Brian McElhiney

Kadena airman dies weeks after motorcycle collision on Okinawa Airman from Kadena, Okinawa, dies weeks after motorcycle collision

An airman stationed at Kadena Air Base has died from a brain injury suffered in a motorcycle crash two weeks ago on Okinawa, the Air Force and local police said.

Marine Corps fires Osprey squadron’s command team over ‘loss of trust’ Marine Corps command team of MV-22 Osprey squadron relieved of duty in Hawaii.

The Marine Corps has relieved the command team of an MV-22 Osprey squadron based in Hawaii, citing a loss of trust and confidence in their ability to meet aviation standards, a service spokesman said.

Okinawa town unable to meet US base water request amid PFAS contamination Chatan town cannot immediately satisfy a request for additional water from Camp Lester, according to a town official.

An Okinawa town cannot immediately satisfy a request for additional water from a neighboring Marine Corps base that detected elevated levels of “forever chemicals” in its storage tank, according to a town official.

‘Just another day on the job’: Marines honored for aiding injured cyclist on Okinawa Five Marines that newly arrived at Okinawa were awarded commendations for assisting a Japanese man who had suffered a head injury after an accident.

A group of Marines newly arrived on Okinawa have been recognized for providing first aid to a Japanese bicyclist injured in a traffic collision in Nago city this summer.

Motorcycle-car collision leaves American airman in coma on Okinawa A U.S. airman suffered a brain hemorrhage and a broken pelvis in a crash that left him in a coma, police said.

A U.S. airman was in a coma Monday after his motorcycle collided with a compact car at an Okinawa intersection early Friday, police said.

Japan detonated 13 tons of WWII-era ordnance on Okinawa last fiscal year Unexploded ordnance from the 1945 Battle of Okinawa continues to turn up across the island prefecture.

Japan’s military disposed of nearly 13 tons of unexploded ordnance on Okinawa between April 2024 and March — a little more than half the amount handled the previous fiscal year, according to government records.

Mayor rejects US military request to expand joint patrols into Okinawa’s capital Naha Mayor, Satoru Chinen, has rejected plans by the U.S. military to expand joint police patrols into the Okinawa municipality.

Naha Mayor Satoru Chinen told Marine Corps Installations Pacific commander Maj. Gen. Brian Wolford during a meeting at city hall that he is not considering patrols between U.S. military police and Japanese authorities, a city spokesman said.

Marines to fire HIMARS for first time at training area near Mount Fuji The Marine Corps plans to fire the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System for the first time at a training range near Mount Fuji, according to USFJ.

The Marine Corps plans to fire the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, for the first time at a training range near Mount Fuji, according to U.S. Forces Japan.

Ninth blaze of year burns at Marine Corps rifle range on Okinawa A fire on Oct. 10 scorched about 400,000 square feet at a Marine Corps rifle range in northern Okinawa on Range 2 at Camp Hansen.

A fire last week scorched about 400,000 square feet at a Marine Corps rifle range in northern Okinawa, according to the prefectural government.

Shelter-in-place lifted at Kadena after ordnance discovery near historic building Some people living at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa sheltered in place for about an hour after unexploded ordnance was discovered near one of the installation’s oldest buildings.

Some people living at the home of the 18th Wing sheltered in place for about an hour Tuesday after unexploded ordnance was discovered near one of the installation’s oldest buildings.

Beijing scales back airspace challenges but boosts drone activity, Tokyo says Japan Air Self-Defense Force pilots scrambled 265 times to meet foreign aircraft from April to September, down from 358 during the same period last year.

Chinese pilots made the fewest approaches toward Japanese airspace in more than a decade this spring and summer, even as Beijing increased its drone flights near Japan’s westernmost island, according to Japan’s Joint Staff.

American troops join locals for Okinawa’s centuries-old tug-of-war festival Hundreds of thousands of people, including U.S. service members, watched and took part in Naha’s annual Tug-of-War festival on Okinawa.

American troops join locals for Okinawa’s centuries-old tug-of-war festival

Asbestos found in cracking balconies at Okinawa Marine base; repairs pushed to late fall The Okinawa Military Housing Office has delayed repair work on spalled concrete at housing towers after discovering asbestos in some balconies.

The Okinawa Military Housing Office has delayed repair work on spalled concrete at housing towers on this Marine Corps base after discovering asbestos in some balconies, according to the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base.

US service members in Japan making plans to weather lengthening government shutdown U.S. service members in Japan were looking for low-interest loans and visiting food banks as an end to the 9-day-old federal government shutdown appeared nowhere in sight.

U.S. service members in Japan were looking for low-interest loans and visiting food banks this week as an end to the 9-day-old federal government shutdown appeared nowhere in sight.

Rent, groceries on minds of US military families in Asia Pacific as government shutdown continues Americans with the U.S. military in the Pacific are concerned about how they will afford groceries and rent if the shutdown continues.

One week into a federal government shutdown, service members, Defense Department civilian employees and their families in Japan and South Korea were taking stock, and asking how much longer.

Air Force Osprey makes precautionary landing at Japanese air base A U.S. Air Force tiltrotor aircraft assigned to Yokota Air Base made a precautionary landing at a Japan Air Self-Defense Force base.

