Marine Aircraft Group 12 forces deployed several F-35B Lightning ll’s for a regularly scheduled aviation training relocation at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 9, 2018.
ATR’s are designed to increase operational readiness and bilateral interoperability for both U.S. and Japanese forces.
AOMORI, JAPAN
05.22.2018
Photo by Lance Cpl. Alexia Lythos
Marines from the ordnance section of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, load inert explosives into an F-35B Lightning II as part of a regularly scheduled aircraft training relocation at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 15, 2018.
ATR’s are designed to increase operational readiness and bilateral interoperability for both U.S. and Japan forces.
05.22.2018
Photos by Lance Cpl. Alexia Lythos
Sea Shield is an annual multinational exercise taking place in the Black Sea and based on a notional crisis response scenario.
The exercise is designed to test, conduct, analyze and evaluate Anti-Submarine Warfare activities through the employment of Anti-Submarine Underwater Warfare, Anti-Air Warfare and Maritime Counter Mining.
This is to improve the interoperability and combat proficiency of participating units.
NATO contributes by involving its Standing NATO Maritime Group 2. Frigates from the Bulgarian, Romanian and Turkish navies are also participating, as well as the USS Porter, a number of corvettes and missile boats.
Allies also test the maritime procedure for command, control and communications.
Allies support the maritime forces taking part in the fictitious crisis response scenario by conducting maritime traffic control, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Defensive Anti-Air Warfare, Force Protection through Anti Surface Warfare, assistance to vessels in distress, Replenishment at Sea procedures and countering illegal activities at sea.
BLACK SEA
05.16.2018
U.S. and French navy aircraft perform flight operations during Operation Chesapeake 2018 over the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). Bush is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting carrier air wing exercises with the French navy to strengthen partnerships and deepen interoperability between the two nations’ naval forces
05.18.2018
Video by Petty Officer 3rd Class Roland John
RAAF personnel at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, reach a flying milestone as the Australian F-35As complete their first 1000 sorties.
The RAAF F-35A team are working together with the 56th Fighter Wing USAF and Lockheed Martin to develop Australia’s initial F-35A capability. Royal Australian Air Force pilots and maintenance personnel are fully embedded and integrated in USAF squadrons as they prepare to lead Australia’s transition to a fifth-generation Air Force.
June 8, 2018
Australian Department of Defence
Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 work on completing an expeditionary airfield maintenance exercise on Stoval Airfield during Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 2-18 (WTI) at Dateland, Ariz., on March 15, 2018.
WTI is a seven-week training even hosted by MAWTS-1 cadre, which emphasizes operational integration of the six functions of Marine Aviation in support of a Marine Air Ground Task Force.
MAWTS-1 provides standardized advance tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine Aviation Training and Readiness and assists in developing and employing aviation weapons and tactics.
DATELAND, AZ, UNITED STATES
03.15.2018
Video by Lance Cpl. Lisa Collins
Medical providers aboard Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) perform the first robot assisted surgery on board a ship as part of Pacific Partnership 2018 (PP18).
PP18’s mission is to work collectively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase stability and security in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships across the Indo-Pacific Region.
Pacific Partnership, now in its 13th iteration, is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific.
TRINCOMALEE, SRI LANKA
05.04.2018
Video by Senior Airman Dhruv Gopinath
Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel have joined the French Armed Forces of New Caledonia to practise Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) as part of Exercise Croix du Sud 2018 (Ex CDS18), 14-25 May.
The exercise is held every two years and with eleven participating nations, it is the largest HADR exercise to be conducted in the South Pacific. Ex CDS is aimed at preparing participants to assist major HADR operations while enhancing cooperation and interoperability.
After starting with Force Integration Training, participants will launch into a hypothetical tsunami disaster scenario within a complex security setting.
Australia’s involvement includes a headquarters element of about 30 personnel, Australian Army engineers from Townsville’s 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, Royal Australian Navy vessels including HMAS Choules and Minehunter Coastal vessels HMAS Gasoyne and Yarra.
The Royal Australian Air Force will provide a KA350 King Air tactical utility aircraft and C-27J Spartan battlefield airlifter to support air operations.
The ADF has extensive experience providing HADR assistance to regional neighbours. Participation in Ex CDS18 provides Defence with the opportunity to train disaster relief response alongside a multinational force.
May 15, 2018
Australian Department of Defence