Category: US Indo Pacific Command

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

CAMP CASEY, South Korea  –  

A deployed U.S. Army Chemical Corps company is training together with U.S. and South Korean military forces near the world’s most heavily guarded border.

American Soldiers from the 59th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Company (Hazardous Response) “Mountain Dragons” are bolstering the Republic of Korea-U.S. Alliance combined defense posture during a rotational deployment near the Korean Demilitarized Zone.

Since arriving in South Korea in July 2023, the Fort Drum, New York-based CBRN company has trained with maneuver forces for a wide variety of combat missions in support of the 23rd CBRN Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division and Eighth Army.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Philip M. Ellis, the 23rd CBRN Battalion warrant officer, said the Mountain Dragons have integrated with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division; 210th Fires Brigade; and 2nd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade.

“The 59th CBRN Company has focused on warfighting first during its nine-month rotation to South Korea,” said Ellis, a native of Honolulu who has served in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps for 16 years. “The Mountain Dragons regularly practice their ability to quickly assemble and perform their mission of providing CBRN reconnaissance and decontamination support.”

The 59th CBRN Company has also focused on supporting counter Weapons of Mass Destruction training missions, including combating chemical, biological and nuclear hazards.

“The Mountain Dragons put their skills and experience to the test with an intense seven-day validation exercise where the company’s performance was exemplary, exploiting chemical, biological and nuclear targets across a non-continuous area of operations consisting of underground facilities,” said Ellis.

During the validation exercise, the Mountain Dragons tested their tactical and technical proficiency to conduct their wartime missions, including complex night and day chemical, biological and nuclear training missions.

“I observed ‘greatness’ from the 59th CBRN Company,” said Ellis. “The company performed at a high level and overcame all obstacles, even with a rigorous timeline, and achieved validation status. I’ve observed six rotational chemical companies in the Republic of Korea and the 59th stands out by far as the best rotational chemical company to fight tonight.”

The company also trained together with numerous Republic of Korea military units during Exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield in August.

Republic of Korea Army Brig. Gen. Jaehoon Yoo, the commanding general of the ROK CBRN Defense Command, recognized the Mountain Dragons for their service on the Korean Peninsula.

The 59th CBRN Company (Hazardous Response) is part of the 83rd CBRN Battalion, 48th Chemical Brigade and 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command, the U.S. military’s premier CBRNE formation.

American Soldiers and U.S. Army civilians from 20th CBRNE Command deploy from 19 bases in 16 states to confront and defeat the world’s most dangerous hazards in support of joint, interagency and allied operations around the world.

Units from the 20th CBRNE Command routinely deploy to South Korea.

The ROK-U.S. Alliance marked its 70th anniversary in October 2023. The alliance was officially established by the Mutual Defense Treaty that was signed on October 1, 1953.

Forged in the fire of war, the ROK-U.S. Alliance provided the security on the Korean Peninsula that enabled one of the greatest success stories of the 20th century – the rise of South Korea from the ashes of war to become one of the world’s leading economic and cultural powers.

Capt. Evan P. Shortsleeve, the commander of the 59th CBRN Company (Hazardous Response), said it was an honor to uphold the storied legacy of generations of American Soldiers who have served in the alliance that has defended liberty on Freedom’s Frontier for more than 70 years.

​”I am proud of the Mountain Dragons service on the Korean Peninsula as the most forward hazard response company in the U.S. Army during the 70th year of the ROK-U.S. Alliance,” said Shortsleeve, a native of Litchfield, Connecticut, and graduate of Norwich University. “The Mountain Dragons are fighting well above their weight class as we focus on warfighting to increase the proficiency of the interoperability between U.S. forces and ROK partners.”

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea  –  

U.S. Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force and Papua New Guinea Defence Force personnel culminated three days of aeromedical evacuation training and subject matter expert exchanges with a field training exercise during Pacific Angel 24-1 at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, August 28, 2024.

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command sponsors Pacific Angel to promote interoperability and demonstrate Department of Defense support capabilities for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HA/DR) events by conducting global medical outreach and enhancing regional partnerships. Pacific Angel 24-1 focused on training and equipping PNGDF medical and rescue personnel on tactics and best practices utilized by the U.S. Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force pararescue, combat search and rescue and aeromedical professionals.

