Category: US Indo Pacific Command

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Forty members of the Washington National Guard and their Malaysian Armed Forces counterparts wrapped up a successful first week of the Bersama Warrior 2024 staff exercise with a mission analysis brief on June 8, 2024, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“Since arrival in Malaysia, the Washington National Guard has integrated into a joint and combined multinational planning staff including personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines of both the U.S. and Malaysia,” Col. Jim Perrin said, Washington National Guard’s lead planner for Bersama Warrior. “Together, the combined staff completed academic sessions intended to communicate updates on multinational doctrine and immerse participants in the exercise scenario.”

Presented to Brig. Gen Michael Ake, land component commander, Washington Army National Guard, Brig. Gen. Ken Borchers, director of the joint staff, Washington National Guard and Brig. Gen. Brig Jen Datuk Mohd Zaini Hj Hashim, Malaysian Armed Forces, the mission analysis brief concludes with a refined commander’s appreciation and a recommended mission statement. Approval of the mission statement and refined commander’s intent is the final step before the training audience is divided into teams for course of action development.

“As a coalition task force, we were tasked with compelling the withdrawal of enemy forces following a fictional attack,” Perrin said. “The staff completed an operational and intelligence preparation of the environment process designed to assess enemy forces and the geo-political factors to ensure all planners approach the problem with a thorough contextual understanding, after receiving the commander’s guidance, the combined staff completed mission analysis to develop a thorough understanding of the task force’s mission.”

During the second week of the exercise, the staff will be organized into combined planning groups to build courses of action to compel the withdrawal of enemy forces.

“We will continue to refine the plan and build mutual understanding and processes among the participants this next week,” Perrin said.

​Since signing their formal partnership through the National Guard Bureau sponsored State Partnership Program in August 2017, the Washington National Guard and the Malaysian Armed Forces have met regularly through exercises like Bersama Warrior to enhance their mutual capabilities, security cooperation and people-to-people connections that extend beyond military cooperation.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

U.S. Air Force personnel and an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing arrived in the Republic of Korea on June 12, 2024, in support of an ongoing joint, combined exchange training iteration with U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command personnel.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Planning and preparations are being finalized for the 29th biennial Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), a multinational exercise involving 29 nations and more than 25,000 personnel, set to run June 27 to Aug. 1, in and around the Hawaiian Islands.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Philippines  –  

U.S. and Philippine Army soldiers and distinguished guests come together for the closing ceremony of the 2024 Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center-Exportable (JPMRC-X) exercise held at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, from 1-10 June.

​JPMRC-X featured approximately 1,500 troops assigned to the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division, 196th Infantry Brigade, and the Philippine Army’s 5th and 7th Infantry Divisions, as they worked side by side to enhance military readiness and interoperability with the goal of strengthening peace and security in the region. The exercise also highlighted subject matter expert exchanges between the U.S. and Philippine Armies to provide instruction and learn best practices in several key functional areas, including movement and maneuver, fires, sustainment, and protection.

“Over the last several months, the training has been absolutely world-class,” said Maj. Gen. Marcus Evans, 25th Infantry Division Commander. “The ability to work alongside your division staff and soldiers has made us better war fighters, it’s increased our lethality, it’s developed cohesive teams between our two armies, and forged relationships that will continue to grow and prosper for generations to come.”

The exercise tested the U.S. Army’s strategic readiness and demonstrates the ability of the installation, material, and sustainment enterprise to rapidly move Soldiers, equipment and supplies from the U.S. to the Indo-Pacific Theater at scale.

“This exercise is a realization of our shared belief in the importance of training,” said Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, Commander of the Philippines Army. “It serves as a way to enact a joint readiness and strengthen or cooperation allowing us to function more effectively in emerging situations as allies.”

The presence of U.S. forces and training alongside the Philippine Army is a tangible demonstration of U.S. security commitments to the Philippines and strengths both of our armies via tough physical and intellectual challenges.

