REMEMBER EVERYONE DEPLOYED!!
18 July 2025
On this RED Friday, July 18, 2025, the Connecticut Veterans Bulletin stands united in honoring the brave men and women of our Armed Forces currently serving far from home. From the Pacific to the Baltic, U.S. service members continue to operate on the front lines of freedom, while their families carry the weight of their absence with strength and resilience.
RED Friday is more than a color—it is a commitment. A symbol. A national reminder to Remember Everyone Deployed until they are safely home. As U.S. troops carry out their missions across the globe, we wear red in unwavering support, ensuring that none of them—nor their families—feel forgotten.
🇺🇸 Supporting U.S. Troops on the Front Lines
This week, U.S. forces demonstrated their continued resolve across multiple strategic theaters:
- In the Western Pacific, Air Force personnel flying the F-15EX Eagle II are expanding combat readiness during the massive REFORPAC 2025 exercise. Their role signals the next generation of airpower and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
- At sea, the USS Mount Whitney, flagship of the 6th Fleet, has just completed an essential command-and-control deployment across the Mediterranean and Baltic, including its leadership role in BALTOPS 2025 alongside NATO allies.
- Meanwhile, the crew of the USS Warrior (MCM 10) has wrapped up a goodwill visit to Niigata, Japan, emphasizing mine countermeasure cooperation and strengthening relationships with local communities in support of regional maritime safety.
These missions are not just training events—they are real-time demonstrations of America’s forward-deployed strength, sacrifice, and commitment to peace and stability around the globe.
🏡 Families Serve Too
While our troops remain focused on the mission, their spouses, children, and loved ones back home continue to serve in their own quiet but powerful way. Every birthday missed, every empty seat at the table, and every late-night phone call reminds us that military families endure their own kind of deployment.
On RED Friday, we pause to recognize the burdens these families carry. Their courage fuels the morale of our troops. Their resilience strengthens the fabric of our military community. And their sacrifice deserves our gratitude every bit as much as those in uniform.
📣 How You Can Show Support
- Wear Red every Friday and tell others why. Start conversations. Make awareness visible.
- Fly the flag proudly at home or your workplace.
- Check in on a military family—a text, a coffee, or an offer to help means more than you know.
- Support organizations that provide assistance to deployed troops and their loved ones.
Let’s turn RED Friday into more than just tradition—let’s make it a movement of national unity and personal action.
🔴 Why RED Friday Matters
| Who We Honor | What They Sacrifice |
|---|---|
| Deployed Troops | Time with family, safety, rest, and familiarity |
| Military Families | Stability, emotional presence, shared milestones |
| Our Nation’s Defense | Maintained by both visible and invisible service |
As we publish the stories of our forward-deployed forces—the F-15EX Eagle II’s historic Pacific deployment, the USS Mount Whitney’s return from NATO command operations, and the USS Warrior’s goodwill port visit in Japan—we invite readers to remember the human faces behind the headlines.
Every mission carried out overseas is made possible by the strength of a family back home and the support of a nation that refuses to forget.
This Friday, wear red. Remember everyone deployed. Stand with their families.
Until they all come home.
USS Mount Whitney Returns to Gaeta After Key Role in Mediterranean and Baltic Operations
The USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), flagship of the U.S. Navy’s 6th Fleet, returned to its homeport of Gaeta, Italy, on July 15, 2025, following a strategic deployment that underscored the Navy’s command and control capabilities in the Mediterranean and Baltic regions.
Operational Command Across the Atlantic and Europe
As a Blue Ridge-class command and control ship, the USS Mount Whitney serves as the afloat headquarters for both U.S. Sixth Fleet and Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO). Throughout its deployment, the ship directed U.S. and NATO naval operations, supporting both exercises and real-world missions across some of the most strategically vital waterways in the world.