“This week we threw a lot at the PNGDF personnel, we started in the classroom introducing them to basic aeromedical evacuation concepts and our various checklists required during each phase of our AE missions,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Samantha Rose, 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron flight nurse. “It was amazing seeing the PNGDF forces grow from day one of training to the FTX. They improved immensely, not only in their capability but their confidence to conduct AE missions.

The FTX put all of the techniques and procedures that the PNGDF personnel learned throughout the week to test, asking them to access, treat and load simulated casualties onto U.S. Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force aircraft.

“One key takeaway from the whole week is, though we may not usually take patients on flights, the important thing we can take home from this are checking equipment and ensuring every time we come on duty everything is checked and it’s ready,” said Maj. Anna Matthew, PNGDF Health Services, head nurse. “This is really important for me as a health manager because we now have the PAC-750, so we can start working on different SOPs, guidelines and checklists for our nurses for when they conduct medical evacuations.”

To ensure aeromedical evacuation interoperability in the Indo-Pacific theater, PNGDF personnel received training on how to load patients on both the U.S. Air Force HC-130J Combat King II and the Royal Australian Air Force C-27 Sentry. Additionally, PNGDF forces received advice on how to best load their rescue aircraft, the PNGDF PAC 750, which was gifted by the Australian Defence Force. With Australia being a close ally nation, the RAAF works frequently with PNGDF forces.

“The training, I believe, is important for our interoperability. Australia is a neighbor to PNG and there’s the possibility that we might be working together in the future,” said RAAF Flight Lt. Ashley Kennewell, Health Operational Conversion Unit, registered nurse. “This will assist them in laying the foundations for their air medical processes as well. And this is a new thing for them with the PAC-750 so they can take from us the things that have worked for us, the things that have worked for the U.S. Air Force as well, and develop their own policy, procedure, and processes in their air medical evacuations.”

At the conclusion of the FTX PNGDF forces with the assistance of Airmen from the 31st Rescue Squadron, loaded eight simulated patients from three different aircraft onto the HC-130J in Lae and returned back to Port Moresby with not only valuable hands-on experience, but a new confidence in their abilities.

“This is a very good partnership, working and learning from each other, like most of the time we work with what we have, but learning from the US and Australians and seeing practical examples and getting us involved has taught us something we can use for our standard,” said Matthew.

​The U.S. military continues to strengthen relationships with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific through operations such as Pacific Angel to prepare for emergency situations and ultimately to preserve peace and stability throughout the region.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea  –  

 U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 51st Fighter Wing participated in Ulchi Freedom Shield 24 at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Aug. 19-23.

The 51st FW is the most forward deployed permanently based wing in the U.S. Air Force. The unique location of the Wing’s installation influences how Team Osan trains for the “Fight Tonight” mission.

Aligning strategic goals with tactical execution, 51st FW personnel collaborated with Seventh Air Force exercise planners. The combined effort increased the scope of the simulated war scenario aligning with U.S. Pacific Air Force objectives of strengthening allies and relationships across the U.S. Indo-Pacific region.

“The 51st FW ensured that all aspects of the training event were synchronized between us and 7th Air Force,” said Capt. Nivruth Maramreddy, 51st FW deputy director of exercises. “Aligning our objectives with those of higher headquarters creates a realistic environment…allowing members to practice responding to dynamic updates received in real time from higher headquarters, just as they would during real world events.”

In addition to synchronizing their planning efforts with Seventh Air Force, the wing also incorporated large scale, live fire training events; strengthening interoperability and combat readiness of U.S. and allied forces on the Korean peninsula. During the exercise, Airmen applied Agile Combat Employment concepts to remain proactive and reactive to various operational maneuvers generating combat power throughout the course of the exercise.

“Seventh Air Force’s participation in UFS24 has largely been a command and control-level exercise, with any tactical execution conducted by simulated forces,” said Lt. Col. Justin Noehl, Seventh Air Force Operations and Plans Division deputy director. “For UFS24, we have added in all tactical units in Seventh Air Force, incorporating the normal wing readiness exercises into the UFS battle rhythm, with live personnel and equipment working through the operational to tactical linkages and problem sets, which enables a much more comprehensive training environment across all levels.”

The 51st FW and 7th Air Force created an environment that closely mirrored the complexities of actual warfare through planning, real time adjustments, and dynamic scenario management. These aspects set UFS24 apart from previous readiness exercises with its execution of command-and-control elements and integration of U.S. Air Force partners on the Korean peninsula.

