Air Force

The 86th Medical Group conducted a base-wide flu shot initiative exercise from Oct. 21-to Nov. 1, here.

The exercise focused on boosting the health and readiness of personnel by offering Airmen convenient access to flu vaccinations which are essential for preventing influenza and influenza related health issues. This initiative also ensures that the 86th MDG can effectively execute medical missions while on short notice.

“There are a lot of moving parts,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Tandrea Wilson, 86th Healthcare Operations Squadron primary care flight chief. “Making sure we have the right amount of people at all the corresponding areas in the line, unpackaging and giving the vaccines, and managing that for 12 hours a day is what has allowed us to be very effective this week.”

The Installation Point of Dispensing Exercise aimed to ensure a swift and efficient response to future large-scale medical mission priorities and to boost readiness among Ramstein service members. The 86th MDG was able to get as many as 1,800 patients vaccinated in one day, showcasing the group’s capability to effectively respond to a possible emergency outbreak in the future.

“It is crucial that Airmen are prepared to combat the flu to ensure we can get the mission done quickly and safely”, said U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Nestor Galban, 86th HCOS aerospace medical technician.

The 86th MDG’s flu shot initiative highlights their commitment to safeguarding the health and readiness of Ramstein’s civilians and personnel. The team’s hard work and dedication not only protected the community from the flu but also strengthened the sense of unity and camaraderie on the installation.

CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea – More than 50 senior enlisted leaders from the Republic of Korea and United States militaries engaged in Mangudai 2024, which ran from Oct. 22-24, and included events spanning the lengths of Rodriguez Live Fire Complex, Camp Casey, and Camp Bonifas.

Mangudai is an annual three-day training exercise that evaluates senior enlisted leaders’ mettle in a grueling series of events, testing their physical fitness, adaptability, discipline, and mastery of core Soldiering tasks in an environment where sleep is sparse, and the weather is constantly adverse.

“Mangudai goes back to the 13th Century with the Mongolian Warriors. The leader of that force would select his most elite special forces through a training competition, which was called Mangudai,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Jack Love, Tri-Command Senior Enlisted Advisor.

“The US military has been executing Mangudai since the former U.S. Forces Korea Sergeant Major, Sgt. Maj. John Wayne Troxell started it at Joint Base Lewis McCord when he was the 1st Corps Command Sergeant Major,” said Love. “I think it’s critically important for all senior enlisted leaders to participate for a number of reasons. First and foremost, we can never forget that we, all of us, whether you’re in for twenty years or thirty years, we must earn our place in the formation every day.”

“We need to be able to do what we expect our young Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Guardians to do,” explained Love. “We may not be able to do it as fast as we used to be able to, but we must be able to train, fight, and win in any conflict, in any environment. And so, this exercise really gets after that, and it tests a lot of grit.”

Key events for Mangudai include: live fires, patrol base activities, land navigation, rendering casualty care under threat of mortar fire, a hand-to-hand combat challenge in a waist deep mud-pit, and miles upon miles of foot-marching through rain and the frigid cold.

“We all got soaking wet from the rain and it was extremely cold to the point we were shivering; However, we were still motivated, which is the most meaningful part to me,” said Republic of Korea-Army Master Sgt. Hyun-Beom Lim, company executive officer, Special Task Infantry. “I think it is fascinating that ROK and U.S. personnel manage to overcome hardships by working as a team, and it made me enjoy all the tough tasks that need to be done through the exercise.”

While the training focuses on pushing competitors to their limits and potentially to their breaking points, it’s also an opportunity to build trust and strong relations between partners, according to 1st Sgt. Gerald L. Harness, a competitor hailing from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 6-52 Air Defense Artillery Battalion.

“Mangudai is a test of intestinal fortitude and of our ability to communicate with our allied partners who we’re teamed up with. It’s all about teamwork. When you’re in charge, be in charge, and when you’re not, be a good follower,” said Harness. “My biggest takeaways from participating in Mangudai are, understanding my limits and the capabilities of our host nation allies, expanding both my comfort zone and my capabilities to not only lead with my peers, but follow them as well.”

