By Army Master Sgt. Mary Ferguson,
8th Theater Sustainment Command
DoD News, Defense Media Activity
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, March 16, 2016 — Joint, interagency and multinational sustainment experts gathered here March 14 for Angkor Opening 2016, a weeklong exchange and tabletop exercise that officials said is designed to build partnerships, interoperability and readiness in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief port opening operations.
The exercise, hosted by the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and sponsored by the U.S. Army’s 8th Theater Sustainment Command and the Cambodian National Committee for Maritime Safety, is the first exchange of its kind between the organizations, officials said.
“This important exercise provides the perfect venue and atmosphere for us to join together to improve our collective readiness when it comes to [humanitarian assistance and disaster relief] response efforts,” said Army Maj. Gen. Edward F. Dorman III, 8th TSC commander.
The U.S. contingent of participants includes experts from U.S. Transportation Command, 8th TSC, 130th Theater Engineer Brigade, 9th Mission Support Command, 593rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), 7th Transportation Battalion (Expeditionary), 413th Contracting Support Brigade, Army divers, and a U.S. Navy underwater construction team.
Synchronized Cooperation
During the tabletop exercise, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief scenario will trigger Cambodian National Committee for Maritime Safety planning for port-opening operations at both fixed-port and bare-beach locations, creating a critical need for synchronized cooperation of participants expertise and capabilities, officials said.
Angkor Opening 16 also will feature an event welcoming industry representatives and encouraging increased communication and understanding between industry and military partners in the region, and a military diver academic expert exchange at Cambodia’s Sihanoukville port to provide a cooperative understanding of partner nations military diver capabilities and missions.
Dorman said the opportunities for exchange and rehearsing port-opening capabilities lay the foundation for future exchanges and sets the conditions for further partnership with joint, interagency and multinational teammates.
“Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief are priorities for both of our countries, and as we operate together in this complex, ever-changing region, the future and growth of exercises like this one are critical to our regional stability and security,” he said.