Photo Gallery Summer 2001.html

Demining is an ongoing humanitarian effort in the region. Land mines inflict hundreds of civilian casualties per year, remove arable land from production, and reduce the flow of commerce. U.S. Special Operations Forces,

A U.S. Army Special Forces soldier assists Sri Lankan soldiers in a simulated casualty evacuation during small unit tactics training in Sri Lanka.

Republic of Korea Special Forces and U.S. Air Force Special Operations personnel discuss a special operations flight plan during an exercise in Okinawa, Japan.

Special Operations Command, Pacific, sponsors an annual Pacific Area Special Operations Conference (PASOC). Col. Daya Ratnayake from Sri Lanka addresses PASOC 2001.

Humanitarian civic action projects are an important element of peacetime special operations activities. A U.S. Army Special Forces medic treats a dental patient in Mongolia.

incooperation with each host nation, have designed andmanaged a training program to improve mine awareness, detection and recovery, and the treatment of casualties. Although SOCPAC personnel do not actively participate in demining operations, they play a key role in training host-nation personnel involved in actual demining efforts. Thus far in 2001, demining training has been conducted in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Other countries plagued by landmines may participate in the program in future years.

Southeast Asia remains one of the world’s largest drug-producing areas. To improve their capability to deal with this significant problem, many nations have sought resources that U.S. Special Operations Forces can provide. Specifically, SOCPAC personnel conduct training to improve the planning expertise and small-unit tactics of host-nation military and law enforcement agencies to increase their ability to battle narco-criminals. Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand have participated in this training, thus far in 2001. Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand participated in the program in 2000. This training is extremely beneficial for both the host nations and U.S. forces. All forces involved share techniques, sharpen skills, and improve operational effectiveness.

Oneof the cornerstone programs of the command is the SOCPAC-managed Joint/Combined Exchange Training program (JCET). The JCET program fulfills Special Operations Forces training requirements and allows the sharing of skills between Special Operations Forces elements and their host-nation counterparts. These activities include airborne operations, airmobile training, patrolling, lifesaving, reconnaissance, and small-unit tactics. JCET activities improve both the assigned SOCPAC unit and the host-nation’s capabilities. In addition, humanitarian and civic action projects usually conducted in conjunction with JCET events provide tangible benefits for the civilian population of the countries participating in the training. During 2000, SOCPAC units conducted 31 JCET events in 10 countries. Thus far in 2001, SOCPAC units have conducted 39 JCET events in 15 countries.

During crises, USCINCPAC has frequently deployed a Pacific Situation Assessment Team (PSAT) to a crisis area. ThePSAT is made up of SOCPAC personnel and augmentees from other headquarters, as required. PSATs deploy early in a crisis, providing specialists trained in a wide variety of crisis actions skills to conduct emergency action planning. The PSAT assists U.S. embassy officials in their management of the U.S. Government’s response to a crisis and provides continuous coordination to support USCINCPAC’s decision-making process. During the past year, PSATs deployed to the Philippines, Indonesia, and India.

The annual Pacific Area Special Operations Conference (PASOC) is another forum that supports USCINCPAC’s Theater Security Cooperation program. The conference provides an excellent opportunity to review peacetime engagement efforts. In addition, PASOC provides a unique multilateral setting to develop senior foreign military contacts that will facilitate the conduct of future exercises, crisis response, and other operations in USCINCPAC’sarea of responsibility. PASOC also serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas and doctrines to help the countries attending the conference achieve a better understanding of their neighbors. The theme for the 2001 conference was “The Future of Special Operations Forces in an Emerging Threat Environment.” Over 200 attended, including 20 flag officers and delegates from 24 countries.

In an area characterized by distance, diversity and change, developing trust and cooperation between Pacific nations is key to deterring aggression and maintaining stability throughout the region. SOCPAC, in cooperation with Pacific Rim nations constantly seeks opportunities to work together to meet this goal.