When all is said and done, the core focus of Mangudai, like all military training, is grounded in warfighter readiness and instilling confidence in the tactics, techniques, and procedures Soldiers will employ on the battlefield.

“General LaCamera has four lines of operation and two lines of effort. Line of Operation number three is Combat Readiness,” said Love. “We have to be ready on the Peninsula, and though we pray for peace and want to maintain the current armistice state, should crisis or conflict arise, we have to be ready to fight tonight and win, so these skills really are the foundation of everything we do, regardless of your service, whether you’re from the United States or a Republic of Korea service member, winning is the only option.”

“When I watch these first sergeants and master sergeants across our combined forces command and the grit and determination they’re pushing through, I’ve never been prouder,” Love added. “I would go to combat any day, anywhere with any one of them because they’re warriors.”

Maj. Gen. Paul D. Moga, Third Air Force and Kaiserslautern Military Community commander, Ms. Carolin Henn, Chief of Staff of the Police Presidium West Palatinate, Ms. Jacqueline Schröder, representative from the Ministry of the Interior of Rhineland-Palatinate and Head of Pirmasens Police Inspection, and other regional police officials met Oct. 28, 2024 at Ramstein Air Base, to kick-off the “Key Moment” (“Schlüsselmoment” in German) campaign, that aims to prevent and reduce DUI incidents in the area.

Schröder was tasked by the Ministry of the Interior of Rhineland-Palatinate to develop the road traffic safety campaign and is now responsible for its implementation. The meeting unveiled bilingual educational “Key Moment” DUI campaign materials in English and German. These include a series of posters, graphics and QR codes that lead to informational content to help educate and inform the viewers. The goal is to reduce DUI incidents in the KMC by raising awareness for German drinking limits, alternative transportation, and consequences of DUI offenses.

“With the ‘Key Moment’ traffic campaign, the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Lower Saxony are working together to draw attention to the dramatic consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Our aim is to make people think and to make them aware that every journey requires a responsible decision,” said Schröder.

“The ‘Key Moment’ describes the moment when an individual chooses whether to get in the car or leave it. The individual decision can make the difference between happiness and unhappiness, and between life and death. It is a brief moment, but the consequences can be serious. This is exactly where we come in: With this campaign, we want to encourage all road users to act responsibly and make the right choice during their key moment,” Schröder said.

The U.S. forces in the region expressly support this important cause. The joint prevention and awareness campaign is part of a continuing partnership to promote safety between the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of the Interior, the Police Presidium West Palatinate and the Kaiserslautern military community.

This event follows a cooperation agreement that Maj. Gen. Moga signed in July 2024 with State Minister of the Interior of Rhineland-Palatinate, Mr. Michael Ebling, that formally established the partnership between the KMC and the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of the Interior with the aim of preventing and reducing DUI offenses in the area.

“While there is always a collective responsibility to counter DUIs, this ‘Key Moment’ campaign is focused on making an impact at the individual level. Your decisions not only affect you, but also the people around you,” Moga said, “This campaign reaffirms our commitment to a safe and secure environment for all residents of the KMC and the surrounding region. The safety and well-being of our Service Members, their families, and everyone in the community remains of utmost importance.”

In addition to this public awareness campaign, the KMC and local German Polizei have agreed to continue regular meetings between representatives from local U.S. Air Force and Army installations and local police units to discuss strategies, share information, and evaluate the effectiveness of their efforts. This proactive collaboration and unified approach intends to help curb and avoid alcohol and drug-related traffic offenses.

“Key Moment” DUI campaign materials can be viewed/downloaded in English, and in German.

https://www.ramstein.af.mil/Resources/Resiliency-Tools/Safe-Drinking-Portal/

https://www.polizei.rlp.de/schluesselmoment

KOTZEBUE, Alaska – With winter freeze-up just around the corner, Kotzebue residents and responders from across Alaska are racing against time to clean up and recover from a powerful fall storm that flooded the town, displaced more than 80 residents, and damaged dozens of homes.

