April 28, 2023

VNG begins 20th anniversary celebration of partnership with Tajikistan

RICHMOND, Va.  –  The Virginia National Guard began recognizing its 20th year of partnership with the Republic of Tajikistan March 27, 2023, as VNG senior leaders visited with the Tajikistan Ministry of Defense in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.  During the visit, the VNG team, led by Brig. Gen. James W. Ring, the VNG Director of the Joint Staff, participated in bilateral talks on military to military engagements. The Ministry of Defense also hosted a 20th anniversary celebration, commemorating two decades of partnership supporting the State Partnership Program. 

April 27, 2023

Merchant Vessel Seized by IRGCN in Gulf of Oman

Gulf of Oman — On April 27 at approximately 1:15 p.m. 1ocal time, Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker Advantage Sweet was seized by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) while transiting international waters in the Gulf of Oman. The oil tanker issued a distress call during the seizure. U.S. 5th Fleet is monitoring the situation.

April 24, 2023

9 AF (AFCENT)’s inaugural Innovation Oasis bolsters commitment to Culture of Innovation

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. — A Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, radio frequency transmissions system apprentice won the inaugural AFCENT Innovation Oasis, a Shark-Tank style competition to attain innovative solutions, inventions and ideas, here April 19.

April 24, 2023

Task Force 51/5 Conducts Joint Training with U.S. Army

NORTHERN ARABIAN GULF — Earlier this week, Soldiers assigned to Task Force Spartan, U.S. Army Central Command’s Crisis Response Task Force, trained with Marines and Sailors assigned to Naval Amphibious Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade aboard Expeditionary Sea Base USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3) to better enable crisis response options and joint-service interoperability within United States Central Command...

April 21, 2023

U.S. Navy Ship Patrolling Middle East Seizes $42 Million in Drugs

MANAMA, Bahrain — A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer interdicted a fishing vessel attempting to smuggle $42 million in illegal drugs while transiting the Gulf of Oman, April 21.

April 17, 2023

His Majesty the King of Bahrain Visits U.S. 5th Fleet Headquarters

MANAMA, Bahrain — His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited U.S. 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, April 16, 2023.

April 13, 2023

U.S., France, UK Complete Counter-Mine Exercise in Arabian Gulf

MANAMA, Bahrain — Forces from France, the United Kingdom and the United States completed a two-week exercise in the Arabian Gulf, April 13, focused on countering mines.

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.