Photo By Sgt. Maj. Mary Ferguson | (left to right)Ambassador William Headt, the U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of...... read more read more
KAMPONG SPEU PROVINCE, Cambodia - U.S. and Cambodian forces wrapped up two weeks of bilateral training and relationship building, as they officially closed Angkor Sentinel 2016, with a ceremony and Royal Cambodian Army capability demonstration March 25 at the Training School for Multinational Peacekeeping Forces in Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia.
This year marked the seventh iteration of the annual bilateral military exercise hosted by the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and sponsored by the U.S. Army Pacific that’s 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 Ambassador William Headt, the U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia. “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 Cambodian Forces from the Royal Cambodian Army (RCA), National Center for Peacekeeping Forces, Mine, & Explosive Remnants of War Clearance (NPMEC), and Gendarmerie Royale Khmer (GRK), with U.S. forces from U.S. Army Pacific, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, 130th Theater Engineer Brigade, 8th Military Police Brigade, 303rd EOD Battalion, the Idaho Army National Guard, 18th Medical Command, Asia Pacific C-IED Fusion Center (APCFC), and 413th Contracting Brigade.
“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 Maj. Gen. Todd McCaffrey, U.S. Army Pacific’s Deputy Commander.
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 others tactics, techniques and procedures, while strengthening relationships and building the foundation for future HA/DR 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.
McCaffrey said, “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. 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.
| Date Taken: | 03.25.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 03.25.2016 13:52 |
| Story ID: | 193504 |
| Location: | KAMPONG SPEU PROVINCE, KH |
| Web Views: | 389 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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