Aaron Kidd
@kiddaaron.bsky.social
Pacific Bureau Chief for Stars and Stripes | Tokyo
The Coast Guard postponed a welcoming ceremony Tuesday for its newest Guam-based cutter so the vessel could join the search for a missing skiff near the Federated States of Micronesia.
Guam’s newest Coast Guard cutter joins search effort instead of welcome ceremony
The Coast Guard postponed a welcoming ceremony for its newest Guam-based cutter so the vessel could join the search for a missing skiff.
stripes.com
SAGAMI GENERAL DEPOT, Japan — A former director of the military’s joint counter-drone training center took command Wednesday of the Army brigade responsible for air and missile defense in Japan and Guam.
Counter-drone expert takes charge of Army air-defense brigade for Japan, Guam
Col. Moseph Sauda, a former director of the military’s joint counter-drone training center, took command of the 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.
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The Army’s new body composition policy is drawing renewed interest in the Armed Forces Wellness Center at the home of U.S. Forces Korea, where soldiers can receive nutrition, fitness and health coaching aimed at producing lasting changes rather than short-term weight loss.
Wellness center in South Korea promotes lasting fitness under new Army standard
Camp Humphreys’ Armed Forces Wellness Center is putting renewed focus on nutrition, fitness and health coaching aimed at producing lasting changes.
stripes.com
An emergency alert warning of a "real world active shooter" locked down Okinawa's Kadena Air Base late Tuesday, prompting a response by law enforcement before officials said no threat was found.
False active-shooter report triggers lockdown at Air Force base on Okinawa
Kadena Air Base went on lockdown for about an hour before it was lifted, and officials said no threat was substantiated.
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TOKYO — Japan plans to deepen partnerships with technology companies and startups as it prepares for what it describes as a new era of warfare driven by artificial intelligence, drones and other emerging technologies.
Japan says future warfare demands closer ties with tech industry
Japan’s 2026 defense white paper calls for stronger ties with tech firms and startups to advance AI, drones and military innovation.
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OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea — Eight people were detained Tuesday after attempting to unlawfully enter the home of the U.S. 7th Air Force through its main gate, according to the 51st Fighter Wing and South Korean police.
Security Forces detain 8 people attempting to breach US air base in South Korea
Eight people were detained Tuesday after attempting to unlawfully enter the home of the U.S. 7th Air Force through its main gate.
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OKINAWA CITY, Okinawa — A one-man effort that began last year to clean up litter in a nightlife district has grown into a community movement involving service members and city residents.
Community celebrates airman’s campaign to reduce litter on Okinawa’s party street
A one-man effort that began last year to clean up litter has grown into a community movement involving service members and Okinawa city residents.
stripes.com
A South Korean navy frigate took top honors in a live-fire competition among 13 warships during Rim of the Pacific, the recently concluded, monthlong naval exercise around Hawaii.
South Korean frigate takes maritime Top Gun award during RIMPAC drills
A South Korean navy frigate took top honors in a live-fire competition among 13 warships during Rim of the Pacific exercise.
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CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa — Three Marines headed to a Naha beach for a pickup soccer match instead intervened in an alleged assault, treated an injured Japanese man and stalled the suspect until police arrived.
Marines provide first aid, stall assault suspect near Okinawa beach
Three Marines intervened in an alleged assault, treated an injured Japanese man and stalled the suspect until police arrived.
stripes.com
The Air Force’s plan to modernize its B-52 bombers with replacement engines before completing critical portions of developmental flight testing could lead to higher costs and project delays, according to a federal watchdog.
Timing of B-52 engine upgrades may lead to higher costs and delays, GAO says
The Air Force’s B-52 modernization effort will likely continue to face significant challenges.
stripes.com
The South Korean military prepared to shoot down a U.S. Marine Corps drone near the inter-Korean border Thursday after mistaking it for an enemy threat, prompting an emergency notice for nearby civilians to seek shelter, according to media reports.
South Korean troops prepare to shoot down US military drone during border scare
South Korea nearly shot down a U.S. Marine drone near the inter-Korean border after misidentifying it as a threat, triggering civilian shelter alerts.
stripes.com
Japan launched a Tomahawk cruise missile from a warship in the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, the country’s first test of the weapon system as Tokyo builds its long-range counterstrike capability.
Japanese destroyer fires Tomahawk missile in ‘historic test launch’
The guided-missile destroyer JS Chokai successfully fired the Tomahawk cruise missile in the Pacific Ocean with support from the U.S. Navy.
stripes.com
Personnel from the 30 nations participating in the six-week Rim of the Pacific exercise in Hawaii completed more than 500 maritime drills, flew 2,400 sorties and sank two decommissioned warships, its commander said Wednesday.
Massive RIMPAC exercise tallies thousands of flight sorties and maritime drills
The Rim of the Pacific exercise featured more than 5,000 realistic “scenario-based problem sets” to strengthen combined-force readiness across domains.
stripes.com
A Virginia-class fast-attack submarine returned to its homeport at Naval Base Guam on Wednesday, marking the completion of its first deployment from the island.
Fast-attack submarine completes first deployment since shifting its homeport to Guam
The USS Minnesota returned to its homeport at Naval Base Guam marking its first deployment from the island
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Senior U.S. and Chinese defense officials are signaling a renewed effort to improve communication between their militaries after years of mounting tensions and disrupted dialogue.
