Political and military tensions remain elevated across the expanse of the Indo-Pacific Theater. In September, the 11th Airborne Division conducted a rapid deployment into the Aleutian Islands in response to regional provocations, and the 7th and 25th Infantry Divisions have conducted repeated persistent rotations west of the international date line to enhance capacity in a region that continues to present dynamic challenges.

Across the theater, tangible and combat-credible responses will continue to demonstrate the value and importance of flexible and capable ground forces forward in the region. America’s First Corps (I Corps) is U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s operational Army headquarters in the most extensive, populous and geographically diverse combatant command, and it is I Corps’ responsibility to align regional land power capabilities against regional threats.

As provocations in the region continue, I Corps serves as a cornerstone of America’s strategy for ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific by strategically positioning land power to counter threats at critical locations and times.

Operation Pathways

At the core of this mission lies Operation Pathways, a comprehensive U.S. Army Pacific strategic initiative. Through this framework, I Corps manages the daily operations of over 40,000 soldiers across 10 supporting commands and four geographic locations. These forces conduct more than 40 army-to-army exercises annually, spanning 17 time zones and engaging with over 20 nations. From the tropical climates of the equator to the Arctic Circle, these year-round activities forge enduring security partnerships among allies and partner states. Operation Pathways, with I Corps’ central role in managing the theater’s land power capabilities, stands as a visible demonstration of America’s enduring commitment to this critical region.

While those unfamiliar with the Indo-Pacific may view the initiative as simply a series of military exercises, Operation Pathways’ ability to generate and maintain true war-fighting readiness resonates deeply with partners and allies. The corps’ ability to maintain a persistent presence beyond the international date line allows employment of land forces throughout the region to quickly respond to crises, support allies and partners and protect America’s interests. By training, rehearsing and innovating through the region, I Corps enhances U.S. regional posture by deterring challengers and preparing for future competition.

Operation Pathways also embodies America’s dedication to a free and open Indo-Pacific through fostering alliances, enhancing combined and joint readiness and maintaining security, freedom and prosperity. Through this initiative, I Corps deploys combat-credible land power throughout the region and reinforces its position as a dependable partner that is always prepared to learn, train and, if required, fight alongside allied forces.

Focal Point

The Indo-Pacific region is a major geopolitical crossroads, encompassing Asia, Oceania, the Pacific Islands and the Indian Ocean, and is home to more than 4 billion people. This region hosts the world’s busiest trade routes and is responsible for generating about 60% of global gross domestic product. This concentration of economic and demographic mass makes the Indo-Pacific a natural focal point for global competition.

Central to regional tensions are the People’s Republic of China’s increasingly aggressive actions and provocations, which threaten regional stability, the sovereignty of allies and U.S. interests. The National Defense Strategy explicitly identifies China as “the pacing challenge,” prompting Operation Pathways as the U.S. Army’s strategic response. I Corps spearheads the alignment of land power in this effort, aligning military capabilities and resources to deter China’s aggression and maintain regional stability.

Operation Pathways integrates U.S. forces with allies and partners across the region by enhancing this robust network of military cooperation through exercises such as Cobra Gold (Thailand), Freedom Shield (Republic of Korea), Talisman Sabre (Australia), Garuda Shield (Indonesia), Yama Sakura (Japan) and Balikatan (Philippines). These exercises, spanning vast distances and requiring significant multilateral coordination, strengthen regional partnerships, enhance integration of joint and combined warfighting functions and increase participants’ lethality through in-the-dirt live-fire exercises.

Ideal Location

I Corps’ headquarters at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, is ideal for coordinating these complex and strategic movements. This location enables I Corps to stage, mobilize and deploy U.S.-based units as far as mainland Asia on demand, employing capabilities from across the joint force, as well as critical national infrastructure. Tenant units of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the U.S. Air Force’s 62nd Airlift Wing and 446th Airlift Wing (Reserve), provide rapid and unmatched strategic and tactical airlift capacity for personnel, equipment and supplies across the Indo-Pacific in support of regional goals.

Additionally, I Corps’ U.S. Army 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, as well as the nearby Port of Tacoma, Washington, provide capacity for logistics support to warfighters across and within the region, further establishing Joint Base Lewis-McChord as the Pacific Northwest’s power projection node into the Indo-Pacific.

From tropical archipelagos to the frozen stretches of the Arctic, I Corps maintains a constant state of warfighting readiness to deter conflict, respond to crises and prevail in combat throughout this theater. While Joint Base Lewis-McChord provides the launchpad to advance operational objectives, Operation Pathways also provides opportunities for I Corps to drive transformation efforts.

The Indo-Pacific’s vast distances, varied climates and complex logistic considerations demand continuous adaptability. Through Operation Pathways, the Indo-Pacific becomes a proving ground for testing readiness, experimenting with emerging concepts and integrating advanced technologies in real-world conditions. By conducting persistent deployments west of the international date line across the Pacific’s Ring of Fire from Washington, Alaska and Hawaii, I Corps can rapidly respond to regional contingencies as they emerge. This network of logistical and deployment hubs enhances I Corps’ ability to execute large-scale movements across the Indo-Pacific with minimal notice.

Learning From Partners

Transformation and innovation extend beyond the integration of new technologies into formations. It encompasses the critical process of learning and, in some cases, relearning valuable lessons from past conflicts, ensuring that I Corps has the materiel and expertise necessary to operate across the Indo-Pacific’s varied landscapes. Through Operation Pathways, I Corps develops this expertise by training shoulder to shoulder with allies and partners that have generations of experience in these challenging environments.

During recent rotations training alongside the armed forces of the Philippines, infantry soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division learned to use pack mule transport techniques for rough terrain operations, while signaleers developed new methods for maintaining communications in dense jungle environments. While the U.S. Army maintains a technological advantage in many areas, these experiences with regional partners often reveal time-tested solutions that complement modern capabilities.

Through experiences like these, Operation Pathways offers an unmatched opportunity to gain real-world experience that even the best training environment cannot replicate. I Corps’ responsiveness in adaptation, innovation and threat deterrence is the result of continuous experimentation conducted during Pathways exercises. By studying conflicts from World War II to the present day, I Corps is refining its understanding of Indo-Pacific operations while preparing for future challenges. Whether conducting live-fire exercises in mainland Asia or validating a logistics node in the archipelago of the Philippines, Operation Pathways provides invaluable opportunities to ready the force for the future.

Road Ahead

While the Indo-Pacific may seem remote to many Americans, its stability remains essential to U.S. economic and national security interests. Through Operation Pathways, I Corps safeguards regional security, ensures that vital trade routes remain open, keeps alliances strong and deters conflicts. As conditions change across the Indo-Pacific, I Corps will continue to adapt its approach to address emerging challenges.

Operation Pathways reinforces the Indo-Pacific’s enduring strategic importance. Through its focus on fostering alliances, strengthening readiness and upholding principles of freedom, I Corps demonstrates America’s unwavering commitment to a secure and open Indo-Pacific, ensuring lasting stability for all nations that call this region home.

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Lt. Gen. Matthew McFarlane has been the commanding general of I Corps, Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington, since October. Previously, he was deputy commanding general of I Corps, and before that, he was commanding general of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, Iraq and Syria. His other combat deployments include operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He commissioned in 1992 as an infantry officer from James Madison University, Virginia, as a distinguished military graduate. He has three master’s degrees: one in policy management from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.; one in management from Webster University; and the third in national security and strategic studies from the National War College.

Maj. Matt Pargett is the deputy of public affairs for I Corps. Previously, he was the public affairs officer for Task Force Sinai, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. He deployed to Afghanistan. He has a master’s degree in international relations from American Military University.