military's largest exercise program.Įighteen of its exercises are joint exercises approved by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a designation that assigns them a specific name and increased priority for resources and people. David Parker, chief of the command's exercise division, told American Forces Press Service.Īs the Defense Department's largest combatant command in terms of territory - an area covering 52 percent of the Earth's surface that includes 3.6 billion people in 36 nations - PACOM also conducts the U.S. One of the best ways to do that is through the exercise program, Army Col. PACOM works with regional nations to promote disaster preparedness and build resilience and to respond quickly and effectively should disaster strike. 3 and the Philippines experienced two earthquakes within the past week: one yesterday in the southern Philippines at magnitude 5.6 and a 7.6-magnitude quake in the east on Aug. Phillip Mead, director of PACOM's Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance.Ī 6.4-magnitude earthquake rattled Indonesia on Sept. 'It's not a matter of if they are going to have the next disaster.

Mike Bridges, commander of the Alaska Army National Guard, shared his state's lessons in responding to natural disasters with officials from Mongolia's National Emergency Management Agency.īridges encouraged his Mongolian counterparts to participate in the Vigilant Guard exercise in Alaska in 2014, which will include a simulated earthquake and tsunami with mass casualties.ĭisaster-management specialists say that Mother Nature makes such exercises imperative. It sits squarely on the earthquake-prone 'Ring of Fire' and also suffers frequent cyclones, hurricanes or typhoons, floods and even volcanic eruptions.ĭuring the recent Khaan Quest 12 exercise in earthquake-plagued Mongolia, Army Brig. The Asia-Pacific region experiences more natural disasters than anywhere on Earth. CAMP SMITH, Hawaii - As they reach out to long-time allies and new partners to increase regional engagement through Pacific Command's exercise program, officials are finding that one of the biggest enticements is a common threat: Mother Nature.

Natural disaster drills