Pacific Armies Management Seminar Maximizes Discussion on Theater Security, The

Across the Asia-Pacific region, every major language is spoken; every major religion is practiced. Pacific armies include seven of the 10 largest in the world. Regional air and sea routes carry most trade to most of the world. The center of gravity for world security in the near future may very well be the Asia-Pacific region. The President's declaration that "the 21st century is the Asia-Pacific century" is not simply a point of interest, but a statement of fact. This century will see Asia-Pacific nations rapidly expand their economies, exponentially expand their needs for energy and other natural resources/ and combat terror, piracy, drug trafficking and other growing debilitating transnational threats. The diversity of cultures coupled with the potential for the manifestation of transnational threats in the theater drives the need for a combined approach for security and cooperation.

In the Pacific, the combatant commander's theater security and cooperation program is integral to the region's combined approach. It is working. Terror leadership is being found and brought to justice; attacks have been foiled. "These successes," states Adm. Fargo, commander, U.S. Pacific Command, "have come through regional intelligence sharing, cooperative financial actions, excellent law enforcement work and just plain dogged determination ... a regional effort that is clearly working."

Theater security and cooperation is a command priority of U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM). It is a top priority for the U.S. Army of the Pacific (USARPAC). security and cooperation begins with dialogue between regional Army leaders willing to champion methods of integration and action against common threats to security. The annual USARPAC-sponsored Pacific Armies Management Seminar (PAMS) enables that dialogue. Leadership from armies across the region gather each year to progressively strengthen commitments and personal ties.

Eighty-six senior officers, chiefs of police and security forces from 32 nations across the Pacific and Indian Ocean region gathered in Seoul for the 27th annual PAMS. Participation at PAMS has grown from nine nations attending the first seminar held in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1978, to the current 32-nation consortium. The PAMS forum is the single best opportunity for regional leadership to collectively discuss current issues of Asia-Pacific peace, prosperity and security. The global war on terrorism has stiffened the resolve of all delegates to engage in meaningful discussions.

To the great advantage of all PAMS delegates, the biennial Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference (PACC) was combined with PAMS. PACC is a Chief of Staff, U.S. Army cohosted conference for chiefs of armies from Asia-Pacific nations. Both PACC and PAMS shared the same theme: regional cooperative approaches to meet common security challenges. While the chiefs of armies conducted bilateral meetings, their immediate subordinates, in most cases, shared insights with their peers from across the region. Chiefs of army from 22 nations attended PACC III this year-five more than the previous conference in 2001.

The PAMS structure is designed to maximize open discussion. The theme drives the identification of several supporting topics, and each is given two briefings from select delegates. Topics were: defining the operating environment for armies in the new millennium; defining the emerging roles for armies in the new millennium; employing regional cooperation to address common security challenges; and addressing interoperability challenges for armies in coalition operations.

Presentations are followed by a plenary session with a facilitated question-and-answer period. The briefings and plenary serve as a basis for further discussion by the delegates in syndicate groups. Each syndicate is composed of 10 to 15 delegates, observers and recorders. Most of the hard work is done in syndicates. They analyze, discuss, debate and draw conclusions on each topic. The results of their work are then back-briefed to the entire seminar for further discussion among all delegates in an open forum.

Keynote speakers initiate the seminar by giving an overview of the theme. Guest speakers at PAMS have included several presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers, chiefs of defense, chiefs of army and other senior military and civilian officials. Last year's seminar keynote speakers were newly appointed U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker and the Republic of Korea Army Chief of Staff Gen. Jae Joon Nam.

Gen. Schoomaker's remarks reinforced the crux of the seminar's theme. "It is imperative that we establish cooperative processes, methodologies and perhaps future organizations to efficiently overcome the friction of political geography in the battle against terrorism and other security challenges." he continued his remarks by warning that transnational threats will attempt to split the seams in our laws, cultures and customs. In addition, the Chief of Staff highlighted the inherent difficulty of developing solutions at the multinational level. In so doing, he reminded all that the success of the seminar and the continuing efforts of all regional partners rest heavily on the abilities of the delegates to "facilitate the genesis and maturation of ideas which result in cooperative action."