“UFS24 highlights some of the issues that arise during the fog and friction of war, helping train members to think on their feet and accomplish the mission in a dynamic, tasking environment,” said Col. William McKibban, 51st FW commander. “The larger the exercise, the greater the likelihood that things will be miscommunicated or forgotten; knowing this, we ensured that we would have redundant methods of communication to keep everyone on the same game plan.”

Combined joint training events like UFS24 demonstrate the U.S.’s commitment to building a robust defense posture to defend the people of the ROK against a spectrum of security threats and reinforce regional stability within the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. UFS24 not only challenged the wing’s communication skills but strengthened cooperation between Team Osan and other U.S. Air Force units on the Korean peninsula.

​“We wanted to create a realistic exercise that ensures our warfighters are ready to Fight Tonight,” said McKibban. “Exercises of this scale and scope, which was synchronized with 8th FW, Seventh Air Force and our ROK partners, demonstrate why our mission and presence on the peninsula are of utmost importance.”

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

DARWIN, NORTHERN TERRITORY, Australia  –  

U.S. Marines and Sailors with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, alongside members of the Australian Defence Force, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), and various civil and government agencies, rehearsed humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations during Exercise Bhakti Kanyini AUSINDO 24 in Australia’s Northern Territory from Aug 12-21.

BKA 24 took place at Robertson Barracks and provided an opportunity for Allies and partners to plan, rehearse, and learn from each other. The exercise began with an opening ceremony at the Northern Territory Parliament House, Darwin, where participants and observers were welcomed, many meeting for the first time. Following the ceremony, participants collaborated on a week-long series of briefs and planning challenges.

“This was a great opportunity, a great exercise, to start building those relationships and have those for the future,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Rebecca Bolz, the commanding officer of Combat Logistics Battalion 5 (Reinforced), MRF-D 24.3.

Each nation and its respective civil and government agencies led academic sessions to educate others about their capabilities and roles during HADR operations. The participants rehearsed planning through a scenario focused on responding to a typhoon that caused severe damage to a fictional country in Oceania. MRF-D 24.3, ADF, and TNI personnel developed plans, coordinating with subject matter experts from civil and government agencies. MRF-D 24.3’s role involved personnel from CLB-5 (Rein.) and Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 (Reinforced), who assessed and planned for Marine Air-Ground Task Force capabilities in support of the HADR scenario.

“The participants remained responsive and flexible, much like we’re going to need to do in a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operation, and that was critical to making this event a success,” said Bolz.

While military and defense organizations often provide critical capabilities in support of HADR operations, civil and government agencies typically lead and coordinate such efforts. Agencies such as the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Indonesian National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure, and the U.S. Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, also participated in the exercise, facilitating realistic planning with their subject matter experts and experience. This collaboration provided insight into how these organizations could integrate and work together in the future.

“It’s all about unity between the nations that are part of the exercise,” explained Australian Army Maj. Adam White, the operations officer for Headquarters Northern Command. “BKA and its objectives is all about getting to know the other nations’ capabilities and the limits of those capabilities.”

After developing their plans, participants transitioned to a field training exercise to focus on the tactical actions necessary for response. U.S. Navy Role II medical personnel with CLB-5 (Rein.) demonstrated how to triage injuries and route patients to the appropriate section for expedited treatment. CLB-5 (Rein.) and TNI service members also worked together to rehearse a mass-casualty drill, where they assessed, transported, and treated simulated casualties from a disaster event. In addition to the mass-casualty training, exercise participants conducted water purification, route clearance, and MV-22B Osprey familiarization training.

“The benefit of this exercise for us, especially the TNI, is to validate and refine multinational-force standard operating procedures for HADR missions in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Indonesian National Armed Forces Lt. Col. Ali Isnaini, the commanding officer of the TNI contingent in BKA 24.

BKA 24 highlights the importance of combined operations and demonstrates how working together builds relationships and familiarization through shared processes.

​“Collectively, we are better for participating in this exercise, and we will be ready to respond when the call comes,” concluded Bolz.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

MANILA, Philippines– U.S. Indo-Pacific Command concluded its 35th annual International Military Law and Operations Conference (MILOPS 24) in Manila, Philippines on Aug. 30, 2024. 

