ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Pacific
Defender Security Forces International Subject Matter Expert Exchange was held
here Feb. 1-5 to help build partnerships and promote cooperation across the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. The five-day event was
co-hosted by members from the Air Force Installation and Mission Support
Center (AFIMSC), Headquarters Pacific Air Forces and the 736th Security Forces
Squadron.
During Pacific Defender
16-1 attendees toured Andersen units including the 36th Contingency
Response Group and the 736th SFS. The tour allowed them to observe programs,
training areas, tactics and techniques utilized by security forces members.
“Being in the Pacific,
we’re prone to natural disasters in the region, as history has shown us,” said
Capt. Doug Dinkins, the AFIMSC chief of
security forces operations and Pacific Defender
program manager. "It is vital to have this program in place because when we need
to provide humanitarian aid or disaster response in different countries, having
a relationship already established with our counterparts is extremely vital for
the mission.”
The event included
14 service members from various nations including Nepal, Mongolia,
Philippines and Vietnam.
Dinkins said that the
Pacific Defender exchange is not just about showing attendees our training
methods, but it’s also about sharing ideas and training techniques as well.
In addition to
briefings and tours, participants learned new approaches to combatives and
weapons training.
“I’ve learned a lot,”
said Lt.
Col. Rabindra Bahadur Basnet, a Nepalese Army helicopter pilot. “I
believe we have addressed our goals through this exchange. The beauty of it is
working toward the same mission and learning from each other.”
During the Pacific
Defender 16-1, attendees spent time at the PACAF Regional Training Center's
Commando Warrior program which gave them a chance to see how the 36th
CRG trains more than 1,500 Airmen before they deploy.
“We, in the Philippines,
are very thankful to be included in the program,” said Lt. Col. George Tagle,
the commanding officer of the Philippine 2nd Air Reserve Center. “I see how
effective the equipment and the capabilities of the 36th CRG are. It is very
practical. I always think about the future of our military and this program
allows me to open my perspective even more.”
Throughout the
exchange, participants were able to enjoy the tours and training on base as
well as experience Guam's rich culture.
“The most valuable part
is having participation from multiple countries,” Dinkins said. “Having a
multi-lateral event like this not only gives them a chance to see how we
utilize the capabilities that we have, but it allows them to talk amongst
themselves to share information that they might not know. For us, it’s a big
success because we’re helping to spread the thought process of what this
program is designed to do.”