Joint U.S. Forces Team for Exercise Valiant Shield 2018

During VS-18, U.S. forces will exercise a wide range of capabilities and demonstrate the inherent flexibility of joint forces. The range of capabilities include maritime security operations, amphibious operations, anti-submarine and air-defense exercises.

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii ─ (NNS) ─ 17 Septembre 2018. U.S. military forces from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command are scheduled to participate in exercise Valiant Shield (VS) 2018, Sept. 16-23, around the Marianas Island Range Complex as well as on Guam.

Philippine Sea (Sept. 17, 2018) The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) leads a formation of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5 ships as U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress aircraft and U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornets pass overhead for a photo exercise during Valiant Shield 2018. The biennial, U.S. only, field-training exercise focuses on integration of joint training among the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. This is the seventh exercise in the Valiant Shield series that began in 2006 --U.S. Navy photo by MCS3 Erwin Miciano. -

Participants include the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), 15 surface ships, more than 160 aircraft and approximately 15,000 personnel from the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army and Marine Corps.

“We are excited to be here for exercise Valiant Shield as Guam gives us a world-class joint-training opportunity,” said exercise director Rear Adm. Daniel Dwyer. “The Marianas Island Range Complex is a premier training environment that allows the joint force a unique opportunity to come together and train side-by-side at the high end.”

Valiant Shield is a U.S.-only, biennial field training exercise aimed at ensuring the joint force is ready to conduct a wide range of combat operations.

Philippine Sea (Sep. 16, 2018) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) launches a standard missile 2 while in formation with the USS Chancellorsville and USS Ronald Reagan during a live-fire exercise for Valiant Shield 2018. The biennial, U.S. only, field-training exercise focuses on integration of joint training among the U.S. Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. This is the seventh exercise in the Valiant Shield series that began in 2006 -- U.S. Navy photo by MCS1 Richard L.J. Gourley. -

During VS-18, U.S. forces will exercise a wide range of capabilities and demonstrate the inherent flexibility of joint forces. The range of capabilities include maritime security operations, amphibious operations, anti-submarine and air-defense exercises.

This is the seventh exercise in the Valiant Shield series that began in 2006.

For more news from U.S. Pacific Fleet, visit www.cpf.navy.mil.