MILOPS 24 provided a unique opportunity for legal professionals, academics, and international stakeholders to build legal consensus on critical legal challenges in the Indo-Pacific region – including how to safeguard freedom of navigation and commerce while protecting the sovereign rights of all nations.  

More than 200 participants from 29 countries traveled to the four-day event, which focused on increasing and enhancing cooperation, partnering to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity and enhancing maritime domain awareness. 

Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, addressed the MILOPS 24 participants, providing his assessment of current threats to the rules-based order. He emphasized the role of legal experts as critical enablers for regional commanders to enhance legitimacy of activities and employ legal diplomacy to expose and oppose malign actors. 

“There’s no better time and no better place for MILOPS than right here in Manila. The Philippines has been a global leader in responding to these destabilizing actions with a sincere desire for peaceful resolutions of disputes anchored in diplomacy and in accordance with our governing international framework,” Paparo said. “Amidst challenging global tides, an important ballast stabilizes our common vessel, our open, inclusive and rules based international order that is governed by international law and informed by the principles of equity and justice.” 

Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr., Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines, also spoke at the conference and underscored the value of cooperation and partnership. 

“It is important to highlight the significance of our mutual engagements in regional and multilateral fora, which amplify the voices of both large and small nations alike. By uniting and working together under the common principles of equity, justice, and the rule of law, we can ensure peace and prosperity for future generations,” Brawner said. 

Throughout the week, participants reaffirmed their commitment to the rule of law, emphasizing that it applies equally to all nations, regardless of size or economic strength. The conference addressed serious challenges, such as excessive maritime claims, restrictions on freedom of navigation and violations of territorial sovereignty. 

MILOPS contributes to a free and open Indo-Pacific by fostering legal cooperation and promoting adherence to international law through renewed determination to defend sovereignty and uphold the principles that underpin regional security. 

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

MANILA — Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, visited the Philippines from August 26-30, marking his first trip to the country in his current role. 

During his trip, he met with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr., and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr. He also attended the 35th annual International Military Law and Operations Conference (MILOPS), where he engaged with senior government and military leaders from over 30 nations and international organizations. Accompanying him was U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson.  

Following MILOPS, Paparo joined Brawner on a visit to Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Philippines. ​The visit to this Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) site provided an opportunity​​ for the two leaders to discuss how to strengthen the interoperability of the U.S. and Philippine armed forces and allow for more seamless responses to a range of shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, including humanitarian assistance/disaster relief. 

Additionally, Paparo and Brawner chaired the 2024 meeting of the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board, held at the Philippine Military Academy, Aug. 29. This annual meeting underscores the enduring partnership between the U.S. and Philippine militaries and wraps up a year of bilateral planning and training. 

Paparo met with cadets at the Philippine Military Academy, engaging in discussions about leadership. Paparo highlighted the importance of the next generation of the U.S. and Philippine armed forces continuing to build upon the mutual defense foundations that have been laid by leaders who have come before them. 

The U.S and the Philippines, as friends, partners, and allies, will continue to rapidly pursue modernization projects and opportunities to plan and train together to support our treaty commitments and shared vision for a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous region. Both nations are dedicated to strengthening sovereignty, maritime domain awareness, and the rules-based international order, in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

CAMP CARROLL, Republic of Korea  –  

U.S. Army Medical Logistics Command supported an Eighth Army deployment readiness exercise July 31, supplying medical sets and equipment to an armored division unit participating in Operation Pacific Fortitude.

Pacific Fortitude is a readiness validation exercise, where an Army unit is tested on its ability to rapidly deploy personnel successfully to a given environment, conduct training and redeploy back to their home station.

In this case, Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 70th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, were notified for deployment July 17. Six days later, they began drawing equipment, including six armored vehicles, from Army Prepositioned Stocks in Korea, known as APS-4K.

AMLC’s Support Operations, or SPO, team worked closely with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency, a direct reporting unit to AMLC, to issue seven medical sets aligned with the vehicles pulled from APS storage in support of the exercise.

“The medics from the gaining tactical unit received an executive brief, as well as a short explanation of medical APS and how it supports early medical capabilities,” said Shawn Hardiek, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command desk officer for AMLC SPO. “The medics then conducted joint inventories with the USAMMA staff.”

Inventory operations were timed, providing data broken down by each set to aid in future workload analysis and planning operations.

“When it comes to supporting the warfighter during a transition to hostilities scenario, timing is everything,” said John Foley, interim APS-4K site manager for the event.