The Alaska Organized Militia, local responders and support teams from across the state joined forces to provide recovery assistance to the community.

“The most challenging part has been balancing the need for swift debris removal and structural repairs with the pressure of the approaching winter freeze,” said Chris Hatcher, incident commander and Northwest Arctic Borough’s director of public safety. “The cold temperatures, increased winds, and frozen ground make outdoor work challenging, especially with hazards like blowing insulation, mold, and exposed nails.”

Kotzebue is a close-knit community, situated on a gravel spit at the end of the Baldwin Peninsula, 33 miles north of the Arctic Circle along Alaska’s west coast. Known for its long, snowy winters, Kotzebue is already feeling the season’s chill. Sunday’s high was just 16 degrees, with snow and gusting winds expected this week.

The Alaska Organized Militia, including Alaska National Guard and Alaska State Defense Force service members from Kotzebue, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Ninilchik, Palmer, and Wasilla, has joined local responders and other agencies to help residents in critical need. So far, they have completed 91 home assessments and will continue gathering information to help the Northwest Arctic Borough prioritize resources and repairs.

Alaska Air National Guardsman Airman 1st Class Cody Johnson, a firefighter with the 176th Civil Engineer Squadron, didn’t know what to expect on his first State Active Duty mission and trip to northwest Alaska.

“I kind of just came in expecting the worst, hoping for the best, and just being ready to help with whatever needed to be done,” said Johnson, who joined the 176th Wing a few years ago. “This is my first time really doing anything other than basic training or tech school and just training around the base.”

Johnson explained that while firefighting skills like climbing ladders and tying knots have limited application here, he’s been able to use civilian skills such as framing and plumbing.

Over the weekend, AKOM members were busy with repairs to make homes safer and warmer, fixing broken pipes, reconstructing and reinforcing entryways to homes, securing shifted fuel tanks, and clearing debris. These efforts, along with conducting detailed damage assessments, are helping Kotzebue residents recover as freeze-up approaches.

Crews from the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection have taken on the tough job of pumping out standing floodwater. Often, they’re breaking through ice or digging out equipment to keep the water moving as temperatures drop.

“The availability of additional personnel has enabled Kotzebue to quickly respond to damaged properties, repair critical infrastructure, and ensure that residents are safe,” said Hatcher. “State and federal support has also provided financial backing and technical resources, allowing for a faster and more comprehensive recovery than would have been possible otherwise.”

Representatives from the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management are on-site accepting applications for the State Individual Assistance and Temporary Housing programs for survivors with storm-related damage or emergency expenses. The team from DHS&EM has been working closely with Kotzebue’s emergency management team, coordinating resources to keep the response organized and focused.

Local community members have shown their appreciation by cooking and bringing warm meals—fresh bread, spaghetti, grilled sandwiches, soup, cupcakes, and more— keeping the teams fueled and ready for the demanding work ahead.

Johnson said that the community’s graciousness also extended to providing supplies and tools, with local volunteers readily offering extra hands, vehicles and equipment to support the recovery efforts alongside service members.

“The borough’s resilience is evident in the collaboration among city, state, and federal entities, showing the strength of unified response efforts,” said Hatcher. “The focus remains on both immediate recovery and creating a safer, more prepared Kotzebue for the future.”

Other local and state organizations have been actively participating to include the Alaska Departments of Transportation & Public Facilities, Alaska State Troopers, Village Public Safety Officers, Red Cross, Maniilaq Association, and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.

For the Kaiserslautern Military Community Housing team, work is more than just providing a place to live. It’s an essential component of the support system for service members and their families. What may seem like simple, routine tasks are the result of careful coordination and consistent effort behind the scenes, ensuring that everyone’s transition to KMC and Ramstein Air Base, Germany, is as seamless as possible.

