USS Pioneer Visits Ishigaki

11 September 2023

From By Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Degarmo, Expeditionary Strike Group 7 Public Affairs Officer

ISHIGAKI, Japan - Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship USS Pioneer (MCM 9) departed Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan, September 8, following a port call during routine operations and training in the region.

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The Pioneer’s visit highlights the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance and represents the U.S. Navy’s commitment to security presence in the Pacific.

“It’s been a long time since a U.S. Navy ship was in port in Ishigaki and we are thrilled that USS Pioneer got the opportunity to come visit and engage with the local community,” said Lt. Cmdr. Chase Harding, commanding officer of Pioneer. “Even though we are based in Sasebo, it’s always great to look for opportunities to continue to engage with our Japanese allies.”

Dock workers at the Ishigaki Port assist U.S. Sailors with the Avenger-class Mine Countermeasure Ship 9 (MCM-9), USS Pioneer, after the ship pulled into port on Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 7, 2023. This marks the first time that a U.S. Navy ship has pulled into Ishigaki since 2009, and the first that the Pioneer has made port at the island. The USS Pioneer is a forward-deployed class Mine Countermeasures Ship out of Fleet Activity Sasebo, underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Andrew Ochoa)

While in Ishigaki, Pioneer Sailors conducted a beach cleanup as a community relations event. They also met with members of the Japanese Coast Guard, the Yaeyama police department and other municipal leadership, as well as representatives from local associations and businesses.

USS Pioneer, assigned to Mine Countermeasures Squadron 7 (MCMRON 7), Task Force 76/3 and Expeditionary Strike Group 7, is forward-deployed to Sasebo, Japan in the US 7th Fleet area of responsibility conducting mine countermeasure operations to support preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.