ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

Registration is open for the Association of the U.S. Army’s LANPAC Symposium & Exposition in Hawaii.

An international symposium and exhibition dedicated to land forces in the Indo-Pacific, the three-day in-person event will take place May 16–18 at the Sheraton Waikiki in Honolulu. It will feature leaders from the U.S. Army and partner armies in the Indo-Pacific and government and industry representatives.

Facing challenges of the vast Indo-Pacific theater, the Army is accelerating its work to develop and provide advanced capabilities to soldiers, a senior leader said.

“We’re accelerating everything as fast as we can. It’s not going to take 15 years,” said Young Bang, principal deputy assistant Army secretary for acquisition, logistics and technology. “We’re changing the whole mindset. We’re changing how we do acquisition.”

Soldiers must train as they fight, including with allies and partners, to prepare for rapidly growing threats around the world, a panel of senior leaders said during the Association of the U.S. Army’s LANPAC Symposium and Exposition.

“Train as we fight is not a novel idea … [but] we have to work together,” said Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, commander of U.S. Army Alaska. “Interoperability is absolutely key, to show that capability, that you can work together, that you are working together.”

From the youngest privates to the most senior leaders, soldiers must build trust with their partners before the fighting starts, a panel of senior NCOs said during a discussion at the Association of the U.S. Army’s LANPAC Symposium and Exposition.

“When it’s time to go somewhere, nobody in this room will fight alone,” Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston said, adding that “building those relationships goes beyond just equipment.”

The deterrence record on North Korea is spotty, warns Duyeon Kim of the Center for a New American Security. 

Strong partnerships are critical to deterring adversaries, particularly in the vast Indo-Pacific region, a panel of senior leaders said May 17 during the Association of the U.S. Army’s LANPAC Symposium and Exposition.

“I’m fond of saying, it doesn’t matter what the question is, the answer is partnerships,” said Lt. Gen Richard Burr, chief of the Australian army.

Speaking alongside Burr on the role of land forces in deterrence, Lt. Gen. Xavier Brunson, commanding general of I Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, agreed. 

The Center of Leadership, formed in October as a new department in the Association of the U.S. Army’s Education division, is hosting its first major leadership training program May 17–19 in connection with the LANPAC Symposium and Exposition. 

LANPAC, an Association of the U.S. Army-sponsored event focused on the Indo-Pacific, opened May 17 in Honolulu with a clear message of strengthening joint training and cooperation between the U.S. and other nations in the region. 

Gen. Charles Flynn, U.S. Army Pacific commanding general, said the return of the land forces symposium is important after a three-year break because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The Association of the U.S. Army’s LANPAC Symposium and Exposition in Honolulu begins May 17 as the Army continues to grow its partnerships in the region and world leaders grapple with evolving challenges in the Indo-Pacific.

The Association of the U.S. Army’s LANPAC Symposium and Exposition in Honolulu comes at a time when the Russian invasion of Ukraine is influencing national security discussions about the Indo-Pacific.

The May 17–19 LANPAC Symposium and Exposition at the Sheraton Waikiki will draw U.S. and foreign leaders for discussions about Indo-Pacific security issues, focused on current and future challenges facing the U.S. and its many partners and allies in the region.