“Over the last 10 days, these teams have shared hardships from the weather, the terrain, and relentless opposing force comprised of Soldiers from the United States Army and Scout Rangers from the Philippine Army,” said Evans.

As our oldest treaty ally in East Asia, the Philippines plays a key role in helping secure a free, open, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. Through exercises like JPMRC-X, we enhance our ability to work together, building upon our collective strength towards ensuring a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific region

“As the Philippine Army shifts its focus to territorial defense, training exercises like this remain a high relevance,” said Galido. “To this, our soldiers can be trained for more complex and realistic scenarios, large scale movement, and sustainment.”

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Philippines  –  

In the heart of Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, U.S. Army Soldiers from Echo Company, 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment, dove into the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center-Exportable (JPMRC-X) exercise, adopting roles as opposing forces (OPFOR) for Exercise Salaknib 2024. From June 1 to June 10, they lent their expertise to the intricate maneuvers unfolding in central Luzon.

For the 100th Infantry Battalion, a unit steeped in history, this wasn’t just another training exercise. They stand as the sole infantry battalion within the Army Reserve, a distinction that adds weight to their contributions.

“My battalion is one of the most decorated units for its size,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Patrick Calilung, Echo Company commander. “During World War II, the determination and the actions of the original members of the 100th Battalion garnered them the motto ‘Go For Broke’.”

Originally comprising Japanese Americans from Hawaii and the mainland, the 100th Infantry Battalion distinguished themselves in the European theater. Their motto, borrowed from Hawaiian gambling slang, encapsulated their ethos of risking everything for a chance at victory.

Today, their ranks span the U.S. Army Pacific region, with Soldiers stationed in Guam, Saipan, and Hawaii, carrying forward the spirit of their predecessors. This spirit animated their participation in JPMRC-X, where they assumed the mantle of OPFOR.

“As part of JPMRC-X/Salaknib, we provided a company of OPFOR along with our counterparts, the 5th Scout Rangers of the Philippine Army,” said Calilung. “Together, we were the OPFOR for the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.”

The 100th Infantry Battalion’s cunning tactics tested the 25th Infantry Division, making every objective a hard-won victory. Through rigorous training and immersive learning experiences, they gleaned insights into the nuances of the exercise, honing their skills in a dynamic environment.

“Being able to go country to country and train with other military forces is a great deal for us,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Norman De Los Reyes, an infantryman assigned to Echo Company. “Sharing the experience, the knowledge and being able to understand the terrain helps us in our battalion to apply it when we do real life missions.”

Amidst the rigorous maneuvers of the JPMRC-X exercise, the 100th Infantry Battalion seized every opportunity to showcase their mettle. With strategic finesse and unwavering determination, they consistently outmaneuvered their adversaries, earning respect and admiration from fellow participants.

“It’s a great training opportunity away from Hawaii, which is the place we usually train at,” said Calilung. “I think for my battalion, this exercise has been significant and beneficial. It kind of shows that even though we’re Army Reserve, we can still train and compete with the other components and other national armies.”

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

From April 16-18, 2024, more than 90 experts in the fields of cybersecurity and operational technology throughout the Indo-Pacific region gathered to analyze and discuss the cybersecurity challenges of critical infrastructure in today’s constantly evolving cyber contested environment at the ‘Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure Defense in the Indo-Pacific Region’ workshop, held in Honolulu.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Philippines  –  

Leaders from the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division, 196th Infantry Brigade and the Philippine Army’s 7th Infantry Division meet to discuss mission effectiveness during an after action review (AAR) which marks the mid-way point of the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center-Exportable (JPMRC-X) exercise taking place at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, June 5, 2024.

An AAR provides feedback on what was supposed to happen versus what actually happened during the action in any given scenario. Once these talking points have been identified, sustains and improvements from the event are taken into consideration for future implementation.

