KAMPONG SPEU PROVINCE, Cambodia - U.S. forces from the Idaho Army National Guard arrived in Cambodia last week for the commencement of Angkor Sentinel 2015, March 9, 2015. Angkor Sentinel is an annual bilateral exercise sponsored by U.S. Army Pacific and hosted by the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces that focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and responding to disasters.
During the exercise, U.S. service members from the Idaho Task Force, in conjunction with their Cambodian counterparts, will focus their training on Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief operations.
This year's event, which takes place from March 9 to 20, is not the first time the IDARNG has teamed up with the AFP. This year's exercise is the sixth time the IDARNG has undertaken the annual bilateral military exercise conducted between U.S. Armed Forces and Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.
"The biggest difference we've seen from last year to this year is the progression of the RCAF senior leaders," said Lt. Col. Darren Blagburn, the operations officer for Idaho Task Force. "Their capabilities and their experience has proven invaluable and they're helping the junior leaders in their development. As well, the National Guardsmen that have come back bring a wealth of experience because they know what the challenges are upfront and have solutions in their kitbags."
Soldiers from the IDARNG will conduct a combined battalion staff exercise, alongside their RCAF counterparts, at the Training School for Multi-National Peacekeeping Forces, in Kampong Speu Province, in addition to conducting Junior Leader Training, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Expert Exchange, Medical First Responder and Jungle Operations training.
According to the assistant adjutant general-Army, Brig. Gen. John Goodale of the Idaho Army National Guard, Angkor Sentinel 2015 will provide an opportunity for Soldiers to exchange ideas and to improve their skills for operating in a local, regional and global environment.
Likewise, Goodale points out that a few miles north of the Peacekeeping Operations Center, Cambodian and U.S. Engineers will share in the pride of improving the quality of life for the students and faculty at the Tirumket School in Chbar Morn City in the Civil Engineer Action Project, which aims to improve their interoperability and contingency planning between U.S. and RCAF troops.
"The Soldiers will bond as they sweat in the March heat and laugh at the silliness that just happens after long hot days of training," Goodale said. "This exercise will improve military readiness and professionalism and create lasting memories and friendships."
Exercise Angkor Sentinel 2015 is the sixth iteration of the exercise and is intended to provide a training environment for troops from the Cambodian and United States armies to learn from one another.