More than 200 Special Operations officers and other guests from 22 countries attended the Pacific Area Special Operations Conference 1999 (PASOC 99) in Honolulu, Hawaii. Col. Jansaewoke Padetgarn of the Royal Thai Army Special Forces briefs PASOC attendees on Thai Special Operations.

Over 200 flag officers, dignitaries, special operations forces (SOF) experts and guests representing 22 countries were hosted by the Commander, Special Operations Command, Pacific (COMSOCPAC), Brig. Gen. Jack R. Holbein, for the annual Pacific Area Special Operations Conference (PASOC 99), 22- 26 February 1999. The theme of this year's conference was "21st Century Challenges for SOF."

Vietnam participated in PASOC for the first time. Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, Commander in Chief of U.S. Special Operations Command talks with Vietnamese Air Force Senior Col. Pham Tan and 1st Lt. Nguyen Duc Giang, while U.S. Marines Corps Lt. Col. Bascom Eaker, U.S. Naval Attaché to Vietnam, looks on.

Special operations forces in the U.S. defense structure include U.S. Army Special Forces, Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs units, plus U.S. Army Rangers and specialized helicopter units. U.S. Navy SOF includes Navy Sea-Air-Land (SEAL) teams, Special Boat Units, and SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) Teams. U.S. Air Force SOF includes dedicated special operations squadrons with specialized airlift, gunships and helicopters.

Japan was also a first time PASOC participant. Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker poses with Col. Ioka Hisashi and Maj. Watanabe Shingo of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.

This year's conference, the seventh in the PASOC series, included representatives from Australia, Bangladesh, China, Fiji, Japan, Korea, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, United States, Vanuatu and Vietnam. Japan and Vietnam participated for first time.

Brig. Gen. Jack R. Holbein, USAF, Commander of Special Operations Command, Pacific (conference host), presents a PASOC memento to Russian Army Col. Yevgenniy Tishin. (On the left, not seen, is Col. Aleksander Khayev).

The conference was conducted in three phases: senior level speakers, country specific briefings, and seminar discussions. The conference focused on three overarching objectives. The first objective was to identify and explore emerging trends within the Asia-Pacific region. The second was to review current and future special operations joint/combined training, exchanges, exercises, and programs. The last objective was to support the U.S. Pacific Command's peacetime engagement with multinational, senior level interaction.

Col. Yadmaa Choijamts and Lt. Col. Danjuur Batbaatar of the Mongolia Defense Force check out U.S. Special Operations Forces equipment at a display table.

The conference was addressed by Adm. Dennis C. Blair, Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Command; Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, the Commander in Chief of U.S. Special Operations Command; Ambassador Charles H. Twining, the Foreign Policy Advisor for U.S. Pacific Command; Lt. Gen. William P. Tangney, the Commanding General of U.S. Army Special Operations Command; Lt. Gen. (Ret.) H.C. Stackpole, the President of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies; and Maj. Gen. Charles R. Holland, the Commander of Air Force Special Operations Command.

Seminar groups examined subjects ranging from combined training to civil-military relations. Lt. Col. Weng Kee Noel Cheah of the Singapore Army addresses a group.

In his welcome address, Adm. Blair stressed the enduring qualities of SOF: the imperative of success, special missions requiring small numbers and extraordinary skills, strategic or operational effects, as well as the inseparable combination of unique equipment, training, people and tactics. SOF offers a unique set of solutions to the problems of the future. Adm. Blair said, "SOF has a long and proud history of responding to threats to their nations during war and to various crises and conflicts during peace." He specially emphasized the special demands on SOF leaders to maintain professional standards of military conduct in unconventional operations against opponents who are not constrained by similar rules.

Maj. Gen. Ismael Mounibou of the Madagascar Army observes a discussion between Ms. June Perry of Madagascar and U.S. Marine LCpl. Ajax O'Neell.

Adm. Blair concluded, " With the evolving and varied threats, the backdrop of accelerating geopolitical change, rapid technological advancement, and constrained resources, there is a great potential for new roles and missions for SOF. Future employment of SOF will require innovative and flexible thinking and new ways to conduct business to seize every opportunity to fulfill our obligations to our nations and our region. During this tumultuous time of evolution, I would urge you to carry those timeless qualities that make SOF truly special and unique into the new millennium."

Royal Thai Army Maj. Gen. Chavanit Kanchanatecha, Maj. Gen. Surapong Uthaichaya, and Col. Padetgarn Jansaewoke talk during a conference break.

Several countries' representatives gave briefings concerning their homelands' SOF training, development, capabilities, present status, successes and difficulties. Participants who addressed the attendees on the conference's second day were: Brigadier Philip McNamara of Australia; Col. Seoung Kyoo Park of the Republic of Korea; Lt. Gen. Ismael Mounibou of Madagascar; Col. Selwyn Heaton of New Zealand; Brig. Gen. Julius Javier of the Philippines; Col. Yevgenniy Tishin of Russia; and Maj. Gen. Kanchanatecha Chavanit of Thailand. Each briefing was well received by the PASOC participants, generating questions and informal discussions throughout the remainder of the week.

Brig. Gen. Ismet Ahmed Chowdhury of Bangladesh presents a book to Brig. Gen. Jack R. Holbein, while Col. Ananta Kumar Kar looks on.

On the conference's third and fourth days, seminar groups were formed to examine "Challenges in Combined Training," "Evolution of SOF Support to Crisis Resolution" and "SOF Civil/Military Relations." This year's seminar group panels included a representative from Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines, respectively.

The Philippine delegates, Col. Armando Cunanan, Col. Peter Espadero and Brig. Gen. Julius Javier, present a memento to Brig. Gen. Jack R. Holbein.

Capt. Dhammike Samarawickrama of the Sri Lanka Navy presents some Sri Lankan tea to Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker.

The seminar groups were designed to achieve active participation among the delegates concerning issues and viewpoints affecting their SOF capabilities. There were no right or wrong answers. The seminar groups' goals were to gain a better understanding of each nation's capabilities and the direction it was undertaking. This forum provided a foundation for improving interoperability should a crisis occur where combined operations are required. At the end of the second day of seminar groups, the conference delegates convened for an overall wrap-up of the seminar discussions.

Brig. Gen. Jack R. Holbein shakes hands with Brig. Gen. Chiniya Bahadur Basnyat of the Royal Nepalese Army. (Not seen is Lt. Col. Baldev Shamsher Thapa.)

The conference concluded with closing remarks by Gen. Schoomaker and a ceremony and plaque exchange. In his closing address, Brig. Gen. Holbein praised each of the delegations. In his words, "PASOC 99 was successful because it provided an opportunity for nations to discuss common issues affecting SOF in the next century. This could not have happened without the professionalism and enthusiastic participation of all the delegates."

Members of Singapore's delegation, Navy Capt. Kok Boon Patrick Foo, Army Maj. Tai Tiong Tan, and Air Force Maj. Tee Huat Koh, enjoy a conference break.

Royal Malaysian Navy Cmdr. Nasaruddin bin Othman and Army Col. Syed Khalid bin Syed Mahmood present plaques to Brig. Gen. Jack R. Holbein.

Officers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Senior Col. Chen Kai and Capt. Jin Luo, present plaques to Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker and Brig. Gen. Jack R. Holbein.

PASOC 99 successfully brought together Special Operations practitioners from all over the Asia-Pacific region to share information and build new friendships. U.S. Air Force Col. Jerry Folkerts, Royal New Zealand Army Col. Selwyn Heaton, and Australian Army Brig. Philip McNamara share some professional camaraderie during PASOC 99.