Photo By Cpl. Jacqueline Akamelu | Janine Hollenbeck, an emergency planning manager with Defense Coordinating Element IX,...... read more read more
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CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Working together has always been a strength throughout the Department of War and many partnering agencies. The concept of a united, long-term partnership is the basis of how the United States protects its citizens against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and combats issues that arise on the home front. On November 5, 2025, Marine Corps Installations West, in coordination with I Marine Expeditionary Force, hosted an Interagency Partner Tabletop Exercise that brought together military leaders and regional partners to enhance coordination and readiness across multiple response disciplines.
The Interagency Partner TTX included participation from MCIWEST commanders, I MEF staff, Senior Leader Training Instructors, liaison officers, and interagency representatives across Southern California. The exercise created a space for leaders to address and respond to complex scenarios, testing communication, readiness, and capabilities to ensure steady improvement in rapid, contested deployment and proficient responsiveness. The scenarios included rapid force deployment, regional power outages, transportation limitations in a contested environment, and the impacts of a major wildland fire.
“It's good to get everyone together to talk and be able to solve future problems,” explained Robert Fleisher, a division chief with the Camp Pendleton Fire Department.
A standard training tool, tabletop exercises are founded on the concept of combining organizations and creating a consolidated rally point that allocates for combined communication and readiness through scenario-focused responsiveness. This training format allows key leaders to share their experiences and expertise to develop a more efficient, coordinated response across all participating organizations. By creating a transparent and open learning environment, leaders were able to share niche and unique wisdom and experience from their own organizations, combining their knowledge in a professional setting.
“I would say that having the discussions, identifying problems that need action, allows us to solve problems before they arise at the time of deployment,” stated Janine Hollenbeck, an emergency planning manager with Defense Coordinating Element IX.
Demonstrating capabilities across various adversarial and non-adversarial scenarios, it revealed to leaders areas for growth in interagency relationships, communications, and communication procedures.
Highlighting the Interagency TTX’s importance, U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Nick Brown, the commanding general of Marine Corps Installations West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, gave remarks on ensuring precise information distribution across all coordinating vessels within and outside the Southern California and I MEF organizations.
Developing protocols focused on brevity readiness enabled leaders to identify and address recurring shortcomings across interagency coordination in the Southern California region, including the FBI, Border Patrol, and California Transportation. Swift, timely execution across the various training scenarios increased confidence and competency within the coordinating organizations.
“[San Diego Gas and Electric] is committed to regional preparedness,” shared Jessica Kunert, an emergency management strategy manager with SDG&E. “We value our military partners, like MCIWEST, and appreciate being invited here and are happy to support everyone’s capabilities as much as possible.”
In response to common, uncontrollable issues such as power outages and wildfires prevalent throughout Southern California, the Interagency TTX implemented efforts to modernize response procedures, improving response time from influential organizations.
“From a [San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center] perspective, we understand the importance of supporting our military partners,” stated Phil Oglesby, a supervisory analyst with the critical infrastructure protection unit, SD-LECC. “My particular slice of the pie is critical infrastructure protection, and we know that the military facilities have dependencies in the private sector, and that’s part of our mission set. It’s important that we work together closely with the mission assurance team here for MCIWEST, Camp Pendleton, and other military partners.”
The Interagency TTX evaluated the numerous capabilities standard and recurring throughout the Southern California region. Standing the test of time, many procedures have proven, time and time again, to be efficient and responsive. The training improved and refined those same efficient and responsive efforts, identified areas of negligence, enhanced organizational cohesion, and developed protocols for a safer tomorrow for the citizens of Southern California.
The next phase of effort for the participating organizations will include continuous implementation and improvement across communications, coordination, and planning within the organizations across the MCIWEST area.
By themselves, the organizations stand firm in the face of adversity. Together, however, they demonstrate a stronghold of iron, ready to face any challenge with speed and intensity, regardless of the scenario. (U.S. Marine Corps Story by Cpl. Jacqueline Akamelu)
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| Date Taken: | 11.07.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.17.2025 09:10 |
| Story ID: | 550828 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 749 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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