KMC Housing manages everything in-house, from assignments and maintenance to move-out inspections for government-owned properties. Hosting the largest concentration of U.S. military personnel outside the United States, KMC’s vast housing footprint presents challenges not commonly encountered domestically. However, the team ensures that service members not only have a roof over their heads but also feel welcomed and at home.

Helping to lead the effort are Housing Flight Chief Kim Danjou and Housing Manager Jesse West, who oversee housing operations for both on-base and off-base personnel. The team manages 1,661 residences across Ramstein, Vogelweh, and other locations, as well as 1,535 unaccompanied rooms and 13,000 off-base residences.

“Ramstein is a beast. No one prepares you for the scale of it,” Danjou emphasized.

The housing office is organized into multiple sections, each with their own roles and responsibilities. With sections including both general schedule employees and local nationals who work on different schedules, Danjou explained that coordination can be complex. Despite these logistical hurdles, Danjou and West remain committed to their core mission: providing a stable home for military families.

“When they don’t have a home, they aren’t settled, and we have the ability to help them find that home and give them security,” Danjou said.

Janedssa Henderson, the General Officers’ Quarters Manager, oversees the housing for KMC’s general officers. Her team is responsible for managing 15 locations designated for high-ranking officials. From the moment a general arrives, Henderson’s team arranges everything from furniture staging to temporary living arrangements, if needed.

“We aim for ‘plane to pillow,’” she explained.

Henderson added that she appreciates that she can see multiple sections of the housing team’s efforts align.

“General housing is unique because, even though the housing office has different sections, I manage all of them together,” she said. “I get to witness the Furnishings Management, Assistance, and Facilities pieces come together.”

The Furnishings Management Section makes sure that service members have the furniture and appliances they need both on- and off-base. Juan Carillo, Operations Supervisor, oversees six teams contributing to the warehouse operations. Jessica Ford, who manages the FMS truck dispatch section, coordinates deliveries and pickups of furnishings. Her team handles around 14,000 active accounts, and their trucks cover enough ground to circle the globe 2.5 times each year.

“We run five full trucks a day, making 10 stops each in the surrounding villages,” Ford detailed.

Their efficiency has even reduced wait times for FMS during the Permanent Change of Station season from six weeks to less than 10 days, an incredible improvement that showcases the team’s innovation.

Michael Pitt, chief of the Facilities section, and his team oversee on-base housing operations, ensuring homes are well-maintained from move-in to move-out. Pitt further emphasized the difference between working in KMC Housing and in the United States, describing that unlike stateside bases where privatized owners act as a middleman, the Facilities section handles everything directly.

“We get the call straight from the resident to our desk, and we’re the ones providing the service they need,” Pitt explained. “We’re involved in people’s lives by providing one of their most basic needs—shelter. It’s where their kids are at home, where they eat dinner with their family, and that’s a big part of what we do. I’ve realized how significant that really is.”

For those living in the dorms, U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Samuel Vourjulu and U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Buchanan help to maintain a comfortable living environment. As the 86th Civil Engineer Squadron Housing Superintendent, Vourjulu serves as the link between customers, the civilian staff, and his unit.

Buchanan, an Airman Dorm Leader, manages in-processing, dorm assignments, and the overall quality of the dorms. He stressed that even small issues, like a leaky faucet or noisy air conditioning, can greatly impact an Airman’s morale. Buchanan also takes pride in the connections he builds.

“On any given day, I could be an ADL, a first sergeant, a supervisor, or even a life coach,” he said. “You never know what these Airmen will need when they come to you.”

Finally, Kristina Wilson, the acting lead of the Assistance section, described her team as being situated at “the heart of everything.” Often the first point of contact for service members and families, they handle everything from in-processing to claims, reimbursements, and special housing needs. When an individual comes in unsure of what they need, they rely on the Assistance section to guide them through the process.

