The Georgia Air National Guard’s 202nd Engineering Installation Squadron deployed to Puerto Rico to spearhead hurricane recovery efforts for the 156th Airlift Wing’s base communications infrastructure.

Texas-based soldiers are in Indiana to train to validate their ability to assist with defense support of civil authorities in the event of a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear catastrophe.

Syrian Democratic Forces are continuing the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in the middle Euphrates River valley and will not cede any territory already taken from the terror group, a Pentagon spokesman said.

Three Virginia Tech alumni serving as Marine Corps aviators participated in this year’s historic first operational deployment of the F-35B Lightning II. Marine Corps Maj. John Stuart, Capt. Evan Slusser and Capt. Andrew Thornberg fly the F-35B Lightning II out of Iwakuni, Japan, with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121.

10th Combat Aviation Brigade soldiers from Fort Drum, N.Y., participated in Falcon’s Peak, a 10-day aviation exercise that simulated a rapid readiness deployment of air and ground troops from Fort Drum to Camp Ethan Allen and Camp Johnson in Vermont.

Readiness in the Army is trending upward and the service branch remains the most potent fighting force in the world, ready to deploy, fight and win in any conflict, Army Secretary Mark Esper told reporters.

Defense Secretary James N. Mattis welcomed Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera to the Pentagon where the leaders discussed ways to further strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance.

Flintlock is an annual exercise that provides approximately 1,500 service members from more than 20 African, North American and European nations the opportunity to build trust and confidence, and bolster partnerships, with high-altitude low-opening and static line jumps. It is U.S. Africa Command's largest annual special operations forces exercise.