Photo By Sgt. Duke Edwards | Philippine Army soldiers prepare to engage the opposition force during a multinational...... read more read more
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FORT MAGSAYSAY, Philippines — In a practical demonstration of regional integration, military forces from the United States, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan successfully executed Operation Sama Sama, a complex multi-domain air assault mission on May 17, 2026.
Conducted as part of the Philippine-led Exercise Salaknib, this operation was a key event in the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center-Exportable (JPMRC-X) training rotation. It tested the coalition’s ability to rapidly deploy and integrate capabilities to secure key terrain in a contested, archipelagic environment.
“Exercise Salaknib means ‘shield,’ and today we demonstrated the strength of that shield alongside our regional partners,” said Maj Gen.James Bartholomees, the commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division.
The synchronized maneuver began with a ground force, led by a New Zealand Army infantry platoon supported by Australian reconnaissance and sniper teams, establishing initial security at a designated landing zone in Northern Luzon. Following this, U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade inserted the main assault force, composed of soldiers from the Philippine Army and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, to seize the objective area. The 25th Infantry Division’s 3rd Mobile Brigade provided a command-and-control node to integrate the multinational forces.
After defeating a platoon of opposition forces and securing the landing zone, the coalition demonstrated its rapid deployment capabilities when a U.S. High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, known as HIMARS, moved into position and conducted a simulated long-range precision fire.
Leaders from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force watched the operation in person, underscoring the importance of regional countries working together.
“This mission is a clear display of our collective readiness,” Bartholomees added. “‘Sama Sama’ means ‘together’ in Tagalog, and by integrating forces from five nations into a single, complex maneuver, we are building the mutual understanding and tactical interoperability that makes our multinational coalition so effective.”
The operation served as a critical milestone, validating the coalition’s ability to seamlessly communicate, maneuver, and coordinate operations as a unified partnership.
JPMRC-X, as part of Exercise Salaknib, integrates U.S., Philippine, and partner forces in realistic scenarios to enhance combined operational effectiveness, refine multi-domain tactics, and strengthen regional readiness in the Indo-Pacific.
About the 25th Infantry Division: The 25th Infantry Division (Tropic Lightning) is America’s Pacific Division. Based in Hawaii, the 25th ID provides the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command a premier, highly trained, and effective force, ready to deploy and conduct decisive operations across the Indo-Pacific region. The division focuses on strengthening relationships with allies and partners to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.
| Date Taken: | 05.16.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 05.20.2026 07:46 |
| Story ID: | 565593 |
| Location: | PH |
| Web Views: | 16 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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