Wilson noted that many of the team members in the Assistance section have military backgrounds, either as veterans, spouses, or children of service members, which deepens their connection to the people they serve. The shared experience allows them to approach their work with both empathy and professionalism, ensuring that they understand the unique needs of service members while adhering to the necessary guidelines and responsibilities.

“Having someone come to our desk and walk out saying, ‘This was nothing like I expected,’ is the most rewarding part,” Wilson said. “You know you’ve guided them and made the process much more enjoyable and manageable, just as it should be.”.

Each section within the housing team at Ramstein Air Base plays a vital role in maintaining a smooth, well-organized operation. From managing on-base and off-base houses and General Officer Quarters to overseeing unaccompanied housing and furniture logistics, every individual contributes to a larger goal.

“When the family is secure, the service member can do their mission,” Danjou said. KMC Housing’s dedication goes beyond the logistical aspects of their work by creating homes and fostering community for those who serve.

By Shannon Collins

Armed Forces Sports

WASHINGTON – With a time of two hours, 25 minutes and six seconds, active-duty Marine Maj. Kyle King, won the 49th Marine Corps Marathon today.

He emotionally hugged his girlfriend, Hope Sweetnam, and then congratulated his fellow runners, second place finisher Air Force Capt. George Henry Crist, with a time of 2:26:20, and third place finisher Army Capt. Kyle Smith, with a time of 2:27:03.

The Marine Men’s team and Women’s team also took home their respective Challenge Cups.

Start

Marine Maj. Gen. Lorna Mahlock, commander, Cyber National Mission Force, Washington, D.C., motivated the marathoners as they prepared for the cannon blast to start the race.

“For all our racers out there, you epitomize tenacity, hard work and grit,” she said. As you go forward and execute this race, do it with a happy heart. Go hard and when you’re done, go home because you’ve embodied what we see in the Marine Corps: honor, courage and commitment. Go home with a happy heart.”

The marathon course starts at the Pentagon, traverses Roslyn, Key Bridge, Georgetown, Rock Creek Park, the National Mall, the 14h Street Bridge, Crystal City and ends at the Marine Corps War Memorial.

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jordan Tropf, who won the 2019 Marine Corps Marathon, started the first half strong, seated in second place at the 13-mile mark with an estimated 2:24:31 time but he said an injury he’s been battling started kicking in.

“First half went great,” said Tropf, Naval Base Guam. “We had a deep strong field this year. It was a lot of fun to race. It was amazing. I just ran my race. It was slower than I wanted to go; I wanted a sub 2:30 and finished at 2:32.”

Out of the 30 marathons he’s raced, he said MCM is his favorite. He won’t commit to coming back to run the 50th but he also says he can’t wait.

King

Around the half mark, King, Crist, and Smith started taking the lead as a pack. They said they shared water, gels and joked a little to help make the miles go by while still focusing on the race.

“I was pretty nervous at the beginning of the race because the pace didn’t feel comfortable early on, going uphill,” said King, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center 29 Palms, California. “I’ve never been a great uphill runner but in 2022, I was doing hill repeats at least once a week, getting ready for the race.”

He won MCM in 2022, the first time an active-duty Marine had won the race in over 30 years. He said this year, he only had six weeks to train because he was in the field and had other mission requirements.

“I sacrificed the hill repeats for more speed work just to try and get that race pace more tolerable,” he said. “I definitely felt the lack of hill repeats on the hills out there.”

The second half of the race is fairly flat, with the exception of mile 20 going across into Crystal City.

“I’ll suffer through these hills and wait until it flattens out. I just try to be patient,” King said. “Jordan did look really good up there. He was leading the front pack for about eight miles. There were a few lead changes. Kyle Smith made a big move at Hains Point. We tracked him down on the back half of Hains Point.”

Kyle said he hadn’t planned on taking the lead from the pack as early as mile 20.

“You usually want to make a big move and try to break people. I wasn’t sure I was fit enough to do that. I was afraid I was going to break myself and not them,” he said. “I wanted to wait until mile 23 to make a move. But mile 20 just kind of happened by accident. I just decided to go with it, hope for the best. Luckily, it worked out.”

