WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (TNSrep) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following document from Economics Daily: * * * Unemployment rates were higher in September 2023 than a year earlier in 231 of the 389 metropolitan areas, lower in 131 areas, and unchanged in 27 areas. * * * Chart: Over-the-year change in unemployment rates for metropolitan areas, September 2023 * * * The largest over-the-year unemployment rate increase in September occurred in El Centro, Cal  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Nov. 8 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: SOUTH KOREA - The Republic of Korea and the United States celebrated the 45th anniversary of the Combined Forces Command (CFC) foundation during a ceremony on U.S. Army Garrison-Humphreys, Nov. 7, 2023, standing shoulder-to-shoulder and gathering on the heels of 70 years of a successful Armistice. "The 45th Anniversary of the Combined Forces Command is a testament   more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Nov. 7 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's ninth trip to the Indo-Pacific comes at a time when the Department of Defense continues to do more than ever alongside allies and partners to deliver on a shared regional vision of peace, stability, and prosperity. Each of the Secretary's stops -- in India, the Republic of Korea (ROK), and Indonesia -- will underscore the depth of the longst  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Nov. 6 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: MANILA, Philippines - Service members from the United States, Philippines, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, along with observers from the United Kingdom, will begin training exercise KAMANDAG 7 on November 9 to improve multinational military readiness, partnership, and mutual capabilities. KAMANDAG 7, derived from the Tagalog phrase "Kaagapay Ng Mga Mandirigma Ng   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 -- The National Security Innovation Network, a program office of the Department of Defense, issued the following news: Recognizing the critical role defense innovation has in meeting national security objectives through talent and competition, DIU participated in the ninth installment of the 'Dragon's Lair' competition co-hosted by the 18th Airborne Corps and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) at the Entrepreneurs Sandbox in Honolulu, Hawaii. Focused on unlocking new idea  more

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii, Nov. 9 -- The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command issued the following news release: Special Agents from the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division's Pacific Field Office led a joint law enforcement operation called Operation Free Ride, November 7. The operation targeted four Hawaii-based individuals accused of defrauding the Army of approximately 2.6 million dollars. Search warrants were executed in four different residences connected to the v  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Nov. 6 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea - Airmen from the U.S. Air Force's 8th Fighter Wing and the Republic of Korea Air Force's 38th Fighter Group participated in the seventh annual Friendship Day at Kunsan Air Base, ROK., Oct. 27. Throughout the day Airmen from both countries celebrated and shared their unique cultures through friendly competition and over a mid-day   more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Nov. 9 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: PHILIPPINE SEA - The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) conclude a Multi-Large Deck Event (MLDE) in the Philippine Sea, Nov. 4-8, 2023. MLDE provided the two maritime forces an opportunity to engage in joint operations to include enhanced maritime communication operations, air warf  more

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii, Nov. 9 -- The U.S. Pacific Air Forces issued the following news: By Staff Sgt. Alan Ricker, 15th Wing Public Affairs The 15th Medical Group's education and training flight ensures that over 300 of the group's personnel are vigilant and ready to provide medical care at a moment's notice. "It's said that when times are unpredictable, whether that be environment, stress, and/or anxiety -- you rely on your training to perform," said Staff Sgt. Priscilla Kle  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Nov. 8 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: SANTA RITA, Guam - The U.S. Coast Guard is proud to announce the establishment of U.S. Coast Guard Base Guam on Nov. 8, 2023, in a ceremony presided over by Rear Adm. Carola List, commander of Operational Logistics Command. Led by Cmdr. Dana Hiatt, Base Guam, will be pivotal toward enhancing the U.S. Coast Guard's mission support logistics in the region. This strat  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Nov. 9 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - The U.S. Air Force is shifting the way it builds and maintains readiness for flight operations by way of commercial enterprise. This change isn't completely new, as the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps have been leveraging this capability for almost 20 years. However, the Air Force is now hopping on board to use commercial refuele  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Nov. 6 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan - What could be better than the defense of an installation by one nation? The defense of an installation by two nations working together. Airmen from the 374th Security Forces Squadron trained with their security counterparts in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) and Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) during Exercise Beverly Mornin  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 (TNSrep) -- The Veterans Affairs Inspector General issued the following oversight report (No. 22-00229-15) on Nov. 7, 2023, entitled "Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection of the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System in Honolulu, Hawaii." Here are excerpts: * * * Report Overview This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program (CHIP) report provides a focused evaluation of the quality of care delivered in the inpatient and outpatient setting  more

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Nov. 7 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news: YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan - Exercise Beverly Morning 24-1 concluded recently at Yokota Air Base, Japan, reaffirming the role Yokota Airmen play in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The exercise, which tested the readiness and wartime capabilities of 374th Airlift Wing Airmen, saw participants execute critical tasks under simulated high-pressure scenarios,  more