April 12, 2023

Ships Supporting Two Naval Partnerships Conduct Training in Gulf of Aden

MANAMA, Bahrain – Ships from the navies of Japan and Italy sailed together and conducted combined training in the Gulf of Aden, April 8, while operating under two multinational maritime partnerships, Combined Maritime Forces and European Union Naval Forces. Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer JS Makinami (DD 112) and Italian Navy frigate ITS Carlo Bergamini (F 590) transferred personnel and conducted professional exchanges on topics related to vessel boardings and maritime security.

April 5, 2023

Virginia National Guard, Tajikistan conduct SPP exchange

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan – Virginia National Guard Soldiers shared infantry tactics and how to counter unmanned air systems with the Republic of Tajikistan March 7-11 in an information exchange as part of the Defense Department’s State Partnership Program. Virginia and Tajikistan have been partners under the program since 2003. The infantry tactics exchange team, which included Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, conducted the five-day event at a military installation in Dushanbe.

March 31, 2023

CAS aircraft arrive in Middle East

The first A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, March 31, 2023. The combat air support aircraft arrived ahead of schedule following the approval for the platform to return to theater. They will fall underneath the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Dhafra AB.

March 29, 2023

U.S. Air Forces Central hosting Innovation Oasis competition

Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) is hosting an Innovation Oasis competition at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, and at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, April 19 and submissions are due April 14.

March 24, 2023

U.S. Navy, EU Naval Forces Conduct Combined Patrol in Arabian Sea

A guided-missile destroyer from U.S. 5th Fleet completed a combined patrol in the Arabian Sea, March 23-24, with ships from Spain and Italy operating under European Union Naval Forces Operation Atalanta.

March 21, 2023

W.Va. Guard holds Key Leader Engagement with Qatar Partners

West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) senior leaders and members of the State Partnership Program (SPP) met with Qatari military leadership in Doha, Qatar March 14-16, 2023, to conduct key leader engagement and develop a path forward for future bilateral exchanges in the next year. The Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Bill Crane, senior enlisted leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Dusty Jones, and chief of the joint staff, Col. Brian Abraham, along with the SPP team and U.S. Embassy - Qatar personnel, met individually and collectively with various high-ranking officials within the Qatar Armed Forces and Qatar National Service Academy to establish priorities and discuss opportunities for information sharing and collaboration between the two militaries.

March 16, 2023

International Maritime Exercise 2023 Ends during Ceremony in Oman

The Middle East region’s largest maritime exercise, International Maritime Exercise (IMX) 2023, concluded during a final briefing and ceremony in Muscat, Oman, March 16.

March 15, 2023

Sultanate of Oman joins growing State Partnership Program

MUSCAT, Oman (3/14/23) – A relationship formed almost two centuries ago – when the Sultanate of Oman became the first Arab Gulf state to sign a bilateral accord with the United States – deepened this week, with the signing of a security cooperation agreement with the Arizona National Guard. With a formal signing ceremony here Monday, Oman joined the 100-nation Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program.

March 15, 2023

Task Force 59 Welcomes New Commander during Ceremony in Jordan

U.S. 5th Fleet’s task force for rapidly integrating unmanned systems and artificial intelligence into maritime operations welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony in Aqaba, Jordan, March 15.

March 13, 2023

NAVCENT Hosts Ukraine Delegation for Tour of Unmanned and AI Task Force

Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces, welcomed a Ukrainian delegation to the U.S. Navy's regional headquarters in Bahrain, March 13.