MANILA, Philippines — Senior enlisted leaders from 10 countries across the Indo-Pacific, the Americas, and Europe gathered in Manila for the inaugural Senior Enlisted Leader Program during the 11th Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium, known as PALS, July 8.
While PALS has long united amphibious and maritime commanders, this year marked the first time senior enlisted leaders had a dedicated forum to build regional relationships, share best practices, and collaborate on the professional development of enlisted forces.
“This senior enlisted leader forum is more than a gathering; it is a convergence of experience, professionalism and leadership,” said Master Chief Petty Officer Rosimalu D. Galgao, command master chief of the Philippine Navy. “We gather here not just as representatives of our respective forces, but as advocates of cooperation, champions of interoperability, and stewards of peace and stability in our region.”
The forum, co-hosted by U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific and the Philippine Marine Corps, included more than 30 top enlisted representatives from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, Singapore, Peru, Timor-Leste, and all branches of the Philippine Armed Forces.
Sgt. Maj. Joy Kitashima, command senior enlisted leader of MARFORPAC and lead U.S. delegate of the forum, said the idea for a senior enlisted leader program was long overdue.
“We have been conducting PALS since 2015, but it was only last year that some of our senior leaders acknowledged the value in bringing our senior enlisted leaders into the fold—to give us the opportunity to share methods of enhancing the readiness of our respective enlisted forces,” she said. “As I look out at all your faces and the lines that reflect years of experience, I can’t help but think what a missed opportunity it would be if we didn’t come together like this—to share our stories, our lessons, and everything we’ve learned along the way.”
Much of the discussion focused on the role of professional military education in shaping future leaders. Master Gunnery Sgt. Jeremy Vought, communication strategy and operations chief for MARFORPAC and the U.S. planner for the forum, said PME is about more than instruction—it's about transformation and the elevation of the enlisted force.
While informing international senior enlisted leaders about the U.S. Marine Corps’ PME program, he said the end goal is to create, “a professional warfighter, an ethical leader, and a sound decision-maker, capable not just of courageous action, but building others through mentorship and leadership rooted in our values.”
He went on to say, “The strength of our militaries is our enlisted force. We are the backbone. Without our enlisted force our nations cannot take and hold ground. We can’t project power from the sea or protect our interests and our people, and we can’t help other people in need during disasters without our enlisted force.”
Kitashima challenged attendees to ensure their enlisted forces are never outpaced by adversaries.
“We need masters of their craft in our enlisted force, and we need ethical decision-makers with a bias for action,” she said. “What are we doing to prepare them?”
The Philippine Marine Corps delegation highlighted its own recent advancements in enlisted development through the introduction of a decentralized mentoring program. Chief Master Sgt. Rommel Carbon, command sergeant major of the Philippine Marine Corps, explained that while platforms and weapons evolve, leadership remains the decisive asset.
“All these things are just tools to success,” Carbon said. “The best asset within any organization in the military is the human resource—and that’s where leadership comes in.”
Kitashima seconded that idea when reflecting on all the programs military services put in place to develop their force.
“There is no program that will ever replace leadership. The culture we create in our organizations—that’s where we make the money,” she said.
The event also explored the example senior enlisted leaders set across the force. Sgt. Maj. Ismael Bamba, command senior enlisted leader for U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea, reminded the group that the work of leadership starts with themselves.
“Though you have the structure on how to build and mentor your Marines, the work is done behind all that. You all, all of us, we are the first line. The example we set by us first is incredibly important. Not by how we want them to be - make sure you look like the way you want them to become if not better.”
Senior enlisted leaders from the Philippine Coast Guard and Armed Forces of the Philippines echoed the importance of mutual mentorship and investment in junior leaders.
“We are the standard bearers of discipline, the first line of mentorship, and often the most constant presence in the lives of our personnel,” said Fleet Master Chief Allan Cloma, command master chief of the Philippine Coast Guard. “Let us invest in our junior enlisted personnel, nurture future leaders, and inspire hope—even in the most difficult operations.”
Cloma went on saying, “We know that our strength lies not just in our vessels and our assets, but in the resilience, confidence, and unity of our personnel. What we find in forums like this is that we are not alone in this mission. That across the Indo-Pacific region we have brothers and sisters in uniform who share that same dedication. Let us continue to lead by example not only in discipline and unity, but in compassion and courage.”
According to the Marine Corps University, in 2024, roughly 60 international officers attended resident Marine Corps PME courses. The number of international enlisted PME students, though, pales in comparison even as the number of enlisted personnel across all nations is much higher than their officer populations. One of the reoccurring conversations during the PALS senior enlisted leaders forum was figuring out strategies to collaborate on international country-to-country exchanges for enlisted PME opportunities for both students and the exchange of instructors.
PALS is guided by the motto, “Stronger together,” emphasizing the importance of cooperation and coordination when facing a range of challenges, from natural disasters to complex security situations. Galgao reminded participants of what united everyone as enlisted leaders.
“Let this forum serve as a platform where we reinforce our shared commitment to professional development. Let us continue to lead with wisdom, courage, and purpose,” he said. “To our foreign guests, your presence is a testament to the enduring spirit of solidarity in the Indo-Pacific.”
The overall PALS 25 event brought together senior Marine Corps, naval infantry, and military leaders from more than 20 allied and partner nations with a shared interest in the security of the Indo-Pacific region. The event was an important opportunity to enhance personal and professional relationships amongst the region’s amphibious and maritime community through face-to-face engagements.
Force Chief Master Sgt. Feliciano Lazo, senior enlisted leader of the Philippine Armed Forces, closed the senior enlisted program by saying the event was more than a symposium—it was a symbol of shared regional purpose.
“We are one region with a common problem – regional security,” he said. “This is a strategic forum to build trust, sharing knowledge, and strengthening the security and stability of our Indo-Pacific region. The spirit of cooperation and mutual respect demonstrated in this forum is a testament to the enduring strength of our partnership and friendship.”
PALS provided a forum for amphibious leaders to exchange ideas and share best practices, improving the collective ability to work together across a range of missions and scenarios. The experience and expertise assembled at PALS facilitated collaboration among allies and partners from around the world in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
The PALS 25 schedule consisted of key leader engagements, panel discussions, and briefs to engage senior leaders on critical topics such as leveraging emerging technologies for littoral operations, logistical challenges in disaster relief missions, and the role of information operations in the modern maritime environment. In addition to these discussions, delegations presented on technology-based solutions for maritime domain awareness and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, as well as amphibious force contributions to multinational security cooperation.
Established by MARFORPAC in 2015, PALS continues to gather a growing list of nations. Since the symposium’s development, several ally and partner militaries co-hosted, including Japan, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Korea, and for the first time this year, Republic of the Philippines. The growing list of co-hosts demonstrates the depth of commitment among allies and partners to a more capable combined force across the Indo-Pacific.
“PALS provides a valuable opportunity to strengthen partnerships across the Indo-Pacific, ensuring that when challenges arise, we’re aligned and ready to act,” said Lt. Gen. James Glynn, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. “It’s about building trust, fostering collaboration, and preparing for the complex scenarios we may face. In this region, we know that collective strength is our greatest asset, and through events like PALS, we ensure that we’re ready to respond together, as one.”
Date Taken: | 07.08.2025 |
Date Posted: | 07.31.2025 23:37 |
Story ID: | 543424 |
Location: | MANILA, PH |
Web Views: | 76 |
Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Pacific, European, and American Military Allies and Partners Launch First Senior Enlisted Leader Forum at Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium in Manila, by MGySgt Jeremy Vought, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.