Perfectly complementary were Gen. Nam's keynote remarks which highlighted the Republic of Korea's initiatives in peacekeeping operations, training and research. The Republic of Korea is pursuing the establishment of an international peace support center that will serve as an education and research institution for peacekeeping operations to train soldiers, police and civilian organizations from across the region.

As the USARPAC commander and PAMS cohost, I emphasized throughout the seminar that nothing strikes fear more deeply in the heart of a would-be terrorist than to see a united front of freedom-loving people and nations standing directly and firmly in his path.

After formal opening ceremonies, the four subtopics were reviewed in detail at PAMS while PACC delegates met in bilateral and multilateral sessions. Gen. Schoomaker conducted bilateral discussions with each of the 22 PACC delegates-an impressive undertaking that made a clear statement of commitment to all army chiefs and delegates in attendance.

Each of the five syndicate groups met each day after topic briefings and open discussion. The syndicate backbriefs to the seminar on day four were the culminating events of PAMS. Throughout the back-briefs there were several recurring themes. First, the efforts of Asia-Pacific nations should look to promoting multilateral subregional cooperation. At the subregional level, interoperability and cultural variance can be reduced or minimized to shorten the crisis-response timeline. second, the region should identify and capitalize on smaller nation niche capabilities. In so doing, low-density high-demand soldier skills are brought to bear by smaller nations who represent vital participation in coalition operations. Third, interoperability will remain a friction point despite the best efforts to minimize it. Fourth, education and funding for soldier and leader training in nontraditional roles will compete for scarce military resources in each nation. Fifth, success is directly proportional to the level of trust among the coalition partners. Sixth, sovereignty is sacrosanct and even a remote perception of an infringement upon sovereignty will unhinge a coalition operation.

Campaigns in the global war on terrorism are susceptible to this perception by nature of a shadowy threat and loosely defined battlefield. The United Nations was seen as the best safety net to protect against this pitfall.

The impact on soldiers was perhaps the most widely agreed upon outcome across all syndicates in contending with topic two: defining the emerging roles for armies in the new millennium. Education and funding were identified as key resources required in soldier training to make them "smarter and more versatile." The delegates observed that soldier task load will simply increase and that soldiers on duty in the new operating environment must be culturally aware, humble and highly skilled.

The overall positive approach and clear optimism of the delegates is best summarized by the following conclusion from PAMS syndicate number three.

As has happened with terrorism, common security concerns can serve as a rallying agent. Our syndicate strongly believed that through cooperation, nations would find the strength, courage and conviction to identify and recognize sponsors of terrorism and deal with them, whether they be individuals, groups, societies or nations.

PAMS delegates and Army leaders from across the AsiaPacific region seem to embrace the idea of Maj. Gen. Robert H. Scales Jr., U.S. Army retired, that "the compatibility of leaders and staffs in a coalition is more important than compatibility in doctrine and material." Building compatibility requires leader and staff contact at a professional and personal level to ultimately reinforce trust. Trust stands out above all other interpersonal attributes as the major takeaway for all delegates. Trust is the catalyst for aggressively seeking compatibility. As articulated by Gen. Scales, "trust requires time and a measured appraisal of one another to emerge from personal relationships, particularly those that cross cultures." The PAMS structure enables and facilitates contact to build compatibility and develop trust.

Many of the PAMS delegates will aspire to the top positions in their respective armies. They will carry with them the experiences and goodwill gained from the seminar. PAMS has proven its value by enhancing mutually beneficial army-to-army associations, furthering the long-term objectives of promoting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region through understanding, dialogue and interpersonal relationships.

The 28th Pacific Armies Management Seminar (PAMS XXVIII) will be held in New Delhi, India, in early September 2004 with Lt. Gen. Shantonu Choudhry, vice chief of staff, Indian army, serving as cohost along with me. The theme for PAMS XXVIII is regional cooperation in a changing security environment.

By Lt. Gen. James L. Campbell

LT. GEN. IAMES L. CAMPBELL assumed command of U.S. Army Pacific in 'November 2002 after serving as the commanding general, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

Copyright Association of the United States Army Feb 2004
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