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Philippine Sea. (June 11, 2024): They are responsible for the lives of thousands of Sailors and billions in military hardware, and serve on the front lines in a dangerous world. Meet Rear Admiral Greg Newkirk, pictured left, commander of Task Force 70 and Carrier Strike Group 5, and Commander Stephen Szachta, commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta at work in the combat information center (Photo by MC1 Devin Monroe).
The commanders are guiding their respective forces during Exercise Valiant Shield 24, a multinational operation to demonstrate the world’s resolve to uphold freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific. The timing of these drills comes at a fraught moment for America’s allies in the region. Last week, Chinese and Philippine forces clashed once again in the South China Sea resulting in numerous injuries and raising the danger of the U.S. intervention. Under the existing 1951 U.S-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty, Article V states that “one partner is obliged to come to the other’s aid in the event of an armed attack”.
China has asserted sovereignty over nearly all the South China Sea, including islands falling within Philippine’s exclusive economic zone. The international courts dismissed these claims in 2016 but Beijing has ignored these rulings and continues to threaten and harass peaceful shipping. In the latest incident, Chinese naval forces used non-deadly force, including water cannons, up-close maneuvers that risk a collision, and alleged high-powered laser and sonic devices against Filipino vessels.
This is where the American Navy comes in. Rising to meet these provocations are the Sailors of the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group.
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Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport, Guam. (June 10, 2024): With the recent shoot down of a Chinese spy balloon, many Americans are asking if we still use balloons in our Air Force. In this photo by Senior Airman Natalie Doan, Flight operations personnel prepare to launch a high-altitude balloon in support of Exercise Valiant Shield 2024. The U.S. military continues to use balloons of all types for long endurance, persistent air capabilities that serve as platforms for a variety of payloads and sensors.
The first recorded use of balloons for military purposes was in China during the Han Dynasty in 202 BC. The Chinese used lanterns for military communications including paper-made hot air balloons to signal a call for rescue. During the American Civil War, the Union Army established the Balloon Corps which employed “aeronauts” flying gas-filled balloons to spy on the Confederate Army. During World War II, the Navy used balloon airships in anti-submarine warfare in the Mediterranean.
Balloons also have a long history of espionage. As early as 1850, the American military established the Corps of Topographical Engineers for mapmaking and observation of enemy troops. When tethered to the ground, these “kites” provided a stable platform to gain a bird’s eye view of troop positions and movements on the battlefield.
Balloons and kites were the first inventions used in aerial warfare and their primary role was reconnaissance. Later, incendiary devices were added to light fires or drop explosives on enemy positions.
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Orting, Washington. (June 8, 2024): The U.S. Marines have extended “honorary” status to its youngest recipient, a four-year-old boy battling bravely against cancer. In this photo by Staff Sergeant Courtney White, Arlan Russell, accompanied by this parents Josh, a Marine Corps veteran, and mom Carrie, pose for a photograph with a Marine Corps color guard at the conclusion of his Honorary Marine ceremony here. The title of “Honorary Marine” is bestowed by the Commandant of the Marine Corps to civilians who have made extraordinary contributions to the Marines.
According to Staff Sergeant Courtney White, little Arlan was born with a Mitochondrial disease that affects his heart, liver, brain, muscles, and bones. He was not expected to live past his first year, but his condition improved over time due to medication and IV therapy. Unfortunately, in 2023, his condition worsened, and doctors found inoperable tumors on his liver. There is no safe treatment for his liver cancer, making his illness terminal.
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Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. (June 13, 2024): In this photo by Airman 1st Class Audree Campbell, a B-1B Lancer from the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron receives a bath after returning from a practice mission. The Lancer dates to President Ronald Reagan in 1988 and has been the backbone of America’s long range bomber force ever since. It can rapidly deliver massive quantities of precision and non-precision weapons against any adversary, anywhere in the world, at any time.
A key feature of the Lancer is its swept wings which are set forward on takeoff and sweep back for supersonic flight. These wings give the B1-B incredible maneuverability and greater speeds, particularly at high altitudes. In addition to carrying a substantial payload, the Lancer has advanced radar targeting systems and the ability to “loiter” over an area for a substantial period. Using mid-air refueling, the Lancer can strike targets day or night and in all weather.
The Lancer has a synthetic aperture radar that is capable of tracking, targeting, and engaging moving vehicles and an extremely accurate Global Positioning System-aided Inertial Navigation System allowing aircrews to navigate without the aid of ground-based radars.
For self-defense, the B1-B carries electronic jamming equipment including a radar warning receiver and countermeasures like chaff or flares. These systems identify the full spectrum of threatening emissions and apply the appropriate jamming technique automatically.
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Camp Pendleton, California. (June 9, 2024): Former United States Marine Corps General and Secretary of Defense James “Bull Dog” Mattis referred to them as “Little Sparta” for their ability to punch above their weight. In this photo by Lance Corporal Alexis Ballin, U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Ender Wichlacz, left, a team leader with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, hikes alongside members of the United Arab Emirates Presidential Guard. These elite Arab troops, although coming from a tiny Gulf nation, are some of the toughest warfighters in the business.
The Emirati troops joined the Marines to train in reconnaissance, counterinsurgency, and small unit tactics. The goal is to practice coordinating forces as they would in combat. UAE forces took part in Operation Desert Storm in 1990 where they lost ten soldiers helping liberate Kuwait. They also sent troops to Afghanistan and have contributed to numerous peacekeeping missions including Kosovo, Lebanon, and Somalia. Recently, the UAE armed forces joined U.S. and Saudi forces seeking to track down Al Qaeda terrorists in neighboring Yemen.
The UAE armed forces have a Navy with two thousand Sailors operating seventy-two vessels and a four thousand strong Air Force. The UAE purchases a variety of aircraft from allied countries France (Mirage 2000), Great Britain (Hawk Aircraft), and the U.S. (F-16s). Their Army is comprised of eight brigades: two armored, three mechanized, two infantry, and three regiments of artillery. Many of their officers are graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Tiny but tough, America can count on this close ally to be there when we need them.
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Lima, Peru. (June 19, 2024): America’s big heart was on display this week during Exercise Resolute Sentinel 2024, a joint exercise involving U.S. and local forces from host countries Peru, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador. In this photo by Technical Sergeant Devin Boyer, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Kim Broughton (left) conducts leg surgery alongside Peruvian surgeons as part of humanitarian and disaster preparedness exercises.
Hosted by the U.S. Southern Command, Resolute Sentinel 2024 is both a training event and a chance to forge critical relationships that will be vital in any future emergency. Some 1,500 American medical personnel trained with their local counterparts on everything from disaster response and medical readiness to cyber defense and small arms combat tactics. This year, special emphasis was placed on medical readiness with joint medical teams operating field hospitals to provide care to local communities.
The primary goal of the training is to enhance America’s ability to respond collectively to natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes and floods, which are prevalent in the region.