Army leaders recently connected with their counterparts in the Indo-Pacific region during a two-day virtual event that was organized amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Indo-Pacific Landpower Conference 2020 was held online by U.S. Army Pacific after the Association of the U.S. Army canceled its annual LANPAC event in Hawaii because of the pandemic.

Plans are already underway for LANPAC 2021, AUSA’s annual three-day international symposium and exhibition dedicated to land forces in the Indo-Pacific. The event is scheduled for May 18–20 in Honolulu.

Throughout the pandemic, the Army has adapted and turned to technology to continue its operations and build relationships.

“A lot has changed in a very short time,” Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville said during the Army Pacific event May 19–20, according to an Army news story. “And I can imagine, in many ways … we’re not going to go back to the way things were before COVID-19.”

For example, McConville said, Army recruiters have turned to virtual recruiting, and the Army has implemented several safety measures for troops who are training or working on-post, including masks, social distancing and testing and screening for the virus.

During the Army Pacific conference, several top army leaders from the Indo-Pacific came together to discuss how their forces have dealt with the pandemic, according to an Army news story.

“It is a challenge that reinforces what we already know: working together as partners matters, and sharing what we know makes a difference,” said Gen. Paul LaCamera, commander of Army Pacific.

For more on LANPAC and an updated AUSA meeting schedule, click here.