PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) American forces are converging on the strategically important U.S. territory of Guam this month for a week of sophisticated military exercises involving two aircraft carriers.
Servicemen and women will practice searching for submarines, stopping suspect vessels at sea and using a new missile defense system recently set up on Guam.
They'll work through issues like how Navy F-18 pilots might talk to Air Force F-16 or F-15 pilots.
Most personnel will be from the Navy and the Air Force. Marines and Army soldiers will also join the drills, which are called Valiant Shield.
Altogether 19 ships, more than 200 aircraft and about 18,000 personnel will participate in the drills that start Monday and are scheduled to last a week.
Only U.S. forces will participate.