Army, partner forces begin simulated combat in Hawaii

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii – After days of disciplined preparation and staging across the Hawaiian archipelago, U.S. Army forces and their multinational partners have officially transitioned into active, force-on-force maneuver training during Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center Rotation 27-01.

The exercise has shifted from reception, staging, and onward integration into the first battle period, testing the 25th Infantry Division's ability to seize and retain decisive terrain in a contested, multi-domain environment.

The theater is now set and established with lines of communication, and the transition to the attack is where convergence will become a reality.

" We are leveraging the condition setting and synchronization of warfighting functions to enable our Light Fighters to win in Close Combat," said Brig. Gen. Robert Bryant, 25th Infantry Division deputy commander for support.

A key component of this transition relies on distributed access and mobility.

JPMRC 27-01 involves approximately 7,000 personnel and continues to demonstrate the Army’s commitment to readiness, interoperability with allies and partners, and the ability to provide flexible, combat-credible forces to the Joint Force in the Indo-Pacific.

Operating on Maui and Oahu, elements of the French 6th Light Armored Brigade are working in tandem with the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade to secure forward arming and refueling points. This critical multinational integration extends the joint force's operational reach, allowing aviation assets to sustain continuous pressure and rapidly project combat power across the island chain.

Ground forces on Oahu and the Island of Hawaii are simultaneously maneuvering to secure initial objectives. Elements of the 2nd Mobile Brigade are applying fieldcraft, mobility and modernized command-and-control systems to navigate demanding jungle and archipelagic terrain.

In the coming days, the 11th Airborne Division will execute a mass tactical airborne jump, known as a Joint Forcible Entry operation, into the Pōhakuloa Training Area to secure key infrastructure. This action will immediately be followed by a long-range maritime air assault conducted by the 25th Infantry Division, rapidly inserting infantry forces across the oceanic gap to reinforce the position.

These early maneuvers are setting the conditions for sustained tactical success and endurance as the exercise continues and are paving the way for massive joint integration later this week.

About the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center

The Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center is U.S. Army Pacific’s premier regional Combat Training Center. Operating across the Hawaiian Islands, Alaska, and exportable locations throughout the Indo-Pacific, JPMRC provides realistic, live, virtual and constructive training in complex archipelagic, jungle, and arctic environments. The center generates combat-credible forces, validates multi-domain readiness, and deepens interoperability with Joint forces, allies and multinational partners to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific.

About the 25th Infantry Division

The 25th Infantry Division, "Tropic Lightning," is America's Pacific Division, headquartered at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. As the premier land force in the Pacific, the 25th ID provides combat-ready forces capable of conducting decisive operations across the Indo-Pacific. Through rigorous training and close partnerships with allies and the Joint Force, the division remains committed to warfighting excellence, regional stability, and being a responsible steward of the ‘āina and our local communities across the State of Hawaii.