King said having a reduced time to train turned up the intensity.

“Every workout I did, three days a week, was just so painful, it was terrible,” he said. “I just wanted it to be over. Those last couple miles out on the course today, I was like, okay, it was worth it. All that pain I put myself through, it was worth it.”

His girlfriend of three years, Sweetnam, wasn’t able to meet him at the finish line in 2022, but emotionally congratulated him after he took gold for the Men’s Division in the Armed Services Championship and won the overall 2024 MCM.

“She made me cry; Marines aren’t supposed to cry. Crying is okay Marines,” he said smiling. “She’s there for the majority of the struggle of getting into shape.”

Sweetnam’s dad served in the Canadian Army for almost 30 years. She said she’s not surprised he won because of the time and preparation he put into training.

“I’m so proud of him. This was a tactical race, not strictly for time. Who’s gritty enough and can get it done?” she said. “Before he started, I told him my motto, ‘Always leave room to surprise yourself.’ He definitely surprised himself but all summer, he’s been cementing the floor of how tough he is, training in the desert, training at 3,500 feet, going up into the mountains. I was always happy to be out there, supporting him.”

She said she loves seeing firsthand his kindness during a race.

“You can see the number of people he was hugging coming across the line, and people are just really happy for him. I think it just reflects on his kindness, his openness, and his friendliness. He’s an absolute dogged competitor, but he’s also lighthearted and loving. He’s awesome.”

Crist

Crist, Travis Air Force Base, California, took second in the Marine Corps Marathon, his first time running MCM.

He ran a 2:19 at Grandma’s Marathon, Duluth, Minnesota, in 2022. He ran 2:35 at the Boston Marathon in 2018 and 2:30 in 2019.

He said he loved the beautiful weather of this year’s race but prefers the cold and the rain or when it’s oppressively hot.

“I loved having the million and a half Marines out there on the course. It was really cool getting that support,” Crist said. “It was tough running on the National Mall with an Army guy on your left, a Marine on your right, a Navy guy in front of you and having people yelling and screaming. It gave me chills. I had to remember to keep my pace. It’s a more collaborative effort than it’s competitive.”

He said he enjoyed running in the pack, taking turns leading, sharing water and gels.

“We worked together instead of fighting people the whole way,” Crist said.

Crist didn’t know about the Blue Mile, the mile of remembrance for the fallen until the pack started running through mile 12.

“There’s always a little bit of chatter. Everyone in the pack was a member of the Armed Forces so it was like a pin drop,” he said. “Nobody’s making jokes, moving around. It was this silent mile of everyone working hard. It’s definitely a different feel.”

He said because he was wearing an Air Force jersey, people would yell, “Go Air Force!”

“It’s tough to keep that under control because you’re getting fired up and want to move. Stay with your pace. You don’t want to get too excited,” he said.

Crist said they had a breakaway pack around mile 17, and then Kyle made his move at mile 20.

“I didn’t have another gear to stay with him,” he said. “That hill at the end is really sneaky. It was nice to cross that finish line; it’s always nice when it’s done.”

He said his dad surprised him by being at the finish line to congratulate him.

“He had just visited me in California; he doesn’t get to see me race that often. It’s always nice when he does,” Crist said.

Smith

Smith, Fort Carson, Colorado, trained with his wife, Mariah, as they pushed their two children, Ryker and Kylah, in the stroller to help him take third place at the MCM.

“She’s the reason I’m still able to keep driving toward my dream to hopefully one day make the Olympic Trials. I’ve been chasing this dream for longer than I can remember. It’s a main goal of mine,” Smith said. “When I’m going for a peak training block, I’m hitting around 100 or so miles a week. You’ve got to be able to maintain that work-life balance. The Army is not a traditional job.”

He said one week, you could run 100 miles and then next, you could run 20 because you spent five days in the field.

“It’s a very unique work environment, but sometimes it doesn’t support an elite running lifestyle,” Smith said. He said he has amazing supervisors but the Army mission does come first, along with family, so fitting in elite-style training can be difficult.

He won the Charlotte Marathon in North Carolina in 2013, and the Mohawk Hudson River Marathon in New York in 2014. He said today was a rough day for him but a third place finish wasn’t a bad day.

“It was a rough day for me individually. I was hoping for a lot more. I’ve been dealing with a lot of adversity with training this segment. Top three finish on your worst day is still not a bad day,” he said.

This was his first Marine Corps Marathon.

“This course goes all over the city. You really get to see different parts, and the crowd pumps you up, maybe too much sometimes,” he said smiling.

Smith said he was proud to see his fellow service members take the top spots

“It’s pretty unique. It just shows the strength of the competition today,” he said. “We had a solid pack for the first half and then things started getting gritty. People started racing, and that really made the race. Having one, two, and three be in the service, that really drove me to get to the finish line.”

He said the Blue Mile and having more than 23,000 people run a marathon where there’s no prize money is truly remarkable.

“This race stands for more than just running a marathon. Mile 12 (the Blue Mile) highlights that. It was an iconic mile to go through, to know that these people sacrificed so much more than we have just running a marathon,” he said. “It’s not a world major but yet it competes on the level of a world major. It’s truly a remarkable experience in the nation’s capitol.”

BURGOS, Philippines – A peaceful coastal town in Ilocos Norte, Philippines, showcases a blend of natural beauty and rural charm. Stretching along the northernmost coast of Luzon, it is bordered by the blue waters of the western Pacific Ocean. During October, Burgos became the location where the proverbial rubber met the road as three different nations trained together to accomplish one common goal.

Members of the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (ARDB), Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), trained side-by-side with the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) 4th Marine Brigade (4MBDE) and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), along with support from U.S. Marines and Sailors from Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA), elements of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15th MEU), and Combined Task Force – 76 (CTF 76) to share knowledge and experiences while participating in various subject matter expert exchanges leading up to a final humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HA/DR) demonstration on Camp Cape Bojeador during the annual Philippine Marine Corps exercise, KAMANDAG 8.

The expert exchanges included classes on Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS); medical care, triage and casualty evacuation; small boats; and operational planning, which were vital to the final execution of the HA/DR demonstration between the combined forces.

Marines and Sailors from MRF-SEA played a key role in the planning for the HA/DR demonstration, coordinated by the JGSDF Logistics Support Brigade (LSB). U.S. Marine involvement comes on the heels of a successful bilateral response to Typhoon Krathon (Julian) in Northern Luzon and the Batanes Islands, which occurred less than a week before the commencement of KAMANDAG. This experience provided MRF-SEA with valuable insights that enhanced the overall planning process.

“This is one of the first major evolutions where you have a combined effort between the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force, the Philippine Marine Corps, and the United States Marine Corps,” said U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Matthew Demaso, the Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company officer in charge for Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia.

Leading up to the execution of the HA/DR mission demonstration, leaders from the JGSDF, 4MBDE, and MRF-SEA engaged in extensive planning over four days at Camp Cape Bojeador in Burgos. The Operational Planning Team developed a comprehensive and integrated response strategy for the simulated disaster scenario. Concurrently, participating forces conducted multilateral training in key areas, including amphibious landings, search and rescue operations, medical triage and patient evacuation, engineering clearance procedures, and sUAS operations with an RQ-20 PUMA.

The U.S. Marines manning the PUMA were able to showcase the abilities of an unmanned aerial vehicle in assisting with search and rescue missions in the event of a natural disaster.

“The information that I’ve been sharing with their personnel is focused on search and rescue, specifically how the sUAS systems could help both the military and the civilian sector for any humanitarian aid or disaster relief mission,” said U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Marcos Lopez, a sUAS operator with ANGLICO Detachment 1.

Lopez served as the lead instructor for the sUAS SMEE, demonstrating how to properly launch a PUMA and showcasing the information that the unmanned aircraft can provide, such as grid location, altitude, distance, and live video footage of the surrounding area.

