CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: KONA, Hawaii Senior enlisted leaders from 28 countries and multinational organizations are attending U.S. Indo-Pacific Command's 26th annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense (CHODs) conference in Kona, Hawaii, Sept. 18-20. The three-day conference, titled "The Future Indo-Pacific: Building a Resilient and Interconnected Region," provided an opportunity for senior military leaders to   more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: KONA, Hawaii U.S. Indo-Pacific Command is hosting the 26th annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense (CHODs) conference in Kona, Hawaii, Sept. 18-20. This year, 28 countries or multinational organizations are attending the conference, which has been held since 1998 with the purpose of bringing together senior military leaders from across the Indo-Pacific to enhance mutual understanding  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace on Sept. 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 U  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland As the curtain closed today on the 2024 Air and Space Forces Association's Air, Space & Cyber Conference, one theme resonated throughout the event Pacific Air Forces total commitment to maintaining a decisive advantage in the Indo-Pacific region amidst growing global threats. Over the course of three days, Gen. Kevin Schneider, PACAF comm  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: JODHPUR, RAJASTHAN, India For the 148th Fighter Squadron, an F-16 Fighting Falcon Air National Guard unit, based out of Duluth, Minnesota, Tarang Shakti-24 provided invaluable training through obstacles from Aug 29 to Sept. 14, 2024 at Jodhpur Air Force Station in Rajasthan, India. As a deployed unit, they are known as the 179th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and   more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: ZAMA, KANAGAWA, Japan More than 1,000 volunteers, including members from Camp Zama and the local community, participated in the annual Sagami River cleanup campaign here Sept. 8 near the installation. Staff from the city of Zama provided the volunteers with gloves and trash bags. They then combed the riverbank for an hour, picking up litter and other discarded ite  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti released her Navigation Plan (NAVPLAN) for America's Warfighting Navy at the Naval War College, Sept. 18. NAVPLAN 2024 follows the CNO's release of America's Warfighting Navy in January, and serves as an update to the 2022 NAVPLAN. "The Navigation Plan for America's Warfighting Navy is my overarching strategic guidance to make our Navy  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: SOLOMON ISLANDS The United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom, Republic of Korea, and Japan recently joined the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force for Operation Render Safe 2024-2 in New Georgia, Solomon Islands, from Aug. 12 to Sept. 27. Operation Render Safe is an Australian Defence Force operation that removes the danger posed by World War I  more

MIAMI, Florida, Sept. 18 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Markenzy Lapointe, issued the following news release on Sept. 17, 2024: Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, of Hawaii, has been charged by a criminal complaint in the Southern District of Florida with firearms charges related to an incident at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach on Sept. 15. Routh was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession and receipt of a firearm with an oblit  more

HONOLULU, Hawaii, Sept. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii issued the following news release on Sept. 17, 2024: United States Attorney Clare E. Connors announced that Henry K. Lii, 58, of Oahu, was sentenced yesterday by Senior United States District Judge Helen Gillmor to 181 months in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. A  more

HONOLULU, Hawaii, Sept. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii issued the following news release: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has approved an initial set of 78 communities across 47 states, territories, and the District of Columbia for designation under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022. The Justice Department - through its United States Attorney's offices (USAOs) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives   more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 16 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: JODHPUR AIR FORCE STATION, RAJASTHAN, India Tarang Shakti-24, India's largest multinational exercise involving 10 participating nations and 18 observers, lived up to its namesake from Aug. 29 to Sept. 14, 2024, at Jodhpur Air Force Station, Rajasthan, India. Throughout large force tactical employment operations, cultural events, and learning opportunities, Airmen   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Sept. 16, 2024: * * * Note: View the criminal complaint here (https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1368091/dl). * * * Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, of Hawaii, has been charged by a criminal complaint in the Southern District of Florida with firearms charges related to an incident at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach on Sept. 15. Routh was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felo  more

