An official website of the United States government Here's how you know

Papua New Guinea and US hosts Regional Land Forces Seminar

By U.S Army PacificSeptember 21, 2021

U.S. Army General Charles Flynn, commanding general of the U.S. Army Pacific; Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Brzak, the command sergeant major of the U.S. Army Pacific; Papua New Guinean Maj. Gen. Gilbert Toropo, commander of the Papua New Guinea Defense...
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army General Charles Flynn, commanding general of the U.S. Army Pacific; Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Brzak, the command sergeant major of the U.S. Army Pacific; Papua New Guinean Maj. Gen. Gilbert Toropo, commander of the Papua New Guinea Defense Force; and Chief Warrant Officer 1 Donald Yalom case the colors representing Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference (IPACC) Sept. 14, 2021 at the U.S. Army Pacific Command and Control Facility main conference room at Fort Shafter, Hawaii marking the ending of this year’s conference.

Army chiefs from land forces from across the Indo-Pacific region gathered for the biennial IPACC, a military seminar that provides a forum for senior level officers from the Indo-Asia Pacific's regional ground forces to discuss differences, establish trust, mitigate miscalculations, resolve challenges, and find commonality among the participating multinational-professional soldiers. The theme of this year’s conference is Environmental Impacts of Land and Littoral Operations. The SELF is an annual military seminar that runs concurrently with the Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference that provides a forum to hold group discussions and professional development directed at senior enlisted personnel from the various countries. (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Ondirae Abdullah-Robinson)
VIEW ORIGINAL
Army chiefs from land forces from across the Indo-Pacific region gather for a group photo Sept. 14, 2021 at the Hale Ikena golf course at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, during the Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference (IPACC) and Senior Enlisted Leaders...
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army chiefs from land forces from across the Indo-Pacific region gather for a group photo Sept. 14, 2021 at the Hale Ikena golf course at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, during the Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference (IPACC) and Senior Enlisted Leaders Forum.

The IPACC is a biennial military seminar that provides a forum for senior level officers from the Indo-Asia Pacific's regional ground forces to discuss differences, establish trust, mitigate miscalculations, resolve challenges, and find commonality among the participating multinational-professional soldiers. The theme of this year’s conference is Environmental Impacts of Land and Littoral Operations. The SELF is an annual military seminar that runs concurrently with the Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference that provides a forum to hold group discussions and professional development directed at senior enlisted personnel from the various countries. (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Ondirae Abdullah-Robinson)
VIEW ORIGINAL
Maj. Gen. Gilbert Toropo, Chief of the Papua New Guinea Defense Force, gave his opening remarks prior to the plenary sessions on day 2 of the 12th Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference/ Senior Enlisted Leaders Forum Sept. 14, 2021, on Fort...
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Gilbert Toropo, Chief of the Papua New Guinea Defense Force, gave his opening remarks prior to the plenary sessions on day 2 of the 12th Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference/ Senior Enlisted Leaders Forum Sept. 14, 2021, on Fort Shafter, Hawaii. The theme of this years’ conference was Environmental Impacts on Land and Littoral Operations. Plenary sessions featured panels of distinguished speakers who provided expert analysis and spurred lively discussions on the topic. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jennifer Delaney) VIEW ORIGINAL
Gen. Charles A. Flynn, U.S. Army Pacific commanding general, gave his opening remarks prior to the plenary sessions on day 2 of the 12th Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference/Senior Enlisted Leaders Forum Sept. 14, 2021, on Fort Shafter, Hawaii....
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Gen. Charles A. Flynn, U.S. Army Pacific commanding general, gave his opening remarks prior to the plenary sessions on day 2 of the 12th Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference/Senior Enlisted Leaders Forum Sept. 14, 2021, on Fort Shafter, Hawaii. The theme of this years’ conference was Environmental Impacts on Land and Littoral Operations. Plenary sessions featured panels of distinguished speakers who provided expert analysis and spurred lively discussions on the topic. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jennifer Delaney) VIEW ORIGINAL
Gen. James C. McConville, Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army, gave opening remarks before the plenary sessions on day 2 of the 12th Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference/Senior Enlisted Leaders Forum Sept. 14, 2021, on Fort Shafter,...
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Gen. James C. McConville, Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army, gave opening remarks before the plenary sessions on day 2 of the 12th Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference/Senior Enlisted Leaders Forum Sept. 14, 2021, on Fort Shafter, Hawaii. The theme of this years’ conference was Environmental Impacts on Land and Littoral Operations. Plenary sessions featured panels of distinguished speakers who provided expert analysis and spurred lively discussions on the topic. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jennifer Delaney) VIEW ORIGINAL

Fort Shafter, Hawaii— Army chiefs from land forces from across the Indo-Pacific region gathered for the biennial Indo-Pacific Army Chiefs Conference (IPACC), held here on September 14, 2021. IPACC was co-hosted by the United States Army and the Papua New Guinea Defense Force.

Speaking to the delegates via video conferencing from the Pentagon, Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville reminded all of the importance of this gathering. “This conference is a critical opportunity to connect as leaders, to foster alliances partnerships and cooperative relationships.”

IPACC is a military seminar that provides a forum for senior-level officers from the Indo-Asia Pacific's regional ground forces to exchange views and ideas. The conference brings army senior leaders together to discuss differences, establish trust, mitigate miscalculations, resolve challenges, and find commonality among the participating multinational-professional soldiers.

“From dialogues like these to our bilateral and multilateral exercises, to our subject matter exchanges, we consistently apply energy and effort to improve our militaries, our security, and in the end to improve our people’s lives together,” said Gen. Charles Flynn, Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific.

The theme of this years’ conference was Environmental Impacts on Land and Littoral Operations.

Plenary sessions featured panels of distinguished speakers who provided expert analysis and spurred lively discussions on the topic.

“As armies, we must be able to operate in varying, and challenging, and changing environments. And successfully negotiate the unique challenges of the defined space between land base and littoral operations,” said Maj. Gen. Gilbert Toropo, Chief of the Papua New Guinea Defense Force.

Taking place concurrently was the annual Senior Enlisted Leaders Forum (SELF). These are group discussions and professional development directed at senior enlisted personnel from various countries.

The conference was conducted under strict COVID mitigation protocol. All delegates were screened  before they arrived in Hawaii in accordance with the State’s Safe Travels Program. Delegates were also screened while here in Hawaii prior to their departures. Furthermore, the conference adhered to all executive orders mandated by the State of Hawaii and the City and County of Honolulu.

With close to 40 nations comprising its make-up, the Indo-Pacific region covers more than half of the earth’s surface with 6 of the most populated nations in the world. The region is inclusive of over 3000 languages and dialects, and poses some of the most pressing security challenges ranging from terrorism to natural disasters. 7 of the world’s 10 largest armies are in the region where border disputes and sovereignty concerns are headline events.