• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

US Military

  • Branches
    • Army
    • Navy
    • Air Force
    • Marine Corps
    • Coast Guard
    • National Guard
    • Air National Guard
    • Find A Recruiter
  • Find A Recruiter
  • Military Benefits
    • GI Bill
    • VA Loans
    • Military Scholarships
    • Military Friendly Colleges
    • Money
  • Jobs
    • Military Pay Chart
    • Veteran Jobs
    • Civilian Jobs
  • VA Loan Rates
  • Military News
    • Top News
    • Benefits
    • Careers
    • Education
    • Featured Columnists
      • Larry Fowler
      • Scott Ostrow
      • Kim Lengling
      • Dr. Sasha Toperich
      • Rick Stewart
  • USM Shop
  • GI Bill
  • VA Loans
  • Military Scholarships
  • Top Military-Friendly Colleges and Universities in America

McHugh: Soldiers are Diplomats in Camo

April 29, 2015 By larryf

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Philippines (April 29, 2015) – Army Secretary John M. McHugh met with Soldiers, of the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, or 2SBCT, 25th Infantry Division, here, April 25, to discuss the important role they perform when partnering with international allies.

The meeting comes at the tail end of a three-month, three-country tour known as Pacific Pathways, which led 2SBCT, based out of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, through three partnered training exercises.

The brigade, first deployed to Thailand in late January for the three-week Exercise Cobra Gold, followed by six weeks in South Korea engaging with its army during Exercise Foal Eagle. It then arrived in the Philippines in early April for the annual Exercise Balikatan – now in its 31st year.

In a small group roundtable meeting with brigade leaders, McHugh received feedback regarding the three-month exercise and whether combining the three exercises provided benefits that outweigh conducting three individual exercises. In a time of budget constraints, the Army is evaluating how to get the most from its training budget.

McHugh emphasized the benefit of U.S. Soldiers having a presence in their partner nations and setting a good example. He said he would like a similar exercise concept expanded to more countries.

“You are the best ambassadors the U.S. has,” McHugh said. “If you look at what we did in Europe, sending a company of just 200 Soldiers on a tour through eastern European countries – they were able to change the mood of entire countries. They established real relationships of trust.”

Pfc. Feliger Ursulum, a civil affairs specialist in the Armed Forces Philippines, said that his experience with the visiting U.S. forces has had a positive impact on the Filipino soldiers and on the local population.

“The interactions I have had during [Exercise] Balikatan have been very good,” Ursulum said. “I wish the exercises were longer.”

Many leaders within the Stryker Brigade identified the benefits their experiences here have had on their own Soldiers.

“We have a lot of Soldiers entering our ranks that don’t have deployment experience and I think that when they’re here and they’re executing they get to see the big picture and the “why,” said Capt. Savannah Livingston, Company Commander of Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment. “They get to see the impact they have all the way down to the youngest Soldiers, and how important it is the role that they play.”

McHugh identified key goals of Pacific Pathways as to increase readiness and develop our partnerships.

“We’re likely to go to war in the future with multiple partners of varying degrees of capabilities,” McHugh said. “It’s much better to work through those knots and kinks in this environment than trying to figure it out after deploying. It makes for a better Army.”

McHugh’s stay included visits to several training events, including watching engineers of the Philippine army use techniques taught by its American counterparts to apply a concrete charge to blow an entry hole in a block wall. After a successful (and massive) blast, dozens of U.S. and Filipino Service members joined in a sprint to the site of the blast to stomp out small grass fires.

After being joined by the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg, the assembly moved on to meet with U.S. and Filipino Special Forces units and viewed a sniper exhibition by the Light Reaction Regiment of the Filipino Army’s Special Operation Forces.

Filed Under: Army, daniel articles, Top News

[related_posts_by_tax format="thumbnails" limit_posts="100" image_size="sidebar-thumbnail" public_only="true" posts_per_page="6"]

Primary Sidebar

USMilitary.com Career Guide

Sign up to receive USMilitary.com email updates and to hear what's going on with all military branches!

Featured Columnists

Larry Fowler

Larry Fowler is the publisher of USMilitary.com Network one of America's premier privately owned

Autobiography Compares Living Faithfully With Navy SEAL Training (BUD/S).

Scott Ostrow

Lt Col (Dr.) Scott A. Ostrow retired from the Air Force in September 2005 and has been teaching

Must Read: The Truth About The ASVAB Test Prep From The Man Who Wrote The Book

Kim Lengling

Kim Lengling is a Air Force Veteran whose passion is to help support veterans and their

The Moving Wall: Women Who Paid The Ultimate Price For Their Country

Dr. Sasha Toperich

Dr. Sasha Toperich is the Senior Executive Vice President at Transatlantic Leadership

Sarraj’s Dangerous Dance With Power

Rick Stewart

Rick Stewart is a former United States Air Force Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE)

Announcing American Patriots Unsung Magazine

Nathan B. Nelson

Capt (ret) Nathan B. Nelson is the Director of Military Affairs for the 1st Congressional district

Three Critical Considerations for Every Veteran Prior to Leaving Active Duty

Laquan Daniels

Laquan Daniel is a military recruiting expert with over 17 years of specialized experience in the

Important News For Military Transitioning Veterans

Veteran Buzz

Hire Military Veterans

Which Companies Are Most Likely to Hire Military Veterans?

July 30, 2018 By Ben Ehinger

High-Paying Jobs for Military Veterans

5 High-Paying Jobs for Military Veterans

July 2, 2018 By Ben Ehinger

High Paying Jobs Not Requiring a Degree

June 28, 2018 By Ben Ehinger

Footer

  • Advertise With Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Write For US
  • Link to Us

Recent

  • A Few Benefits You May Not be Aware of As a Military Child
  • Experts Predict Artificial Intelligence Will Transform Warfare
  • Autobiography Compares Living Faithfully With Navy SEAL Training (BUD/S).
  • The Unraveled Pandemic Of Navy SEAL Posers
  • Apache Attack Helicopter Pilot: To Maintain a Watchful Eye, “Above the Best”

Search

© Copyright 2021 USMillitary
Web Design by Goebel Media Group


THIS IS A PRIVATE WEBSITE THAT IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, U.S. ARMED FORCES, OR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE NOT REVIEWED THIS INFORMATION. THIS SITE IS NOT CONNECTED WITH ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY.

​Tips
Discounts
News

​

​

Join the USMilitary.com Newsletter Today!

By subscribing you agree to our terms & conditions

x