombers carrying the atomic bombs “Little Boy” and “Fat Man” that brought an end to World War II in 1945. Today, the U.S. Air Force is employing the location for the next generation of air power projection.

The 3rd Air Expeditionary Wing out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, is conducting Exercise Agile Reaper 24-1, utilizing a hub-and-spoke concept of operations, with an operations center, or hub, located at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and five disaggregated locations serving as the spokes, collectively projecting power across the Indo-Pacific Region.

One of the spokes is an austere environment next to Tinian International Airport, and while it began as a baren patch of grass, in less than 24 hours, a few dozen Airmen stood up and are now operating it as a fully mission-capable forward operating site comprised of approximately 100 Airmen with all the necessary military support functions to service and launch military aircraft, namely JBER’s F-22 Raptors from the 90th Fighter Squadron.

“Operating from Tinian offers great training for all of us,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Clayton Cruickshank, Tinian spoke commander and F-22 Raptor pilot. “We’re developing the skills that will be required to operate from austere locations in the future, and we’re developing our junior leaders so they can step into roles that have recently been held by higher ranking and more experienced people. Everything we learn here should inform how we can prepare for future conflicts and how we will need to fight in this environment.”

One of the first Airmen on site was U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Taylor Howe, an explosive ordnance disposal flight commander from the 673d Civil Engineer Group. Stepping into a new role as the Tinian camp “mayor,” Howe directed the integration of Airmen from all support functions in order to build the base, to include on-boarding personnel and cargo, cross-flow of information with the hub, constructing shelters, and providing overall wellness support of the deployed forces, such as food, water, safety, and medical.

The expeditious build-up of the Tinian site was made possible through the employment of the Air Force concept of Mission-Ready Airmen. MRA optimizes wartime operational mission generation through Airmen working side-by-side with Airmen outside their Air Force Specialty Code and applying those core skills when needed, in order to make the mission happen. In a wartime environment, ensuring redundancies with Airmen understanding and being able to act outside their core specialty will increase the survivability of forces in the Pacific.

Serving in another position vital to success was U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Beau Burton, a contracting officer from the 673d Contracting Squadron, who was one of the first Airmen on ground and tackled fulfilling key contracts with local vendors for support of the team, such as acquisition of shelter for personnel, transportation, water, fuel, safety equipment, and other necessary requirements to ensure the operational capability of the spoke location.

“Standing up this base takes coordination from everybody,” Burton said. “It takes being ready and willing to ‘dual hat’ or ‘triple hat’ roles and responsibilities. Everyone here owns a piece or multiple pieces of the puzzle, and each member being proactive and motivated allows for the puzzle pieces to come together and everything to fall into place so the mission can get rolling.”

AR 24-1 acts as an Air Force Force Generation (AFFORGEN) certifying training event for the 3rd AEW, a requirement for the deployment of forces. AFFORGEN is an evolving concept that allows the Air Force to ensure force presentation and force generation models are aligned to the way the service intends to operate in the future high-end fight.

The exercise facilitates better readiness and performance in the high-end fight and preserves forces as the Air Force moves away from the hardened and entrenched physical and logistical structures of the past toward a more sustainable model where force packages are light and lean in personnel and cargo requirements.

“‘Spoking out’ is a much more intense environment than home station, both situationally and the essential aspect of maintaining mutually beneficial local partnerships, while keeping forces healthy and motivated,” Howe said. “Our overall mission here is to survive and operate, and if needed, we will engage, fight and win in order to preserve the survivability of our forces and defend the homeland.”

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

YOKOSUKA, Japan  –  

Rear Adm. Pat Hannifin turned command of Task Force 70 and Carrier Strike Group 5 over to Rear Adm. Greg Newkirk during a ceremony at U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka Friday morning, April 12.

The guest speaker at the event was Adm. John C. Aquilino, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, while the presiding officer was Vice Adm. Fred Kacher, Commander of U.S. 7th Fleet in Yokosuka.

“I am confident that the leadership of the United States Navy is well-equipped to navigate the challenges ahead, safeguarding our way of life for future generations,” said Aquilino. “With a commitment to freedom, peace, security, prosperity, and stability, alongside our allies and partners worldwide, the Navy remains steadfast. Today, as two distinguished warriors transition, the Navy continues to deploy its finest warfighters to address our most formidable challenges.”

Task Force 70 controls the preponderance of forward-deployed air and surface maneuver and striking forces in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, overseeing Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 51 and Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 138, as well as the ships and aircraft operating under Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5, including the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG 62) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5.

“I’m incredibly proud of this team and their accomplishments over the past year,” said Hannifin, completing his third Forward-Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF) tour. “The men and women of Task Force 70 are our nation’s front line: 11,000 Sailors across 23 commands and staffs – each demonstrating America’s firm commitment to freedom of navigation and rule of law in the Indo-Pacific, just as their predecessors have done for over 70 years.

“Our mission is clear and our cause is just,” he continued. “We are the leading edge of a powerful joint and combined force – ready, lethal and confident to deter, fight and win alongside our allies and partners in the region. I am incredibly honored to have stood among them, and know Admiral Newkirk is exactly the man needed to lead them in the coming year.”

Following his tour as commander of Task Force 70 and CSG 5, Hannifin, a San Diego native, will go on to serve as the director of operations for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

“Command at any level is one of life’s most distinct honors and most sacred privileges,” said Newkirk. “To command at any time and place of such great global consequence alongside great teams that include our friends here in Japan – the honor becomes even higher.”

Newkirk, from Medina, Ohio, becomes the 79th commander of Task Force 70 and takes over the dual-hatted position after serving as a deputy director of operations for the Joint Staff in Washington, D.C.

Newkirk previously served as the commanding officer of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 and as commander of Carrier Air Wing 2, embarked aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).

Task Force 70 is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. 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

NORTHERN LUZON, Philippines  –  

In a historic first, the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force successfully deployed the Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system to Northern Luzon, Philippines, on April 11, 2024, as part of Exercise Salaknib 24. This landmark deployment marks a significant milestone for the new capability while enhancing interoperability, readiness, and defense capabilities in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Covering a journey of more than 8,000 miles in over 15 hours, the Mid-Range Capability (MRC) reached the Philippines aboard the C-17 Globemaster III airframe. The historic deployment, undertaken in part with the pilots and flight crew of the U.S. Air Force’s 62nd Airlift Wing from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, showcases the extensive reach and logistical precision of the Joint Force and represents a significant achievement for the Air Force, marking the first time the service has flown the exquisite capability.

“This is a significant step in our partnership with the Philippines, our oldest treaty ally in the region. We’re grateful to our partners in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and we’re excited to expand our security cooperation as we bring this new capability to Luzon. This creates several new collaboration opportunities for our bilateral training and readiness, we look forward to growing together,” said Brig. Gen. Bernard Harrington, commanding general of the 1MDTF.

The 1MDTF’s MRC is a land-based, ground-launched system that enhances multi-domain fires. A versatile capability, the MRC Launcher can fire the Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) and the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM). The full configuration of MRC comprises a battery operations center, four launchers, prime movers, and modified trailers.

Salaknib 24 directly supports the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. Army Pacific efforts in enhancing bilateral U.S. land power capacity and capabilities for joint operations. By bolstering our collective readiness with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Salaknib improves our operational capabilities and strengthens the longstanding and strong U.S.-Philippine Alliance, displaying our dedication to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

More information on Exercise Salaknib at https://www.usarpac.army.mil/Our-Story/Our-News/Article-Display/Article/3728554/us-philippine-armies-enhance-interoperability-and-defense-capabilities-during-s/

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and the Philippines on the occasion of the inaugural U.S.-Philippines 3+3 Meeting.

Begin text:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo, Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro, and Philippine National Security Advisor Eduardo M. Año in Washington, DC today. The meeting followed President Biden’s bilateral meeting with Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and the historic Japan-Philippines-United States Trilateral Leaders’ Summit on April 11.

The parties reaffirmed their shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific and discussed ways to deepen coordination regarding shared challenges in the South China Sea, including repeated harassment of lawful Philippine operations by the People’s Republic of China. Secretary Blinken, Secretary of Defense Austin, and National Security Advisor Sullivan reiterated the United States’ ironclad commitment to the U.S.-Philippine Alliance and recalled that the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft – including those of its Coast Guard – anywhere in the South China Sea. The parties underscored their determination to increase U.S. support for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to improve interoperability and to achieve our shared security objectives. The parties further decided to explore additional opportunities to strengthen global support for upholding the international law of the sea.

End text.