Leadership During BALTOPS 2025
One of the deployment’s defining missions was the Mount Whitney’s command role in BALTOPS 2025, NATO’s premier annual maritime exercise in the Baltic Sea. Conducted in June 2025, this year’s iteration included more than 50 ships, 80 aircraft, and 20 allied and partner nations. The ship coordinated joint maritime strike drills, anti-submarine warfare, amphibious landings, and mine countermeasure operations across the region.
Given rising regional tensions, BALTOPS 2025 was viewed as a crucial demonstration of NATO’s operational readiness and alliance unity. The Mount Whitney’s position as the command hub ensured synchronized force movement, secure communications, and real-time tactical decisions throughout the exercise.
Advanced Capabilities and Staff Integration
The USS Mount Whitney is among the most capable afloat command platforms in the world. It is equipped with secure satellite communication systems, intelligence processing suites, and integrated battle management systems. These assets allow the ship to operate as a floating joint task force headquarters, coordinating complex operations across air, sea, land, and cyber domains.
The vessel hosted staff from U.S. Sixth Fleet and STRIKFORNATO throughout the mission, enabling seamless NATO coordination during both exercises and active patrol operations.
Strategic Return to Gaeta
Homeported in Gaeta since the 1970s, the USS Mount Whitney’s return signifies the continued value of Italy as a strategic location for U.S. naval operations in the region. Gaeta provides a forward presence at the crossroads of the Mediterranean and European theaters, allowing rapid response to crises, coordination with allies, and ongoing security cooperation with NATO partners.
Conclusion
The Mount Whitney’s successful return to Gaeta closes another chapter in its long legacy of naval leadership and multinational coordination. Its involvement in BALTOPS 2025 and regional operations highlights the vessel’s enduring role in supporting U.S. maritime objectives, maintaining alliance strength, and safeguarding regional security across Europe and beyond.
F-15EX Eagle II Launches Pacific Operations in Historic REFORPAC 2025 Debut
The U.S. Air Force’s newest fighter, the F-15EX Eagle II, officially launched its international operations in July 2025 as part of Resolute Force Pacific 2025 (REFORPAC 2025)—the Air Force’s largest contingency response exercise in the Indo-Pacific. The deployment marked the aircraft’s first overseas mission and laid the groundwork for its long-term presence in the region.
First Overseas Mission for the F-15EX
On July 11, 2025, two F-15EX aircraft from the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base arrived at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The following day, on July 12, they continued on to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, where they immediately began operational integration and joint training. This event marked the jet’s debut beyond U.S. borders and introduced its next-generation combat capabilities to the Pacific theater.
About REFORPAC 2025
Running from July 10 to August 8, 2025, REFORPAC is a comprehensive contingency response exercise that spans across Hawaii, Guam, Japan, and international airspace. The event features more than 350 aircraft and over 12,000 personnel from multiple U.S. service branches and allied partners.
REFORPAC combines several major exercises—including Mobility Guardian, Resolute Space, and air components of RIMPAC—to simulate rapid deployment, sustainment, and combat operations in contested and degraded environments. The goal is to test large-scale interoperability and force resilience across the Indo-Pacific.
F-15EX Capabilities and Regional Importance
The F-15EX is being positioned as a central asset in the Pacific’s evolving defense landscape. Its deployment to REFORPAC signals a shift in strategy toward building a more mobile, lethal, and survivable force in response to regional threats.
Key features of the F-15EX include:
- Heavy weapons load: Can carry up to 12 AIM-120 AMRAAMs or a mix of long-range standoff munitions such as JASSM, HARM, and potentially hypersonic weapons.
- Advanced sensor suite: Equipped with APG-82 AESA radar and the EPAWSS electronic warfare system.
- Extended range: Includes conformal fuel tanks and fly-by-wire controls to increase reach and maneuverability.
- Future teaming with drones: The two-seat configuration and open architecture support use as a control node for uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs).
- Agile Combat Employment (ACE) ready: Designed for operations from dispersed or austere locations under the ACE strategy.
Permanent Basing and Expansion
The REFORPAC deployment coincides with preparations for a permanent Pacific role. By spring 2026, 36 F-15EX aircraft are scheduled to be permanently based at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, replacing the retired F-15C/D fleet. Meanwhile, F-35A Lightning IIs will be based at Misawa Air Base to expand fifth-generation capabilities in the region.
