Land Power in the Pacific Symposium Kicks Off

Photo By Staff Sgt. Christopher McCullough | Representatives from 26 of 46 nations throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, as well as service members from all four branches of the U.S. Department of Defense, gather at the Sheraton Waikiki, in Honolulu, to kick off the 4th annual LANPAC Symposium & Exposition May 24. The three-day symposium will provide an opportunity for multiple land forces commanders from the U.S. Army Pacific; U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific; and Special Operations Command Pacific, alongside joint and regional partners, to discuss and showcase the critical role of Pacific land forces which extend over an area that that spans nearly half the world's surface area and holds half the world's population. This year's theme is "Assuring Stability and Security – Strengthening Land Force Teams". (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Chris McCullough)  

HONOLULU, HI, UNITED STATES

05.24.2016

Story by Staff Sgt. Christopher McCullough 

U.S. Army Pacific Public Affairs Office

HONOLULU - Representatives from 26 of 46 nations throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region gathered in Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, to kick off the 4th annual LANPAC Symposium & Exposition May 24.

The "world-class international event highlights the role of land forces in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and their contributions to the joint force in peace and war," according to the website of the event sponsor, the Association of the United States Army.

"This symposium will illustrate the importance of land power in the Pacific, as well as the role of American land forces in engaging allies to build partner capacity and effectiveness in response to requirements of the commander, U.S. Pacific Command," said retired U.S. Army Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, President AUSA. This year's theme is "Assuring Stability and Security – Strengthening Land Force Teams."

The three-day symposium provides an opportunity for multiple land forces commanders from the U.S. Army Pacific; U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific; and Special Operations Command Pacific, alongside joint and regional partners, to discuss and showcase the critical role of Pacific land forces which extends over an area that spans nearly half the world's surface area and holds half the world's population.

"The most important reason for the Marines to be here at the LANPAC conference is to discuss the importance of amphibious operations in this theater throughout the entire range of military operations. We need to make amphibious capability truly joint," said Lt. Gen. John Toolan, Commanding General, MARFORPAC.

The focus of this year's annual event will concentrate on current regional perspectives; Amphibious Capabilities & Development for Land Forces; Land Force & Maritime Domain Awareness; Readiness: Preparing for War & Preventing Conflict in Phase Zero; Land Forces in Air and Missile Defense & Emerging Capabilities; Force Projection and Sustainment of Land Forces; and Using The Humanitarian Competencies of Land Forces.

"Some of these panel topics – just their title alone should stimulate all sorts of thoughts and questions," said Gen. Robert B. Brown, USARPAC Commanding General. "At least I hope so, because it is these types of open and honest discussions that help us sharpen our minds and strengthen our relationships – across professions, services, and countries. That’s what this week is all about."

According to AUSA, Hawaii's central location has brought two dozen representatives from across the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, including representatives from Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor Leste, Tonga and the United States. That's nearly double the previous year's attendance, according to the Army's professional association.

This year's LANPAC marks the first time for several other forums, to include the Pacific Instrumentation Forum, where discussion will focus on how simulations can enhance multinational unit training through live, virtual and constructive training from multiple locations; a Medical Forum, where participants will discuss roles and responsibilities of the health sector; and an Intelligence Forum, where members of the intel community will share best practices on how land forces can collectively provide intelligence support to maritime domain awareness.

Live coverage of the panel discussions, and archived video of past meetings, can be found on the Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System at https://www.dvidshub.net/USARPACPAO. Additional coverage can be found on the USARPAC Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/USARPAC and Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/USARPAC.

• Date Taken: 05.24.2016
• Date Posted: 05.24.2016 23:50
• Story ID: 198993
• Location: HONOLULU, HI, US