After completing inventories, the medical sets were loaded and departed the APS site to simulate the handoff process to the unit. The vehicles then returned and the sets were unloaded and reset to complete the medical portion of the exercise.

In addition to AMLC SPO and USAMMA personnel at APS-4K, personnel from the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Center-Korea and AMLC’s Integrated Logistics Support Center also supported the exercise.

“In an emergency combat situation where seconds matter, we need to be ready to issue medical resources as soon as possible,” Hardiek said. “Participating in exercises like this helps us ensure that we have the systems and procedures in place to be able to do that successfully.”

​USAMMA and USAMMC-K are both direct reporting units to AMLC, the Army’s Life Cycle Management Command for medical materiel.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines  –  

Two air advisors from the 818th Mobility Support Advisory Squadron traveled to the Philippines June 8-20, 2024 to support the United States Marine Corps Marine Aviation Support Activity 24.

The MASA 24 is an annual bilateral exercise focused on enhancing the capabilities in operating with aviation assets from the United States and Philippine militaries with training aimed at improving coordination, communication, and integration among units across the United States Marine Corps, Air Force, Army, and Philippine marine corps, air force, and naval air wing. MASA 24 training aims to foster effective collaboration and mission success in complex, multi-domain environments in support of mutual defense and includes a live-fire exercise on shore reinforcing U.S. commitment and cooperation in the region.

Several U.S. Air Force units participated in MASA 24, which was a testament to the reinforcement of U.S. commitment and cooperation in the region. Two air advisors from the 818th MSAS, Capt. Andrea Pangrac and Tech. Sgt. Mika Pajas, were key in facilitating the successful integration of USAF assets and personnel for interoperability with the Philippine armed forces in MASA 24. The air advisors provided critical cultural and liaison support to USAF stakeholders and other MASA 2024 participants.

“The 305th Air Mobility Wing was my first wing,” Pangrac said. “It was super exciting because I went in knowing the aircraft, the mission sets, the cargo, how their exercises run, and the people. I was thrilled to be asked to support their objectives and to be able to negotiate with exercise stakeholders and resources to build the environment needed for successful operations with our sister services and Philippine partners.”

Pangrac and Pajas were the eyes and ears on the ground at Clark Air Base in preparation for receiving the various USAF aircraft, cargo and personnel.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of being a logistics readiness officer and a mission commander is being able to operate with various unknowns across the different environments we may find ourselves in,” Pangrac said. “Bringing order to chaos and being that conduit that helps make things happen alongside stakeholders with a vested interest in shared objectives is an exciting challenge and a major learning opportunity for growth and process improvement in our operations.”

The 818th MSAS air advisors also integrated with the 733rd Air Mobility Squadron air operations team at Clark AB to coordinate with Philippine Air Force base operations, security forces, and Philippine immigration officers to facilitate smooth immigration processes for USAF stakeholders and base access to Clark AB.

“My Filipino heritage has positively influenced my military experience here in the Philippines by instilling values of resilience, camaraderie, and adaptability, which are crucial in military operations,” Pajas said. “Growing up, I learned Ilocano as my first language and Tagalog as my second. We moved to Hawaii when I was seven, where I learned English. We would vacation to the Philippines every two years, which helped me maintain my language skills.”

Born in Gattaran, Cagayan, Pajas leans into personal experiences to effectively do the job as an air advisor.

“Not only do I get to do my job as an air advisor, but to be able to do it in our native language has helped build rapport with our partners and break down any barriers that might have been there,” said Pajas.

As part of the air advisor and advance team in the Philippines supporting USAF units at Clark and Basa Air Bases, Pajas enjoyed participating in MASA 24 and shared her top three experiences: “First is being able to put out fires before it affects the inbound crews. Being power production, seeing and working the logistics behind the arrival and departure of an aircraft was a cool experience. Secondly, having the Hawaii National Guard here and watching the F-22 Raptors fly in formation. And lastly, working with my brother-in-law, Tech. Sgt. Noel Antalan. With him being a guardsman and me an active-duty service member who operates in a different area of responsibility, this is a rare occasion for us.”

The 818th MSAS historically operates in the U.S. African Command AOR but in recent years has expanded its reach across other AORs, including the Indo-Pacific and South America.

