Military Review English Edition November December 2016 | Page 113

PACIFIC PATHWAYS

to plan, coordinate, synchronize, and execute missions
both quickly and effectively. This continuous process is
an ongoing, iterative rehearsal; the more we do it, the
better we get. The lessons learned through our continuous rehearsals form the basis of a greater regional
reconnaissance effort. Small details such as customs
procedures in each country, host-nation electromagnetic spectrum management, airspace coordination,
port procedures, terrain management, and equipment
and weapons effects are all part of theater setting.
Pacific Pathways affords us the opportunity to tackle
these warfighting challenges.
Mere presence alone provides remarkable insights
into our partnered countries’ governments. Given
the growing importance of the South China Sea, its
surrounding nations, and the extensive span of tactical
operations in Balikatan this year, the units participating in Pathways TF were well versed in what was
required to operate in the Philippines. Our planners
at every echelon, our understanding of the operational
environment, and our knowledge of the threats and
the political nuances in that environment were excellent. The BCT commander emphatically stated that he
could not have accomplished his mission were it not
for the endless behind-the-scenes work of the logistics
TF, and the communications and network operations
that enabled his tactical actions. From port operations,
to customs, command-and-control nodes, airspace,
and cyber, the reconnaissance that our soldiers and
leaders accomplished on Pathways was extraordinary.
It set conditions for the United States to be in a position of relative advantage upon arrival if called upon to
respond to a crisis.
Observation #5: Empowering leaders and soldiers—building soldiers to thrive in chaos and
complexity. Soldiers, leaders, and, most important,
commanders at every echelon, learn and grow while deployed on Pathways. They develop confidence in their
skills and abilities through the repetitive performance
of tasks and the continual decision making associated
with accomplishing missions in foreign countries. These
stressful performance situations build true capabilities
beyond what our equipment alone can do and create a
unique level of soldier and leadership mastery; one that
is gained by being on the ground and working through
problem after problem, day after day, risk after risk. It is
the learned ability of commanders and leaders to look
MILITARY REVIEW  November-December 2016

in the eyes of their soldiers and get a “fingertip feel” of
a situation. Pathways affords the opportunity for real
soldiers, in real time, to solve real problems, and it is
paving the way for a new generation of intellectually
curious, very agile, and adaptive Army soldiers and
leaders that thrive in complexity and chaos.
Observation #6: Army force projection and
presence—an expression of U.S. national commitment and resolve. Placement of U.S. soldiers
on foreign soil goes a level beyond interest; it is a
physical manifestation of national commitment. We
are committing people, time, and money because we
care, and because we know real relationships must
be built on trust. And, from this trust, we can build
teams. Absent trust, you can build nothing. Pathways
reassures our partners and allies while simultaneously
deterring adversaries and aggressors. Our ability to
project forces via Pathways builds a deep reservoir of
experiences in our officer and NCO corps.
For example, our BCT TFs’ agility and force-projection capabilities were peerless in the Philippines. Over
the span of ninety-six hours, the Pathways TF executed and provided mission command over a joint and
combined TF CALFEX, recovered that element from
the Crow Valley Gunnery Range to Fort Magsaysay,
conducting a 125-kilometer road march from their
objective areas to Subic Bay, where they commenced
vessel upload. Simultaneously with ground operations,
the supporting aviation TF conducted a 350-nautical-mile air movement involving multiple joint forward
arming and refueling points across four different islands
into the southern island of Panay. After consolidating,
building combat power, and conducting troop-leading
procedures, they air assaulted a raid force to a fifth island
objective. Following the raid, the TF collapsed all combat
power in country from four different camps back to the
port in Subic Bay, closing and executing reverse RSOI of
all helicopters, equipment, and soldiers. Again, all this
was done with joint and partner forces over a period of
just ninety-six hours (see figure, page 112).
This was a true rehearsal of U.S. force projection,
illustrating U.S. resolve and demonstrated U.S. Army
capabilities. Operations of this size, scope, and complexity are happening in every country our Pathways
forces deploy to; these are a visible display of U.S.
capabilities. Finally, they highlight the asymmetrical
advantage: the American soldier.
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