Conducting a mid-exercise AAR during JPMRC-X is beneficial due to the fact that immediately after the meeting is over, all participants from both armies return to their areas of operations throughout the region to implement what was just discussed for a chance to right wrongs, try new tactics or repeat what was successful in previous scenarios.

“There’s nothing that we do in the 25th Infantry Division that’s more important than what we’re doing right here, right now,” said Brig. Gen. David Zinn, Deputy Commanding General of Operations, 25th Infantry Division. “Solutions to the things you all want to implement going forward, are going to come from you.”

As the Philippine Army aims to become a more conventional fighting force, JPMRC-X provides the U.S. Army the opportunity to assist their Philippine counterparts with on-the-spot feedback throughout the exercise provided by observer coach/trainers (OC/Ts) while working together to complete a series of different tasks. This also allows U.S. Soldiers to become familiar with the climate and terrain if ever the need arose to occupy the area in a real-world situation.

“We talk about safety. With safety comes sustainment. You can keep things going if you can sustain them,” said Col. Adisa King, Commander, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. “If the fight is going, it doesn’t matter how fast you go but how you can sustain the force.”

Along with commanders and ground troops, the AAR included representatives from sections such as logistics, who are in charge of providing supplies to ground forces, and communications, who secure ways to effectively communicate throughout the austere terrain. Knowing what works, or what may not work, on all fronts is the most important aspect of the overall success of JPMRC-X and any missions that follow.

“It was emphasized at the start of the exercise that we should over-communicate, and that is exactly what we did,” said Brig. Gen. Gulliver Señires, Commander, 702nd Combined Arms Brigade. “In the first three days, the issue was that we could not talk to our battalions. So Col. King and I decided to go out there and solve the issue. We were able to solve it by the end of day three.”

JPMRC-X provides a venue for both participating nations to advance interoperability, but most importantly, we both learn and grow during this exercise. We share values and people-to-people ties with the Philippines, which underpins our mutual trust, understanding, respect, interoperability, and common commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Philippines  –  

U.S. and Philippine Army Soldiers establish a Joint Operations Center (JOC) as part of Exercise Salaknib 2024. The establishment of a JOC marks a pivotal moment in fostering collaboration among multinationals during the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center-Exportable (JPMRC-X) exercise potion of Salaknib in Fort Magsaysay, located in central Luzon, from June 1 to June 10.

“The Joint Operations Center is really the base level of how we control the exercise,” said U.S. Army Capt. Miguel Menjivar, JPMRC-X lead planner of the 196th Infantry Brigade. “Everything happening in the training area is monitored within the JOC.”

The JOC will facilitate real-time information sharing, joint planning, and execution of military operations among participating nations during the JPMRC-X. Its strategic location in the Philippines underscores the significance of regional partnerships in maintaining a secure and stable region.

“Here in the Philippines, we did something kinda cool,” said Menijivar. “We have all of our Philippine partners alongside us to work on interoperability. It allows us to hone in on what we can provide and do with our allied partners.”

JPMRC marks a milestone for the Philippine Army, offering hands-on experience within a Joint Operations Center to manage and oversee a major bilateral exercise, a first in Salaknib’s history.

“I have not had actual hands-on experience in a Joint Operations Center,” said Philippine Army Maj. Frank Tobias, JPMRC-X Chief of Operations. “This training with the U.S. Army through JPMRC-X is very beneficial for us, especially with interoperability,”

The center will serve as a platform for conducting joint training exercises to improve the readiness and capabilities of participating forces. By simulating various scenarios and contingencies, U.S. and Philippine Soldiers will have the opportunity to hone their skills and enhance their ability to operate seamlessly in diverse environments.

“This is the best experience in my training here as an officer of the Philippine Army,” said Tobias. “Now I can let my subordinates experience this training and provide them with inputs for their professional development.”

Establishing the JOC to conduct the JPMRC-X reflects the collective Philippine and U.S. commitment to enhancing collaboration and interoperability. In an era marked by complex security challenges, joint approaches and solutions are essential to effectively addressing regional concerns.