Tech. Sgt. Antalan, an aircraft fuel systems craftsman from the 154th Maintenance Squadron, was born and raised in Hawaii with family roots in the Philippines, specifically from the Ilocos Norte, Pagudpud, and Baguio Regions.

“The Philippine Air Force provided invaluable assistance with all the resources we needed,” Antalan said. “Interacting with them, exchanging thoughts and ideas, and observing our different approaches was truly enriching. It presented a significant opportunity to fortify the bonds between the USAF/HIANG and PAF.”

He also shared a similar favorite experience participating in MASA 24: working with his sister-in-law, Tech. Sgt. Pajas, from the 818th MSAS, thousands of miles from home.

​“Witnessing the F-22 Raptors and the PAF aircraft fly overhead was very impressive. I’ve learned a lot during our conversations with different PAF personnel, ranging from new ideas and perspectives aircraft maintenance-wise to specific facts and details of this exercise and the bigger picture of our mission. My Filipino heritage has greatly influenced my military experience here in the Philippines, providing me with a deep appreciation of the country’s culture, history, and values,” Antalan said.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

EAST JAVA, Indonesia  –  

On the east end of the largest island in Indonesia, the U.S. Army is working with the Indonesian National Armed Forces to build roads and provide humanitarian aid as part of Exercise Super Garuda Shield. The annual two-week exercise runs from August 26 to September 6, 2024, and aims to advance military modernization and enhance joint capabilities.

“This operation is vital for strengthening our relationship with Indonesia,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Rahul Lama, an engineer with the 130th Engineer Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command. “While we train with them we are sending U.S, Army Soldiers into the community to help out with different types of outreach. Today we are helping build a road so farmers in the area can have better access to transportation for [the] food they grow.”

This low altitude part of the Indo-region is prone to flooding during monsoon season, which disrupts access and impacts local agriculture. Farmers depend on their produce for livelihood, and floods can jeopardize the community’s food supply and materials such as cotton and silk.

“This is my second time coming here. I was here last year building more roads and I’m very excited to be doing that again because I feel like it really left a positive impact on the locals.” Sgt. Lama continued. “The local [Indonesians] are very grateful, they welcome us warmly when we are here because they see what we are doing for them.

​The term “Garuda” is derived from a mythical creature from local legends and traditions in East Java, the same area many of these exercises are taking place. The bird-like being, also featured on the Indonesian National Emblem, symbolizes knowledge, power, and bravery. These values are evident throughout the joint training exercise.

This partnership benefits the U.S., Indonesia, and participating nations by enhancing trust, global stability, security, and prosperity while upholding international law and shared values. U.S. forces continuously seek opportunities for multinational events to strengthen alliances and partnerships.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

MANILA, Philippines– Senior military and defense leaders from 29 nations and representatives from international organizations are gathering in Manila, Philippines to attend U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s 35th annual International Military Law and Operations Conference (MILOPS 24) from Aug. 27-30. 

Co-hosted by USINDOPACOM and the Philippine Department of National Defense, the theme for MILOPS 24 is “The Future of the Indo-Pacific: Partnering to Defend Sovereignty.” Consistent with this theme, participants will engage with leading experts and contribute to panel discussions and practical exercises ​aimed at enhancing​​​ cooperation and uphold​ing​ international law, rules and norms. 

Keynote speakers at this year’s conference include: ​Philippine Secretary of National Defense ​​​Gilbert C. Teodoro Jr.​​; ​​U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines​ MaryKay Carlson​; Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr., Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines; and Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. 
MILOPS 24 ​focuses​​​​​ on ​advancing​​​ legal diplomacy​ by ​​​building ​​consensus through partnership​, transparent dialogue, ​​​and good faith​ ​​​discussions on ​key​​​ international security issues.​​ ​The conference identifies ​​​ ​concrete ​​​ actions nations can take to ​uphold​​​​​ ​​​​sovereign rights ​and emphasize ​​​ shared values that include freedom of navigation and commerce, peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, and ​collaborative efforts​​​ to enhance maritime domain awareness and combat illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.  

​​Through open discussions and the establishment of enduring bilateral and multilateral partnerships, ​MILOPS 24​​ address​es​ these challenges​ while​ ​reinforcing ​​​the rule of law and the sovereign equality of all nations. 

MILOPS is an annual executive-level forum co-hosted with a rotating partner nation and ​​is ​a ​part of USINDOPACOM’s commitment to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation.