BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei Darussalam -- Senior U.S. officials and U.S. Pacific Command forces are scheduled to participate in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) – Plus ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance, Disaster Relief and Military Medicine Exercise (AHMX) hosted by Brunei Darussalam from June 16 to 20.
"The ASEAN HA/DR and military medicine exercise is an excellent opportunity to develop effective solutions to common security challenges, advance military-to-military relationships, and build upon international partner relationships while exercising the diverse capabilities of U.S. forces,” said U.S. Marine Lt. Gen. Terry G. Robling, the commanding general of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. “This exercise portion also marks the first time China and the (U.S. Marine Corps) will conduct combined training in humanitarian assistance and military medicine."
During the exercise, multinational personnel will also participate in the Force Integration Training (FIT) Program as part of medical and engineering engagements at various locations throughout Brunei from June 10 to 15. This is the first field training exercises to be planned and executed under the ADMM-Plus architecture.
More than 1,800 participants from a total of 18 nations will exercise multilateral responses to a training scenario involving a post-tropical revolving storm typhoon rescue, survey, recovery and disaster relief in the vicinity of the District of Temburong, as well as other locations in Bandar Seri Begawan, Muara Naval Base and Rimba Air Force Base.
“The reality is natural disasters affect the Asia-Pacific region more than any other area in the world, which makes multilateral training so vital, and it leads to increased readiness to respond quickly and efficiently to common challenges and shared security concerns,” added Robling.
ADMM-Plus affords the opportunity for allied and partner nations a platform to demonstrate their commitment to multinational cooperation, enhance multilateral interoperability, increase disaster preparedness, and promote security and stability throughout the Asia-Pacific region.