DALLAS, Texas, Sept. 19 -- The Army and Air Force Exchange Service issued the following news release: By Julie Mitchell The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is making it easier for all students who achieve academic success, including those with special needs, to participate in its popular You Made the Grade program. For years, students had to show proof of a B average or better to earn program rewards. Thanks to feedback from an Army spouse at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, students who are ma  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: YOKOSUKA, Japan The Minister of Defence of Finland, Antti Hakkanen, visited the headquarters of Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 and USS Benfold (DDG 65) September 13, 2024. "We welcome the visit from Finland's Minister of Defence and his supporting team," said Capt. Justin Harts, Commander, Destroyer Squadron 15. "We hope to continue goodwill visits such  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 16 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: RAAF BASE AMBERLEY, QUEENSLAND, Australia More than 180 Airmen assigned to the 110th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron and three B-2 Spirit stealth bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base arrived last month at Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley, Australia to conduct Joint and multilateral Bomber Task Force missions across the Indo-Pacific region. The 110th EBS logged  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- The National Park Service Hawaii Volcanoes National Park issued the following news release on Sept. 17, 2024: HAWAII NATIONAL PARK, Hawaii - Education rangers at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park are excited to welcome haumana back to the park. Check out our redesigned education webpage - https://go.nps.gov/havoeducation - to choose from ranger-led, distance learning, or classroom visit programs. Click on each tile on the webpage to learn how to register. Great news to sav  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service issued the following news release on Sept. 19, 2024: HAWAII NATIONAL PARK, Hawaii - Chain of Craters Road is open to Holei Sea Arch but volcanic hazards have increased from the eruption near Naapau Crater. The middle East Rift Zone eruption significantly increased in volume on the afternoon of September 18. Hazardous concentrations of volcanic gassses and particulate matter (vog) may occur along Chain of Crate  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- The Navy Installations Command issued the following news: From Anna Marie G. Gonzales, Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs * * * [Editor's Note: This story is part of a series on efforts by the U.S. Navy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to understand the behaviors and migratory patterns of sea turtles in Pearl Harbor.] * * * JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Hawaii and NOAA Fishe  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: SOUTH KOREA In a focused and urgent effort to build the Navy Region Korea (CNRK) warfighting team ready to "Fight Tonight!" and win, program managers from the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) and Pacific Fleet (PACFLT) convened on Fleet Activities Chinhae (CFAC) naval installation in South Korea last month to discuss how to foster a successful cultur  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: NAURSORI HIGHLANDS, Fiji Over the past week, In the remote jungles of the Nausori Highlands of Fiji, National Guard Soldiers retraced the steps of history in the South Pacific during Exercise Cartwheel a military training event that echoes its namesake, the pivotal World War II Operation Cartwheel. Like the 1943 operation in which forces from the U.S., New Zealand  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 16 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII Lt. Gen. William M. Jurney relinquished command of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific to Lt. Gen. James F. Glynn during a ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Sept. 12, 2024. Jurney also retired from the Marine Corps during the ceremony. "You don't get here by happenstance," said Gen. Eric M. Smith, Commandant of the Marine Corps. "Yo  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 16 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: PELELIU, Palau The United States Marine Corps, alongside the U.S. Embassy Koror and the President of the Republic of Palau, co-host the 80th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Peleliu with a ceremony honoring those who served on the island and in the broader Pacific Theater during World War II. This commemoration marks 80 years since the battle, which took   more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: KOSRAE, Micronesia, Federated States of A team representing Australia and the United States commenced the fifth and final mission stop of Pacific Partnership 2024-2 (PP24-2) in Kosrae, Sept. 17. The mission kicked off with a key leadership engagement at the Kosrae State governor's office with Gov. Tulensa Palik; U.S. Navy Capt. Daniel Keeler, PP24-2 mission comman  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 16 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: YAP, Federated States of Micronesia A multinational team representing five Pacific nations concluded the fourth mission stop of Pacific Partnership 2024-2 (PP24-2) with a closing ceremony at the Yap Living History Museum in Colonia, Yap, Sept. 10. The 11-day Yap mission stop brought more than 70 participants from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and the Unit  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: BUSAN, South Korea When the amphibious landing dock ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) and her embarked Marine Expeditionary Unit pulls into port in Busan, Republic of Korea (ROK), on this bright, cloudless summer day, the air in the hangar deck is thick with tropical humidity, and an undercurrent of excitement is palpable among thousands of servicemembers patiently w  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: Department of Defense Spokesman Lt. Col. Garron Garn, USMC, provided the following readout: Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Ms. Cara Abercrombie, returned from travel after participating in bilateral, trilateral, and multilateral meetings in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Last week, Ms. Abercrombie co-chaired the Defense Trilateral Talks with Japan and the ROK, w  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 16 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: Dr. Michael Chase, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia, met with People's Republic of China (PRC) Major General Ye Jiang, Deputy Director of the Central Military Commission Office for International Military Cooperation, in Beijing for the 18th U.S.-PRC Defense Policy Coordination Talks from September 14-15. The two sides discussed U.S.-PRC defense r  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: NORTHERN TERRITORY, Australia U.S. Navy psychologists with Marine Rotational Force Darwin 24.3 collaborated with Royal Australian Navy mental health practitioners to provide training on operational stress responses and interventions at Larrakeyah Defence Precinct, NT, Australia, Sept. 2. This first-of-its-kind partnership between the Australian and U.S. militaries  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 13 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: GARAPAN, Northern Mariana Islands U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam and Station Apra Harbor personnel teamed up with local rescue units and enforcement officers from the CNMI for an intensive three-day Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREx) in Saipan from Sept. 10-12, 2024. This year's exercise brought together a robust team of responders, including membe  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: COLONIA, YAP, Federated States of Micronesia U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam personnel joined a multinational team for the fourth mission stop of Pacific Partnership 2024-2 (PP24-2) in Yap, Federated States of Micronesia, from Sept. 4 to 10, and provided workshops to enhance preparedness and safety. The mission brought together participants from fiv  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: KOROR, Republic of Palau At the request of the Republic of Palau and in response to their concerns of potential illicit maritime activity occurring in Palau's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia Sector Guam (FMSG) and U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point dispatched personnel and equipment to enact the agreement between the U.S. a  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 16 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii U.S. Indo-Pacific Command concludes the 2024 State Partnership Program Senior Leader Forum, held in Hawaii, Sept. 10-16. The SPP is a DoD security cooperation program, managed and administered by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, executed by USINDOPACOM and resourced by the National Guard of the states and territories. USINDOPACOM has  more

