U.S. Pacific Command, in concert with other U.S. government agencies and regional military partners, promotes security and peaceful development in the Asia-Pacific region by deterring aggression, advancing regional security cooperation, responding to crises, and fighting to win.

Most of the U.S. Armed Forces in the Pacific and Far East fall under the command of USPACOM. The USPACOM's area of responsibility stretches from North America's west coast to Africa's east coast, and both the North and South Poles. The AOR includes about 56 percent of the world's population and more than 50 percent of the earth's surface. It encompasses 41 countries, 20 territories and possessions, and 10 U.S. territories.

USPACOM's headquarters is located above Pearl Harbor at Camp H. M. Smith, a small Marine base overlooking the harbor. USPACOM is commanded by Admiral Timothy J Keating, a four-star Navy admiral. The staff consists of about 900 Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps officers and enlisted personnel, and 150 civil service employees.

USPACOM is comprised of Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force service components, all headquartered in Hawaii. Additional commands that report to USPACOM include U.S. Forces Japan, headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan; U.S. Forces Korea, headquartered at Yongsan Army Garrison, South Korea; Special Operations Command Pacific, headquartered at Camp Smith; U.S. Alaska Command, headquartered at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, headquartered at Hickam Air Base, Hawaii; and Joint Interagency Task Force West. The Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu and the Joint Intelligence Center Pacific in Pearl Harbor also fall under the Pacific Command. More detailed information is available at www.pacom.mil.

All flights lead to the Honolulu International Airport located about 7.5 miles south of Camp Smith's main gate. The airport is nine miles west of Waikiki Beach and four miles west of central Honolulu. Travel time to Waikiki is approximately 20-30 minutes by car during non-rush hour, 40 minutes during rush hour. Your sponsor will most likely be the one greeting you at the airport and will help you get settled into your initial accommodations. If you are not met by anyone at the airport and require lodging, you should contact your respective command duty officer or go to the USO at the airport. The USO, located at the Honolulu International Airport, is available for use by all military personnel and their family members, reservists on active duty, retirees and Department of Defense civilians on orders. Located between Baggage Claims E and F, the center is open from 8 a.m. to midnight and can be reached at (808) 836-3351.