Fort Shafter, Hawaii – The U.S. Army Pacific hosted its annual Military Personnel Exchange Program (MPEP) Conference from December 8-12, 2025, bringing together U.S. Army exchange officers to ensure they are prepared to enhance interoperability with allies and partners across the Indo-Pacific region.
By embedding U.S. Soldiers with foreign militaries, the MPEP establishes a forward-deployed presence that is critical for building trust, sharing expertise, and ensuring seamless collaboration during combined operations.
In a digitally connected world, direct engagement remains essential.
“This in-person format is particularly effective for sensitive or complex topics, such as readiness and position reviews, allowing for immediate clarification and deeper engagement among participants,” said Lt. Col. Ji Ahn, from the G3 Security Cooperation Division. “The MPEP conference provides an invaluable opportunity for direct interaction, fostering stronger professional relationships and enabling more nuanced and collaborative discussions.”
“The MPEP requires a significant commitment not only from the Soldiers but also from their families, who often relocate to foreign countries for the duration of the assignment. Recognizing this, the conference also focused on the support network available to MPEP personnel," said Col. TJ Bouchillon, International/Military Chief G-3, SCD.
Sgt. Maj. Luis Ruizandaluz, Civil Affairs Senior Enlisted Advisor emphasized the direct impact these Soldiers have on regional stability. “Embedding with partners and allies, MPEPs provide invaluable insights, build vital relationships, and foster interoperability," said Ruizandaluz. "The continuous exchange directly enhances shared capacity to conduct combined operations, ultimately improving collective warfighting capabilities and strengthening regional security to advance U.S. interests.”
Col. Bouchillon reminded the attendees that they remain a vital part of the U.S. Army Pacific mission. This week was one opportunity to demonstrate and ensure our MPEP teammates remain trained and ready.
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