Cambodia, US commence exercise to promote Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Aid

 

Generals John Goodale (L) and Hun Manet

Kampong Speu (The Cambodia Herald) --  Cambodia and the United States on Monday commenced Angkor Sentinel, an annual military exercise designed to promote regional peace and security.  U.S. Army Pacific Representative Brigadier General John Goodale and Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Representative Lieutenant General Hun Manet opened the event at the Training Center for Multinational Peacekeeping Forces in Kampong Speu province.  

Angkor Sentinel 2014, which ends on April 30, continues a substantial, multi-year effort by U.S. Army Pacific and U.S. Pacific Command to actively engage the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and expand peacekeeping and stability operations.  

During the 10-day exercise, members of U.S. Army Pacific and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces will participate in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief activities, such as battalion staff training, engineering exchanges, medical training, and activities to prepare Cambodian troops deployed to United Nations peacekeeping missions.  In addition to the 1,300 standing forces of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces on hand for the opening ceremony, over 470 U.S. and Cambodian military personnel will actively participate in the training exercise.

U.S. and Cambodian participants will benefit from intense team-building, staff training, and computer and communication systems instruction – all of which are required to resolve complex security tasks.  Furthermore, the participants will exchange experiences on small-unit best practices and troop evaluation designed to save lives and prevent disruption to military operations.  Brigadier General Goodale said, “I am confident this exercise will bring the two countries closer as friends as well as partners in the conduct of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief missions.”

Angkor Sentinel 2014 marks the fifth year of a significant and highly productive training event in Cambodia.