HMAS Perth has completed an advanced air warfare weapons event during a multinational firing serial at Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012, the world’s largest maritime exercise in Hawaii. HMAS Perth joined HMAS Darwin in a six-ship formation with Canadian and US ships that conducted a coordin
Rear Adm. Tilghman D. Payne relieved Rear Adm. Paul J. Bushong as Commander, Joint Region Marianas (JRM) during a change of command ceremony at Flag Circle in Asan, Guam, July 27. Payne also assumed the titles of U.S. Defense Representative Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federat
The Deputy Secretary of Defense (DEPSECDEF) Ashton B. Carter visited the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) to speak with Sailors and emphasize the importance of their mission in the Asia-Pacific region during a July 21 visit. Carter thanked Blue Ridge Sailors and embarked 7th Fleet sta
The guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) took on 250,000 gallons of alternative fuel, a 50/50 blend of advanced biofuel and traditional petroleum-based fuel, from the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187) as part of the Great Green Fleet demonstration during Rim of the Pa
The Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus awarded medals to two Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) leaders, July 16, during a ceremony aboard the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship, USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19). Mabus awarded JMSDF Vice Adm. Katsutoshi Kawano, commander in chief of the Self Defense Fle
Military Sealift Command’s hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force amphibious ship Oosumi (LST4001) arrived in Vinh, Vietnam, in Nghe An province to begin the humanitarian civic assistance mission known as Pacific Partnership 2012 (PP12), July 10. Both vessels are
Navy Seabees and members of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) broke ground at two separate locations for maternity wards scheduled to be completed July 18 as part of Pacific Partnership 2012. The wards will expand the scope of care offered at local health clinics in Cambodia. After a tradition
Nearly half way through the Pacific Partnership 2012 (PP12) mission, another wave of participants from various countries and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) joined the ship’s team while in port in Subic Bay, Philippines, July 7. While in Subic Bay, 131 staff finished their role in the mission
Service members and Sailors taking part in Pacific Partnership 2012’s (PP12) Medical Civic Action Project (MEDCAP) in Samar, Philippines set a new record by seeing more than 1,000 patients in a single day, June 30. The record setting day was a result of combined effort between U.S., Philippine and J
Australian Defence Force personnel have been praised for their ongoing commitment to disaster response and humanitarian civic assistance in the Asia-Pacific region as the first ADF medical contingent rotates home from Pacific Partnership 2012 (PP12). PP12 Mission Commander Captain Jim Morgan (US Nav
Australian sailors, soldiers, airmen and women have joined defence forces from 21 other nations, including France, Canada and Russia, for Exercise RIM-OF-THE-PACIFIC (RIMPAC 12) in the islands of Hawaii. Approximately 1100 Australian Defence personnel are among 25,000 personnel participating in the
To strengthen its defence business development activities and capabilities Austal has appointed former Deputy Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, Rear Admiral Davyd Thomas, AO, CSC, RANR to the executive position of Vice President – Defence. Austal Chief Executive Officer Andrew Bellamy said the ski
An eight-man team from HMAS Stirling (CAPT Brett Wolski) successfully completed the 2012 Gibb River Road Mountain Bike Challenge and raised much needed funds for the Ryan Marron Foundation as well as the Navy’s local charity, the Malibu School. The team of six riders and two support personnel chose
The Dutch and Australian armed forces are looking into ways to intensify their cooperation with regard to cyber warfare, submarines and the F-35. This was announced during the visit to Australia by the Netherlands Chief of Defence, General Peter van Uhm. “Due, among other things, to the strategic po
