The Soldiers representing the United States Army in U.S. Army Pacific's Pacific Land Forces Team Readiness Challenge.

The Soldiers representing the New Zealand Army in U.S. Army Pacific's Pacific Land Forces Team Readiness Challenge.

The Soldiers representing the Mongolian Ground Force in U.S. Army Pacific's Pacific Land Forces Team Readiness Challenge.

The Soldiers representing the United Kingdom Army in U.S. Army Pacific's Pacific Land Forces Team Readiness Challenge.

The Soldiers representing the Philippine Army in U.S. Army Pacific's Pacific Land Forces Team Readiness Challenge.

The Soldiers representing the Singapore Army in U.S. Army Pacific's Pacific Land Forces Team Readiness Challenge.

The Soldiers representing the Malaysian Army in U.S. Army Pacific's Pacific Land Forces Team Readiness Challenge.

The Soldiers representing the Canadian Army in U.S. Army Pacific's Pacific Land Forces Team Readiness Challenge.

The Soldiers representing the Fiji Land Force in U.S. Army Pacific's Pacific Land Forces Team Readiness Challenge.

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii — U.S. Army Pacific is hosting the inaugural Pacific Land Forces Team Readiness Challenge, or PLFTRC, an international competition bringing together elite teams from across the Indo-Pacific and beyond. The event will take place on Oahu, Hawaii, with reception, staging, onward movement and integration scheduled for April 27–30, followed by the competition from May 1–6.

Participating nations include Malaysia, the Philippines, Fiji, Mongolia, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. Each country has fielded a squad to compete in a series of physically and mentally demanding events designed to test readiness, teamwork, and interoperability.

The PLFTRC marks a new era of cooperation and partnership among land forces in the region. The competition aims to sharpen skills, forge unbreakable bonds, and set the standard for excellence among participating Soldiers. By working together, partner nations enhance joint capabilities and deepen enduring relationships, ensuring a secure and stable Indo-Pacific.

U.S. Army Soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division conduct M4 Carbine qualifications during the Pacific Land Forces Team Readiness Challenge at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, April 29, 2026. This squad-level training event is to strengthen interoperability alongside allied and partner forces, advance tactical skills and operational capabilities and practices.

Soldiers of the United States Army's 25th Infantry Division and Fiji Land Force perform hot and cold Load training for the Pacific Land Forces Team Readiness Challenge at Schofield Barracks, April 29, 2026. This squad-level training event is to strengthen interoperability alongside allied and partner forces, advance tactical skills and operational capabilities and practices.

Fijian Soldiers assigned to the Fiji Land Force conduct a land navigation course during the Pacific Land Forces Team Readiness Challenge at Lighting Academy, Wahiawa, Hawaii, May 1, 2026. This familiarization allows participants’ ability to navigate unfamiliar terrain using a map, compass, and terrain association.

British Army Gurkhas inspect a map before starting an urban land navigation course during the Pacific Land Forces Team Readiness Challenge on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, May 3, 2026. The PLFTRC is USARPAC's inaugural international team competition, building interoperability while establishing a new standard for multinational cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

"[The PLFTRC] is about more than just navigating the jungle or hitting targets under stress,” said Command Sgt. Major Jason Schmidt, the USARPAC senior enlisted leader. “It's about forging human interoperability that makes our combined forces the most lethal elements in the world.”

This event pioneers a scalable and effective model for enhancing joint readiness and partner capacity in the Pacific. USARPAC’s investment in the Partner Enlisted Leader Professional Development Strategy yields tangible results in interoperability, lethality and alliance cohesion.

International competitors listen in during a land navigation familiarization course leading up to the Pacific Land Forces Team Readiness Challenge on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, May 1, 2026. U.S. Army Pacific hosted teams from nine countries during the inaugural PLFTRC, which included a week of acclimatization, familiarization and training.

U.S. Army Soldiers navigate through a chain obstacle on the Leadership Reaction Course during the Pacific Land Forces Team Readiness Challenge at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, May 2, 2026. The PLFTRC is USARPAC's inaugural international team competition, building interoperability while establishing a new standard for multinational cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

A Fiji Land Forces Soldier low crawls under barbed wire in the Jungle 10k for the Pacific Land Forces Team Readiness Challenge at Lightning Academy at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, May 2, 2026. During the Jungle 10k soldiers must run through the jungle and conduct multiple challenges, if they were to fail any challenge they would be penalized.

Soldiers from the Malaysian Army maneuver pipes to navigate an obstacle on the Leadership Reaction Course during the Pacific Land Forces Team Readiness Challenge at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, May 2, 2026. The PLFTRC is USARPAC's inaugural international team competition, building interoperability while establishing a new standard for multinational cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Throughout the week, squads will face a variety of challenges, including marksmanship, physical fitness, tactical problem-solving and team-based tasks. The competition will also feature opportunities for cultural exchange, further strengthening the bonds between participating nations.

“When you see noncommissioned officers and Soldiers from nine different nations sweating, shooting, and problem-solving together, you are watching them build an unbreakable foundation of trust,” Schmidt said. “That trust is exactly what deters our adversaries and keeps the Indo-Pacific free and open."

The PLFTRC is a testament to the collective resolve of the region’s premier land forces. Unified, interoperable, and lethal, these professional warfighters stand ready to defend a free and open Indo-Pacific.

For updates, visit USARPAC's website and follow U.S. Army Pacific on Facebook, Instagram and X.