A U.S. Air Force tiltrotor aircraft made a precautionary landing at a Japan Air Self-Defense Force base in central Japan last week, according to the service and Japanese officials.

Shutdown brings curtain down on homecoming, festivals on overseas bases in Japan and Korea Homecoming games and festivals at U.S. bases in Japan and South Korea are either canceled or scaled back due to the federal government shutdown.

The federal government shutdown is bringing the curtain down on annual events at U.S. bases in Japan and South Korea, with several homecoming games and community festivals either canceled outright or scaled back. (from @alexmwilson.bsky.social & @brianmcelhiney.bsky.social)

After just weeks, DODEA scraps extended schedule for schools on Okinawa Department of Defense Education Activity-Pacific reversed its decision to extend the school day on Okinawa.

Students, teachers and staff at Defense Department schools on Okinawa will get back the 20 minutes tacked onto their school days this year, according to a notice sent to parents Friday.

Work on Marine Corps airfield in northern Okinawa resumes after 4-month pause Construction on a new Marine Corps airfield in northern Okinawa has resumed after a four-month pause due to weather concerns, with no further delays expected.

Work on a new Marine Corps airfield in northern Okinawa has resumed after a four-month pause due to weather concerns, with no further construction delays expected, according to Japan’s Ministry of Defense.

Navy spouse slain in ‘crime of passion’ taught special education students in Japan Jessica “Jesse” Arguinzoni Olsen, a Navy spouse who was slain in ‘crime of passion’ was a special education substitute teacher to students in Japan

Before her death at the hands of her husband last year, Jessica “Jesse” Arguinzoni Olsen was an avid learner and a beloved substitute teacher at a naval base in Japan, her sister said.

Military police on Okinawa see ‘night and day’ progress after latest joint patrol U.S. military police detained at least five service members during their most recent joint patrol of a nightlife hotspot on Okinawa.

U.S. military police arrested four U.S. service members during the patrol “for violations of the U.S. Forces Japan Liberty Order,” USFJ spokesman Col. John Severns said by email Wednesday.

Military police on Okinawa see ‘night and day’ progress after latest joint patrol U.S. military police detained at least five service members during their most recent joint patrol of a nightlife hotspot on Okinawa.

U.S. military police detained at least five service members during their most recent joint patrol of a nightlife hotspot on Okinawa, part of a crackdown on off-duty misconduct that began in April.

American, Japanese middle-schoolers on Okinawa share ideas to bridge cultures An event sponsored by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and DODEA encourages teenagers from both nations to learn about each other’s cultures.

American and Japanese middle-schoolers overcame language barriers at this key air base over the weekend as they brainstormed ideas to bring their communities together.

Retired Marine and Okinawa JROTC instructor is DODEA’s Teacher of the Year Brent Cook, the Kubasaki High School JROTC instructor recently named 2026 DODEA Teacher of the Year, “doesn’t just lead — he inspires,” according to the principal.

Brent Cook, the Kubasaki High School JROTC instructor recently named 2026 Teacher of the Year for all Defense Department schools, has always been inspired by his students, going back to his Marine Corps career.

Logistics Marines on Okinawa sharpen machine-gun skills for island defense A live-fire drill allowed 30 Marines who work in logistics, communication, supply and administration to hone their light and heavy machine guns skills.

Marines who normally man a desk stepped behind machine guns at a firing range on this northern Okinawa base recently to hone their skills defending a command post.

Ocean recreation at Marine base on Okinawa suspended after swimmer rescues A Marine Corps commander suspended recreational swimming at Camp Schwab on Okinawa after two Marines were rescued in waters nearby.

A Marine Corps commander on Tuesday suspended recreational swimming at Camp Schwab in northern Okinawa after two Marines were rescued in waters nearby, the second rescue there this summer, according to the Marines.

Marine’s mother critically injured in crash at busy Okinawa intersection A Marine was injured and his mother was hospitalized in critical condition after their vehicle crashed into another car at a dangerous intersection on Okinawa’s main highway, police said.

A Marine was injured and his mother was hospitalized in critical condition over the weekend after their vehicle crashed into another car at a dangerous intersection on Okinawa’s main highway, according to police.

Okinawans join Kadena Air Base’s tsunami evacuation drill after recent scares Nearly 60 residents of a nearby town walked through Kadena Air Base for an annual tsunami evacuation drill, after an actual tsunami scare in July.

About 60 residents of Chatan town walked onto this key U.S. air base over the weekend for an annual tsunami drill, less than two months after an actual scare in July.

Japanese F-35A diverts to civilian airport after experiencing mechanical trouble A Japanese fighter jet made an emergency landing at Aomori Airport, delaying two flights.

A Japanese F-35A Lightning II made an emergency landing at a commercial airport in northern Japan on Wednesday, delaying two flights, according to a Japanese air force spokesman.

Marines showcase new missile systems near Taiwan during island-defense drills Marines on Okinawa are rehearsing island defense with the NMESIS and MADIS missile systems.

The Marine Corps is rehearsing island defense with its two newest missile systems alongside Japanese soldiers on Ishigaki Island, sending “a clear message to any attempt to undermine regional security,” the Marines’ top general on Okinawa said Wednesday.