HONOLULU, Hawaii, Sept. 21 -- The U.S. Pacific Air Forces issued the following news: NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Exercise Bamboo Eagle 24-3 integrated U.S. Airmen, Guardians, Sailors, Marines, and allies from Australia and the United Kingdom into a combined force to train for a possible conflict in the era of Great Power Competition. The exercise conducted live-fly operations in the eastern Pacific and a simultaneous 24-hour live, virtual, and constructive, or LVC, rolling scenario, tacklin  more

HONOLULU, Hawaii, Sept. 21 -- The U.S. Pacific Air Forces issued the following news on Sept. 19, 2024: YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- The annual Far East Tactics Analysis Team conference, which brings together defense operations and intelligence representatives from six countries, was held at Yokota Air Base, Japan, September 9-13. The event was hosted by the U.S. Fifth Air Force Intelligence Division, and for the first time participants hailed from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, the British Roy  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, Australia The 17th annual Indo-Pacific Intelligence Chiefs Conference (IPICC) ran Sept. 1 to Sept. 4, bringing together directors of military intelligence and intelligence leaders from 23 countries to discuss regional issues and shared security challenges. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Director for Intelligence J2, Army Brig. Gen. Dave Els  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- The Navy Installations Command issued the following news: From Kyler Hood, Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - Military and civilian gym goers can take their fitness to the next level with new workout equipment and 24/7 access to gyms on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. By the end of September, four Navy fitness centers on JBPHH will be open around the clock and in May, gyms were outfitted with $600,000 in new fitness apparatus. J  more

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, Sept. 19 -- The Commander of the Hawaii Navy Region issued the following news: From Kyler Hood, Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - Military and civilian gym goers can take their fitness to the next level with new workout equipment and 24/7 access to gyms on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. By the end of September, four Navy fitness centers on JBPHH will be open around the clock and in May, gyms were outfitted with $600,000 in new fi  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: MELBOURNE, Australia United States Army Pacific Commanding General Charles A. Flynn met with Army Chiefs from Australia, Japan, and the Philippines along with the Commander of the III Marine Expeditionary Force at Victoria Barracks, Melbourne. The leaders agreed upon new measures for integrating deterrence activities among regional land forces. These largely consis  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska While Alaska and Mongolia are separated by an ocean, the two regions share some key characteristics. Frigid climates, rugged mountains and austere regions can make for challenging construction, but staff at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Alaska District are experts at delivering high-quality infrastructure in arctic conditi  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command hosted the annual Senior Leaders Forum (SLF) for the State Partnership Program (SPP) here, Sept. 10-16. SPP links a state's National Guard with the military or security forces of a partner country in a cooperative, mutually beneficial relationship that supports theater campaign plan objectives. SPP establishes connections between National Guard units an  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: "We are aware of the DPRK's ballistic missile launches and are consulting closely with the Republic of Korea and Japan, as well as other regional allies and partners. The United States condemns these actions and calls on the DPRK to refrain from further unlawful and destabilizing acts. While we have assessed that this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel, or terr  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Sept. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: WAIMANALO, Hawaii U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Director and Command Gender Advisor Sharon Feist addressed the Hawaii National Guard Joint Commander's Conference at the Guard's Regional Training Institute in Waimanalo, Hawaii, Sept. 13. Feist discussed the benefits of integrating a gender perspective into peace and security operations a  more