Pentagon says military dialogue with China is strongest in years
Senior U.S. and Chinese defense officials are signaling a renewed effort to improve communication between their militaries.
stripes.com
A South Korean army unit responsible for protecting the western front along the nation’s heavily fortified border has been standing guard with unloaded machine guns, according to a media report.
South Korean army unit guards DMZ with unloaded weapons, report says
A South Korean army unit responsible for protecting the DMZ has been standing guard with unloaded machine guns, a media report said.
stripes.com
The USS George Washington steamed into Da Nang Bay on Thursday, becoming the fourth U.S. aircraft carrier to visit Vietnam since hostilities ended in the 1970s and the second since the COVID-19 pandemic.
USS George Washington makes first carrier visit to Vietnam since COVID-19 pandemic
The USS George Washington becomes the fourth U.S. aircraft carrier to visit Vietnam since hostilities ended in the 1970s and the second since the COVID-19 pandemic.
stripes.com
SEOUL, South Korea — During the Korean War, Burnell Jarvis fought from the deck of a U.S. Navy cruiser and never once stepped ashore. More than seven decades later, the 96-year-old veteran finally set foot in the country he helped defend.
‘A whole brand-new country’: Korean War vets revisit the nation they helped defend
Korean War veterans traveled to South Korea to through the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affair’s Revisit Korea program to mark Korean War Armistice Day.
stripes.com
Pacific Air Forces is considering reducing its exercise volume to preserve “readiness” as the service continues to conduct operations for the Iran war and in the Middle East, according to PACAF’s commander.
Air Force may cut back on Pacific drills to preserve near-term ‘readiness’
Pacific Air Forces is considering reducing its exercise volume to preserve “readiness” while conducting operations for the Iran war and in the Middle East.
stripes.com
U.S. forces began launching strikes against Iran at 8 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, marking a major escalation in tensions following what U.S. officials described as an attempted Iranian ballistic missile attack against American forces in the Middle East.
US launches ‘powerful response’ against Iran after attempted missile attack on American forces
The U.S. launched the strikes against Iran a day after what officials described as an attempted Iranian ballistic missile attack against American forces.
stripes.com
The $1.15 trillion defense policy bill passed by the House last week places further restrictions on the use of federal funds to reduce the number of U.S. service members stationed on the Korean Peninsula.
House version of NDAA further limits US troop reductions in South Korea
House-passed NDAA 2027 blocks funding for U.S. troop reductions in South Korea as part of its focus on bolstering Pacific alliances and deterring China.
stripes.com
OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea — Officials established a 1,000-foot safety cordon following a “ground mishap” Tuesday evening at the home of the 51st Fighter Wing, which emphasized that reports of an evacuation of the installation were false.
‘Ground mishap’ prompts safety cordon at Air Force base in South Korea
Officials established a 1,000-foot safety cordon following a “ground mishap” at the home of the 51st Fighter Wing.
stripes.com
Aerospace company Rocket Lab will carry out as many as 18 suborbital launches from Alaska under a $266 million Defense Department contract, expanding the Pentagon’s capacity to test hypersonic and missile-defense technologies.
Rocket Lab to launch up to 18 Space Force test vehicles from Alaska
Aerospace company Rocket Lab will carry out as many as 18 suborbital launches from Alaska under a $266 million Defense Department contract.
stripes.com
A U.S. Air Force base in northeastern Japan has activated a new maintenance squadron to support its growing fleet of F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters as the installation phases out its F-16s.
Air Force base in Japan actives maintenance squadron for new F-35 fleet
Misawa Air Base activated a new maintenance squadron this month to support its growing fleet of F-35A stealth fighters.
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U.S. Marines used a drone to deliver simulated blood during a multinational exercise in Australia this month, testing a medical resupply capability designed to sustain troops across dispersed battlefields.
Marines use drone to deliver refrigerated blood during Australia exercise
U.S. Marines used a drone to deliver simulated blood during a multinational exercise in Australia.
stripes.com
The U.S. Coast Guard’s new Expeditionary Cutter Squadron in the Western Pacific represents a “political signal” and “low-level deterrence” whose precise mission, outside support for the Philippines, is still taking shape, according to defense analysts.
New cutter squadron in western Pacific represents ‘low-level deterrence’
The U.S. Coast Guard’s new cutter squadron in the Western Pacific represents a “signal” whose precise mission is still taking shape, analysts say.
stripes.com
North Korea is preparing to send another 30,000 troops to Russia in support of its war against Ukraine, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy warns of major North Korean troop surge to support Russia
North Korea is preparing to send another 30,000 troops to Russia in support of its war against Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
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U.S. Forces Japan’s transformation into a more operational headquarters has already expanded the command’s ability to coordinate with Japanese forces during a major crisis, its leader said Friday after a joint disaster-response exercise.
US Forces Japan general says command overhaul already paying dividends
USFJ’s headquarters transformation boosts U.S.-Japan crisis coordination, improving disaster response, planning and operational readiness.
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Multinational forces sent two decommissioned U.S. Navy warships to the bottom of the Pacific off the coast of Hawaii as part of the biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise.
US, partner nations sink 2 decommissioned American warships during RIMPAC
Multinational forces sent USS Mobile Bay and USS Peleliu to the bottom of the Pacific during an exercise.
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The South Korean government has warned that heavy monsoon rains may have washed landmines from the Demilitarized Zone into rivers flowing across the inter-Korean border.
North Korean land mines likely flowed south with runoff from monsoon rains
The South Korean government has warned that heavy rains may have washed landmines from the DMZ into rivers flowing across the inter-Korean border.
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