RIMBA AIR BASE, Brunei – U.S. Air Force Reserve Airmen assigned to the 655th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing (ISRW) participated in Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) Air Domain Awareness (ADA) Mobile Training Team (MTT) with the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) here on Jan. 26-29 through PACAF’s Regional ADA security cooperation initiative.
The 655 ISRW participated in this event through the Reserve Allies and Partners Program (RAPP). RAPP connects Reserve Airmen with international partners to support shared operational goals.
This marks the first time 655 ISRW members have attended a training event in Brunei. It is also the second iteration of Brunei supporting PACAF’s regional ADA security cooperation initiative, which aims to strengthen capabilities, collaboration and advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
This course is part of PACAF’s International Affairs Division efforts to build a network of allies and partners that share a common understanding of air domain awareness. It also supports Department of the Air Force initiatives by strengthening alliances through training, education, and information exchange. The overall theme of the training was, “Introduction to Operational Planning for Effective Air Domain Awareness” centered on Area Air Defense Plan development and Air Operations Center (AOC) products, processes, and procedures.
“We are honored to work alongside our Bruneian counterparts to advance our shared security interests,” said Kevin Palko, lead instructor for the PACAF Mobile Training Team. “This training reflects our mutual dedication to building capacity and fostering communication in the region.”
The four-day training event consisted of classroom instruction, exercises, discussions on best practices and breakout sessions geared toward enhancing RBAirF’s air domain awareness capabilities, as well as collaboration between Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia and Vietnam.
The MTT provided an opportunity for members to discuss air and maritime domain challenges within their national borders and the South China Sea. Joint discussions around aerial surveillance, threat detection and information sharing further enabled Brunei Darussalam’s efforts in monitoring and securing its airspace. The Air Force Reserve leveraged the 655 ISRW’s expertise in ISR, AOC, and Command and Control (C2), in relation to joint air operations and planning to fill requirements for instructors normally filled by active-duty Air Force members. According to PACAF leadership, the 655 ISRW demonstrated exceptional performance and brought deep knowledge and expertise to the program.
“This engagement reenforced the importance of relationships with allies and partners and enriched my understanding of defense cooperation in the region,” said Lt. Col. Anna McLennan, an AOC and C2 Subject Matter Expert. “The 655 ISRW provides the Reserve advantage that air components need to strengthen partnerships and increase cooperation in their regions and domains.”
Partnership activities enhance trust and promote global stability, security and prosperity, while reinforcing shared values. This training highlighted the 655 ISRW’s ability to deliver operational expertise in air domain awareness, supporting continued collaboration between U.S. Pacific Air Forces and the Royal Brunei Air Force to strengthen peace, security and deterrence across the Indo-Pacific region.