Stripes Pacific Headlines

While politicians in Washington and Tokyo debate the future of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, the base will be closed to all fixed-wing aircraft for more than three months beginning Jan. 10.

SEOUL — A career educator who has worked at schools for U.S. military dependents in Bahrain, Germany, England and Japan will be the principal of Casey Elementary School in South Korea when it o...

U.S. military and local Japanese officials are looking to fine-tune their emergency response systems after reviewing lessons learned from the Feb. 28 tsunami tidal swells that threatened coastal areas on the mainland and Okinawa.

Troops transferring to Yokota this summer will no longer have the choice of living off base in most cases. Following the lead of Misawa and Kadena air bases, Yokota is trying to save off-base housing costs by requiring servicemembers and their families to live on the installation.

Rules are rules, and people not authorized to live on base have to go, Yokota officials warned Friday. So far, between 40 and 50 family members of troops and civilian employees have been identified as possibly living at Yokota in violation of DOD regulations.

The military is setting new standards for the foreign hospitals and doctors who treat troops and their families living abroad.

The U.S. military is testing samples of soil, water and air from hundreds of sites in Haiti to determine if troops could have been exposed to hazardous substances during earthquake relief efforts.

The military is adamant: It does not pay for unnecessary plastic surgery. But an audit of patient records released by the Pentagon in February shows that's not always the case.

A minority member of Japan's new coalition government is ready to go along with U.S. Marine Corps air operations remaining on Okinawa, under one condition: All Marines must leave the island within 15 years.

U.S. military engineers have been assessing earthquake-damaged homes in Haiti to determine the ones to which survivors can return and the ones that should be demolished.

The annual Okinawa Marathon will create some traffic delays and gate closures at U.S. bases on the island Sunday.

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told reporters in Tokyo on Thursday that his recommendation on where to relocate Marine Corps Air Station Futenma will be made by the end of this month.

When it comes to regional security, many Western Pacific nations like the idea of thousands of U.S. Marines permanently stationed close by. As long as they are not too close.

Sixty-five years after the U.S. victory in World War II cemented America's military presence across the Far East, rumblings of discontent are growing. Nationalism, not-in-my-backyard syndrome, the rising influence of China — all are playing a role.

Prefectural leaders, riled by news reports that Tokyo will keep Marine Corps air operations on Okinawa, said Friday they will organize an islandwide protest rally if the government follows through.

An official Navy investigation into Capt. Holly Graf's performance portrays the former USS Cowpens skipper as a verbally and physically abusive commander who created a climate of fear and dysfunction aboard her ship.

Work is under way on construction of a family housing complex that will feature three high-rise buildings, outdoor playgrounds and an underground parking garage, officials said Wednesday.

The U.S. military is working with the Environmental Protection Agency to address concerns raised when the agency sharply criticized plans for a military buildup on Guam.

As long as Marines remain on Okinawa, it's vital to retain both ground and air elements on the island, the commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James T. Conway, said Tuesday.

PYEONGTAEK, South Korea — The Humphreys education center is offering an online course to help improve math and English skills. The Online Academic Skills Course is interactive, self-paced and o...