​“Training with our allied partners really allows us to test our systems and enables us to rely on them in the future,” Menjivar said. “There are certain challenges we are learning now that we don’t want to be learning when we’re in an actual firefight.”

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia  –  

The 10th annual Bersama Warrior exercise began June 1 with an opening ceremony led by Malaysian Armed Forces leaders and U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Kenneth Borchers, director of the Joint Staff for the Washington National Guard.

Bersama Warrior is an annual, bilateral Joint exercise sponsored by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and hosted by the Malaysian Armed Forces. It enhances the comprehensive partnership shared by U.S. and Malaysia and strengthens the ties between the Malaysian Armed Forces and the National Guardsmen from Washington State.

“Our partnership with Malaysia is still so new in terms of the State Partnership Program, but our participation in Bersama Warrior has helped us grow closer together,” said Borchers.

With more than 40 members from the Washington National Guard and Malaysian Armed Forces participating, the command post exercise of Bersama Warrior is a continuation of last year’s staff exercise. The exercise’s primary goal is to provide a joint and bilateral venue for USINDOPACOM service component commands to maintain readiness. It also emphasizes security cooperation and capacity building of partner nations, contributing to the overall security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

Since signing their formal partnership through the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program in August 2017, the Washington National Guard and the Malaysian Armed Forces have met regularly through exercises like Bersama Warrior to enhance mutual capabilities, security cooperation and people-to-people connections.

“Our goal is to continue to build strong relationships with our partner nation, increase cooperation, interoperability and collaboration in order to achieve effective solutions to common challenges we both face,” Borchers said. “We look forward to sharing knowledge, best practices and supporting each other during these two weeks.”

The exercise runs through June 15.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam  –  

The 317th Airlift Wing successfully completed an expanded Maximum Endurance Operation to Guam with two C-130J Super Hercules aircraft equipped with external fuel tanks, June 4, 2024.

Expanding on their first historic MEO back in April, where the 317th AW flew one C-130J equipped with external fuel tanks, this time the wing flew four aircraft, two of which were armed with external tanks completing the journey in 22.6 hours.

The expanded MEO saw two aircraft flying the same route from Dyess, refueling in California and Hawaii before heading to Guam. Two other Dyess C-130Js not equipped with external fuel tanks made their way to Guam with an additional fuel stop in Wake Island, an isolated coral atoll in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. In total, four C-130J Super Hercules aircraft arrived safely in Guam to participate in the biennial joint and multilateral Field Training Exercise, Valiant Shield 2024.

Upon arriving in Guam, one of the aircraft that completed the MEO took off to conduct a follow-on airland mission one hour after landing. The crew picked up personnel and equipment from Andersen Air Force Base and delivered them to Tinian, an island in the Northern Mariana Islands.

This was a successful demonstration of the Mobility Air Forces’ ability to “Explode into Theater” to maneuver the Joint Force at speed, scale, and mass in support of national security objectives.

“The 317th AW completing MEO missions give our personnel the opportunity to train on different scenarios outside of the normal mission to allow for growth,” said Capt. Ryan Murphy, 40th Airlift Squadron C-130J instructor pilot. “This growth ensures our wing can provide airlift support around the world, at any time, enhancing our combat effectiveness in contested environments.”

MEOs showcase the capabilities C-130Js have in regions with geographic challenges due to the distances between airfields. Expanding upon these extended range capabilities during exercises such as Valiant Shield, allows the wing to improve interoperability among U.S. forces, allies, and partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

​“The MEO flights are important to not only the 317th AW but also for Air Force and Joint operations around the world,” said Maj. Victor Conde, 40th AS C-130J evaluator pilot and mission commander. “We train just like we operate during any real-world scenario, so if we push ourselves to new heights during MEOs and exercises like Valiant Shield, then we can better serve our alliances and partnerships around the world.”