By Army Master Sgt. Mary E. Ferguson, 8th Theater Sustainment Command
DoD News, Defense Media Activity
KAMPONG SPEU PROVINCE, Cambodia, March 28, 2016 — As Angkor Sentinel 2016 drew to a close March 25, U.S. and Cambodian forces wrapped up two weeks of bilateral training and relationship-building with a ceremony and a Royal Cambodian Army capability demonstration at the Training School for Multinational Peacekeeping Forces here.
This year marked the seventh iteration of the annual bilateral military exercise hosted by the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and sponsored by U.S. Army Pacific. The exercise is designed to collectively strengthen the two countries’ humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities and improve military-to-military cooperation.
“The men and women of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces have again and again demonstrated their commitment to serve,” said U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia William Headt. “When storms or floods have affected Cambodia, service members have responded. The Cambodian military is a critical government asset in providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and I’m proud that the United States has been able to support Cambodia in this important task.”
The exercise brought together personnel from Cambodia’s army, the National Center for Peacekeeping Forces, Mines and Explosive Remnants of War Clearance and the Royal Gendarmerie of Cambodia, with U.S. forces from U.S. Army Pacific, the Idaho Army National Guard, and the Asia Pacific Counter Improvised Explosive Devise Fusion Center.
“Exercises like Angkor Sentinel better prepare us to address natural disasters that transcend national borders, and working together shoulder-to-shoulder will have a profound impact on the individuals who were involved,” said Army Maj. Gen. Todd McCaffrey, deputy commander of U.S. Army Pacific.
The concentrated training agenda included intense academics, team-building events, and practical exercises intended to foster exchange and opportunities for the two countries’ militaries to learn about each other’s tactics, techniques and procedures, while strengthening relationships and building the foundation for future humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercises.
Headt said, “The United States and Cambodia face many shared challenges including increasingly unpredictable and destructive weather patterns, violent extremism, emerging diseases, and regional conflicts, to name just a few. We have learned over the years that these problems are best solved through dialogue and cooperation, including exercises like Angkor Sentinel.”
The Royal Cambodian Army and U.S. Army Pacific-contingency of soldiers also experienced several teambuilding firsts during this year’s exercise, to include a combined esprit de corps formation run, talent show, and a warrior challenge event that featured three Cambodian-U.S. teams competing in a timed 6k run, 2k litter carry, and an advanced 10-event obstacle course.
“These personal experiences are what bind us together and establish the foundation so our countries can work together on a range of other shared interests in the future,” McCaffrey said. “Together we have made substantial progress in helping to secure peace in the Pacific and beyond, and we look forward to building on this experience to further our mutual goals of stability and enhanced security in the future.”
The closing ceremony also featured a military capability and martial arts demonstration highlighting the professionalism and cultural traditions embedded in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.
Angkor Sentinel 2017 planning is underway, and the exercise is projected to potentially play a role in next year’s Pacific Pathways operations.