Leveraging the PUMA’s reconnaissance capabilities enables combined forces to identify citizens impacted by natural disasters ahead of time, allowing rescue personnel to prepare accordingly before arriving on-site.

While MRF-SEA Marines shared insights into the capabilities of the sUAS, medical personnel at Camp Cape Bojeador exchanged knowledge on best medical practices for responding to natural disasters as they prepared for the HA/DR demonstration. Nurses with the JGSDF, service members with the Philippine BFP, and U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class David Doyle, a preventative medicine technician with MRF-SEA, led the majority the medical SMEE focusing on taking a mass influx of patients and triaging them promptly, monitoring vitals, and documenting injuries to ensure the best patient care during their admission to a higher echelon of medical care.

“If we can continue to educate each other on the multitude of possible medical scenarios that can happen after a natural disaster, we will enhance our ability to assist in a real-life scenario,” said Doyle.

As the training progressed, the collaborative efforts among the combined forces highlighted the importance of real-world preparedness in the face of potential disasters. Elements of the 15th MEU provided air support with MV-22 Ospreys to aid in transporting supplies and conducting casualty evacuations, including medical personnel from 4MBDE and JGSDF. The demonstration also featured over-the-horizon ship-to-shore movements and coordination with local agencies.

This comprehensive approach not only facilitated skill-building in search-and-rescue tactical operations and patient triage, but also fostered a deeper understanding of each nation’s roles and capabilities, emphasizing the significance of scenario-based training.

MRF-SEA, along with the 15th MEU and CTF 76/3, played a crucial role in the success of the HADR demonstration as it was one of the defining events of KAMANDAG 8. “We did a tabletop exercise through the humanitarian aid disaster response to walk through the plan and rehearse it, and then we were able to execute the plan for the demonstration, near flawlessly, on time, effectively, and safely,” said Demaso.

Elements from the LSB and the 4MBDE conducted their ship-to-shore movement using two MV-22 Ospreys attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced) 15th MEU, launched from the USS Miguel Keith, an expeditionary staging base assigned to CTF-76/3.

Simultaneously, an amphibious insertion involving combined military forces and Philippine relief agencies was executed using small boats, ensuring rapid notional link-up with local government officials. This set the stage for the rapid deployment of forces and assistance in the simulated disaster response.

In the days leading up to the demonstration, Marines and Sailors of MRF-SEA used the RQ-20 PUMA to showcase its capabilities in the search-and-rescue component of a HA/DR mission.

Additionally, MRF-SEA’s tactical air control party conducted successful pick-up and landing zone operations, allowing for the safe and efficient unloading of relief supplies and multilateral disaster relief teams. These efforts also expedited the evacuation of casualties, who were transported to a higher echelon of medical care aboard U.S. Navy vessels.

In a major step toward enhancing multilateral cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, MRF-SEA, in collaboration with CTF-76/3 and the 15th MEU, successfully integrated with the PMC and JGSDF, testing the readiness of the multinational forces to respond to real-world emergencies.

“This successful execution of this HADR training and demonstration marks a significant launch of the Philippines and Japan Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), which was enacted just three months ago,” said Capt. Will Thomas, a joint terminal attack controller with MRF-SEA.

The Philippines and Japan RAA is a defense cooperation agreement that allows for the increased presence of Japanese troops in the Philippines and vice versa for humanitarian missions, disaster response, and other scenarios. This agreement streamlines coordination between the two nations during combined operations or mutual defense needs.

Unified efforts between U.S., Philippine, and Japanese forces demonstrated their ability to conduct effective disaster response operations in challenging environments, further strengthening regional preparedness for real-world scenarios.

The annual Philippine Marine Corps exercise highlighted MRF-SEA’s key role in strengthening multilateral cooperation within the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and reinforced future cooperation with U.S. allies and regional partners, enhancing collective readiness against environmental and security challenges.