Adm. Keating Discusses U.S. Pacific Command Strategy with NPR

U.S. Pacific Command's cooperative and collaborative approach to security in the Asia-Pacific region was among several topics discussed when Adm. Timothy J. Keating, commander, U.S. Pacific Command sat down with KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio talk show host Steve Scher, in Seattle, WA recently.

The interview can be heard in its entirety external to this post in RealAudio, or MP3 (HI)/(LO) formats, or below.

Adm. Keating provided insight into the PACOM strategy, which is founded on three main pillars of partnership, readiness, and presence. The admiral addressed questions regarding the current state of U.S.-China military relations; India-Pakistan following the Nov. terrorists attacks in Mumbai, India; North Korea; and U.S. military support to the government of the Philippines with its efforts to counter violent extremist organizations.

The admiral also discussed the emphasis the U.S. military places on environmental stewardship, as it trains and operates in the maritime environment to ensure its equipment and tactics are ready to respond across the spectrum of operations. He noted that if the U.S. is going to be instrumental to security that it has to be capable of fighting and winning.

However, a long held view of Adm. Keating's is that major conflict in Asia-Pacific is not inevitable. The admiral believes that transparency of intentions, combined with cooperation and collaboration, will help avoid possible confrontation and confusion that could lead to crisis. He also pointed out that there are ample opportunities for all countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including China. He said that by working together, we will be better postured to protect our respective vital interests.

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School Project on Mindanao Completed by Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines

An elementary school construction project in the Philippines was completed and turned over to local officials Jan. 28 as part of ongoing efforts by U.S. Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) to help improve quality of life on the island of Mindanao.

A Philippine Information Agency news release provides the details.

At the request of the Government of the Philippines, JSOTF-P supports the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in its ongoing counter-terrorism effort. Key to this support is a number of humanitarian initiatives conducted in consultation with U.S. Embassy Manila, AFP officials and local civilian leaders in terrorist-afflicted communities. Various bilateral humanitarian improvement programs, such as medical and engineering projects, are ongoing at any one time as part of the JSOTF-P mission.

Helping to build the infrastructure that supports opportunity for a better future, JSOTF P will continue to work with the AFP and assist wherever they are needed. The JSOTF-P mission and its associated activities are fully integrated into the overall U.S. effort to support the government of the Philippines and its people.

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Collective Counter-Piracy Efforts in Southeast Asia are Key to Success

A recent story in the Malaysia Insider highlights the results of collective efforts in countering the threat of piracy in Southeast Asia.

Piracy is an international problem that requires an international solution and the cooperative multinational efforts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and now Thailand have resulted in a dramatic downward trend in the number of piracy incidents in Southeast Asia. Through cooperation on an operational basis and by training extensively with each other, not just with the U.S., those countries have experienced success in decreasing incidents of piracy across Southeast Asia.

U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) supports its friends and allies in this critical area by promoting information sharing, collective action, and capacity building through frequent maritime security exercises and funding technology initiatives.

The power of increased cooperation and collaboration between countries with standing governments, who have rigid adherence to the rule of law, eliminates safe havens and makes it much more difficult for the pirates to operate.

Secure waterways are vital to the peace and prosperity of the entire Asia-Pacific region and contributing to the enhancement of maritime security capabilities through regional partnerships continues to be a PACOM priority.

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U.S. Navy Ship Crew Rescues Indonesian Fishermen

The crew of USNS Richard E. Byrd rescued three Indonesian fishermen along with their damaged fishing vessel in international waters approximately 575 miles west of the island of Sumatra, Indonesia Jan. 19.

Byrd responded to a visual distress signal from the crew of the wooden fishing boat by placing one of its small boats in the water to investigate. It was later learned that the Indonesian crew had been adrift for two days without food or water.

After attending to the Indonesian crew’s immediate needs and determining that the vessel was beyond immediate repair, Byrd hoisted the vessel aboard. Following transit through the Strait of Malacca and coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Indonesia, Byrd rendezvoused with an Indonesian Marine Police vessel in the vicinity of Batam, Indonesia Jan. 23 for the transfer of the Indonesian fishermen and their boat.

During the transit from the rescue point to the turnover point, the Byrd crew collected donations of money, clothes and comfort items from the ship’s store for the Indonesian fishermen.

Byrd is a dry cargo/ammunition ship of the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command, providing logistics support to maritime operations in the U.S. Pacific Command area of operations.

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PACOM Supports USAID Development Work in Sri Lanka

U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) is supporting a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) initiative to refurbish seven schools and a hospital in Sri Lanka. Details of the project are outlined in a recent USAID news release.

The project is made possible, in part, with Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster and Civic Aid (OHDACA) funds, which are being administered by PACOM. While coordination of humanitarian assistance efforts with USAID offices in foreign countries is not new, the use of PACOM’s OHDACA funds to support a USAID-managed projects is.

This project is an example of both USAID’s (Department of State) and PACOM’s (Department of Defense) pursuit of co-sponsored country engagement with a shared commitment to assist those in need.

The Department of Defense OHDACA program is managed by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. It is designed to build cooperative relationships and allow friends and allies to improve infrastructure and conditions that would otherwise result in human suffering. PACOM receives an annual OHDACA budget and works closely with U.S. Embassies throughout the PACOM area of responsibility to identify humanitarian projects.

The support for USAID’s efforts in Sri Lanka is indicative of PACOM’s whole-of-government approach to enhancing security and stability throughout Asia-Pacific.

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Remains of U.S. Servicemembers from Past Conflicts to be Returned This Week

The Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) will conduct an arrival ceremony to honor unidentified fallen service members this Friday, Jan. 23 at Hickam, Air Force Base. A news release on the JPAC Web site provides details of the ceremony.

The mission of the approximately 400 men and women of JPAC is to achieve the fullest possible accounting of all Americans missing as a result of the nation’s past conflicts. JPAC does this by deploying teams throughout Asia-Pacific – as well as Europe and the U.S. – to search for remains, which when discovered are returned to Oahu and the world’s largest staff of anthropologists and odontologists. Additional details of the JPAC mission can be found on their Frequently Asked Questions page.

Today, JPAC has teams operating in Cambodia and the Republic of Korea, and upcoming missions will include work in Vietnam and Laos. JPAC’s work touches many lives, most importantly those of the family and friends of fallen service members who are ultimately identified.

Their work also contributes to U.S. Pacific Command’s (PACOM) strategic objectives. With overseas detachments in Thailand, Vietnam and Laos, and routine interaction with officials wherever they operate, JPAC personnel do much to strengthen ties between the U.S. military and nations throughout the PACOM area of responsibility.

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Latest Bilateral Command Post Exercise With Japan Underway

Exercise Keen Edge kicked off yesterday in Japan and will run until Jan. 27.

The exercise, led on the U.S. side by U.S. Forces Japan, is the latest in a series of joint/bilateral command post exercises involving U.S. military and Japan Self Defense Forces (JSDF) personnel designed to increase combat readiness and interoperability between U.S. forces and the JSDF. See Stars & Stripes coverage.

Keen Edge has historically been part of an annual exercise series that alternates between field training exercises (called Keen Sword) and command post exercises. During Keen Edge this year, various Japanese and U.S. headquarters staffs will employ computer simulations to practice the steps they would take in the event of a crisis or contingency.

Command post exercises are a cost-effective way of providing military participants with realistic and unobtrusive training in a simulated crisis.

Exercises such as Keen Edge are an integral part of the U.S. Pacific Command strategy, as they play a significant role in strengthening and enhancing relationships with allies and partners, while increasing military readiness.

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