BY KATIE AIZON
Journal Staff
Nearly 14,000 joint service members are participants in Valiant Shield 2026 after the United States Pacific Command joint forces commenced the exercise in Guam, Japan, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, and the surrounding Mariana Islands Range complex from June 22 to July 1.
The participating joint force service members are from 35 units, including more than 200 aircraft and 12 ships.
This iteration of Valiant Shield is also taking place in Hawaii. The biennial large scale field training exercise allows U. S. forces to train interoperability integration, multi-axis and multi-domain effects that demonstrate versatility and combined force, and to respond to crises and contingencies across operations. Valiant Shield 2026 also aims to assist U.S. allies and partner forces in developing regional and global power projection capabilities to succeed in defending U.S. interests and those of like-minded nations.
This year is the second time that the Japan Self-Defense Forces has taken part in Valiant Shield planning and execution. In a press release, Adm. Steve Koehler, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, stated that collaboration with allies across the Pacific is a part of their commitment to a free, open Indo-Pacific region and overcoming challenges.
"Valiant Shield demonstrates our enduring commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," he said. "Exercising advanced multidomain capabilities with our allies ensures we continue to seamlessly innovate and operate together, project combat power together, and prevail over any challenge—together."
According to journal files, previously more than 18,000 joint force service members from 30 units, including 200 aircraft and 20 ships participated in Valiant Shield 2024, from June 4 to June 18 in Guam, Palau, and the Northern Mariana Islands. mbj
Journal Staff
Nearly 14,000 joint service members are participants in Valiant Shield 2026 after the United States Pacific Command joint forces commenced the exercise in Guam, Japan, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, and the surrounding Mariana Islands Range complex from June 22 to July 1.
The participating joint force service members are from 35 units, including more than 200 aircraft and 12 ships.
This iteration of Valiant Shield is also taking place in Hawaii. The biennial large scale field training exercise allows U. S. forces to train interoperability integration, multi-axis and multi-domain effects that demonstrate versatility and combined force, and to respond to crises and contingencies across operations. Valiant Shield 2026 also aims to assist U.S. allies and partner forces in developing regional and global power projection capabilities to succeed in defending U.S. interests and those of like-minded nations.
This year is the second time that the Japan Self-Defense Forces has taken part in Valiant Shield planning and execution. In a press release, Adm. Steve Koehler, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, stated that collaboration with allies across the Pacific is a part of their commitment to a free, open Indo-Pacific region and overcoming challenges.
"Valiant Shield demonstrates our enduring commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," he said. "Exercising advanced multidomain capabilities with our allies ensures we continue to seamlessly innovate and operate together, project combat power together, and prevail over any challenge—together."
According to journal files, previously more than 18,000 joint force service members from 30 units, including 200 aircraft and 20 ships participated in Valiant Shield 2024, from June 4 to June 18 in Guam, Palau, and the Northern Mariana Islands. mbj