The Fiscal Year 2026 defense budget increased total procurement of the F-15EX from 98 to 129 aircraft, reinforcing the Air Force’s commitment to phasing out older fighters and enhancing its Pacific posture.
Strategic Role in the Indo-Pacific
The F-15EX strengthens America’s ability to project airpower across the vast Pacific theater. It supports long-range missions, defends contested airspace, and introduces the flexibility needed to respond rapidly to emerging threats.
Its combination of range, payload, survivability, and compatibility with both current and future technologies makes it ideal for modern operations. The deployment also reinforces the U.S. strategy of distributed lethality, agility, and manned-unmanned integration.
Timeline Snapshot
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 11, 2025 | F-15EXs arrive at Andersen AFB, Guam |
| July 12, 2025 | Aircraft move to Kadena AB, Okinawa for integration |
| Spring 2026 | 36 F-15EX jets to be permanently based at Kadena AB |
| FY 2026 | Procurement increased to 129 total F-15EX airframes |
Summary of Key Features
| Capability | Strategic Benefit |
|---|---|
| High missile capacity | Dominance in air-to-air combat |
| AESA radar & EPAWSS | Advanced detection, jamming, and threat countermeasures |
| Extended range | Effective across the vast Pacific operating area |
| Uncrewed aircraft teaming | Foundation for future manned-unmanned integration |
| Agile basing | Rapid deployment from remote and unpredictable locations |
Conclusion
The F-15EX Eagle II’s entry into Pacific operations through REFORPAC 2025 is more than a test flight—it’s a powerful symbol of the U.S. Air Force’s next evolution. With cutting-edge systems, heavy weapon capacity, and a role in emerging technologies like drone teaming, the Eagle II is designed to secure the skies over the Indo-Pacific for decades to come.
USS Warrior Departs Niigata After Strengthening U.S.–Japan Maritime Cooperation
The Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship USS Warrior (MCM 10) departed Niigata, Japan, on July 16, 2025, concluding a four-day port visit that highlighted the U.S. Navy’s commitment to regional security and its enduring alliance with Japan.
Arrival and Community Engagement
The USS Warrior arrived in Niigata on July 12, marking its first visit to the port city since 2018. Over the course of the visit, the crew engaged with local leaders, participated in cultural exchanges, and hosted ship tours for government officials and community groups.
Sailors visited the Northern Culture Museum, explored the region’s heritage, and participated in a friendly basketball game with students from Kaishi International High School. These community relations events helped build personal connections and reinforce mutual understanding between the U.S. and Japanese people.
Mine Warfare Mission in the Indo-Pacific
The USS Warrior is deployed as part of Commander, Task Force 77 under the U.S. 7th Fleet, which serves as the Navy’s primary forward-deployed force in the Indo-Pacific. As a mine countermeasures vessel, Warrior is equipped to locate, classify, and neutralize naval mines that threaten freedom of navigation and maritime security.
This mission plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of sea lanes in key areas around Japan and the broader Pacific, directly supporting the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Strategic Significance of the Visit
Port visits like this one serve multiple purposes—enhancing military readiness, reaffirming strategic partnerships, and building trust through community engagement. The presence of the USS Warrior in Niigata emphasized continued cooperation between the U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, particularly in the area of mine countermeasure operations.
Deployment Summary
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| July 12, 2025 | USS Warrior arrives in Niigata |
| July 12–16 | Ship tours, cultural activities, and school outreach |
| July 16, 2025 | Departs to resume mine warfare duties in the Indo-Pacific |
Conclusion
The USS Warrior’s Niigata port visit served as both a demonstration of tactical mine warfare capability and a gesture of goodwill to its Japanese hosts. As it resumes its operations across the Indo-Pacific, the ship carries forward its mission of maintaining maritime security and strengthening the longstanding bond between the United States and Japan.
