Pacific Forces Unite: PMTEC Stakeholder Synchronization Accelerates Indo-Pacific Training Integration, Strengthening Joint Warfighter Readiness

27 October 2025

From U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

IWAKUNI Iwakuni, Japan—In a significant effort to modernize joint training across the Indo-Pacific, the Pacific Multi Domain Training and Experimentation Capability (PMTEC) led a stakeholder synchronization October 27–28, 2025.

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Pacific Multi Domain Training and Experimentation Capability Program Manager Dr. Andre Stridiron meets with key leaders and representatives from United States Forces Japan and other USINDOPACOM stakeholders to discuss PMTEC investments, and joint service live, virtual and constructive training integration, October 28, 2025 at Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni. The engagement advances national strategic defense priorities of integrated deterrence through joint force readiness and multi-domain operations.

Camp Hansen Range Control personnel brief Pacific Multi Domain Training and Experimentation Capability Program Manager Dr. Andre Stridiron on PMTEC investments such as Land Mobile Network upgrades and UHF/VHF radios in their operations room, Camp Hansen, Okinawa, October 30, 2025. PMTEC investments in range facilities advance the national strategic defense priorities of integrated deterrence through joint force readiness and multi-domain operations.

III Marine Expeditionary Force personnel meet with Pacific Multi Domain Training and Experimentation Capability Program Manager Dr. Andre Stridiron to brief him on their small unmanned aircraft systems virtual trainer equipment and course, and demonstrate their capability to design, manufacture, repair, and deploy small unmanned systems, at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, October 30, 2025. PMTEC investment in live, virtual and constructive training supports the national strategic defense priorities of integrated deterrence through joint force readiness and multi-domain operations.

Participants in the III Marine Expeditionary Force Unmanned Systems Branch instructor course, and Pacific Multi Domain Training and Experimentation Capability Program Manager Dr. Andre Stridiron, display unmanned aircraft systems manufactured during the course at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, October 30, 2025. Participants are training to become master instructors for joint and bilateral services in support of the national strategic defense priorities of integrated deterrence through joint force readiness and multi-domain operations.

Pacific Multi Domain Training and Experimentation Capability Program Manager Dr. Andre Stridiron, visits ground ranges used by joint services and the Japan Self Defense Force at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, October 30, 2025. PMTEC investments in ranges and training areas support the national strategic defense priorities of integrated deterrence through joint force readiness and multi-domain operations.

Stakeholders from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, joint commands, and supporting organizations came together align infrastructure, virtual training capabilities, and emerging technologies across Japan and Guam. The collaboration underscored the U.S. Department of War’s commitment to enhancing joint and coalition warfighter readiness through advanced Live Virtual Constructive (LVC) operations and infrastructure modernization.

Participants included:

Joint and Theater Commands: United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), United States Forces Japan (USFJ), Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), Commander Naval Air Forces Pacific (CNAP), Program Management Activity 205 (PMA-205)
Service Components: Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12), 35th Fighter Wing (35 FW), Carrier Air Wing 5 (CVW-5)
Operational Units: F-35 squadrons from Misawa and Iwakuni,36th Wing (36 WG) at Andersen Air Force Base (AFB), Guam
Industry Partners: CAE Inc.

Dr. Andre J. Stridiron III, PMTEC Program Manager, opened the synchronization emphasizing unity of effort, strategic foresight, and the urgency of integrated training environments. Facilitators from CNAP and 35 FW led breakout sessions focused on LVC infrastructure, Fenix simulator deployment, Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) integration, and bilateral exercise planning.

Key outcomes included:

Identification of requirements for enhanced training capabilities.
Common Hardware Modular Package system rollout planning for Misawa and Iwakuni.
Development of Exercise Control Facilities and linkages across Japan, incorporating joint resources such as the Live Mission Operations Center (Air Force), the Navy Continuous Training Environment, and the Range Management System (USFJ)
Bilateral engagement strategies with the Japanese Ministry of Defense.
Planning for Valiant Shield 2026, including synthetic Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities and coalition simulator integration.

The final wrap-up session consolidated priorities around Iwakuni’s exercise control facility, Misawa’s virtual training buildout, and USFJ’s role as the conduit for Japanese government coordination. Stakeholders committed to monthly coordination and near-term execution in exercises such as Keen Sword, Cope North, and Valiant Shield.

“It was genuinely motivating to be part of an action-driven team of key stakeholders dedicated to accelerate a tangible plan for bringing next generation LVC capabilities and opportunities to the warfighter to ensure tactical readiness at the highest level,” said Dr. Sandro Scielzo, CAE Inc. Human Systems Technical Authority and Learning Science Fellow.

Okinawa Site Visits: Validating PMTEC Investments

Following the synchronization, PMTEC leadership conducted site visits across Okinawa from October 29–31 to assess infrastructure investments and operational readiness managed by 18th Operations Support Squadron at Kadena Air Base, III Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Courtney and Camp Hansen and Marine Corps Installations Pacific at Ie Shima Auxiliary Airfield.

The visits underscored PMTEC’s regional impact and informed planning for future LVC deployments, simulator installations, and bilateral coordination with Japanese authorities.

The PMTEC site visit engaged stakeholders and emphasized the importance of sustaining investments through the Program Objective Memorandum (POM) process and maintaining synchronized efforts to meet operational needs at best speed.

“The PMTEC investments are a testament to our commitment to joint and coalition warfighter readiness,” said Stridiron. “These advancements will enable agile operations and ensure our forces are prepared to meet emerging challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.”

Maj. Gen. Brian Wolford, Marine Corps Installations Pacific Commanding General, expressed gratitude for the PMTEC investments, highlighting their role in modernizing infrastructure and enhancing training capabilities.

Alignment to U.S. Strategic Priorities

The stakeholder synchronization directly supported the 2025 Interim National Security Strategy, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s priorities, and Admiral Samuel Paparo’s strategic vision as Commander of USINDOPACOM. This vision emphasizes integrated deterrence through joint force readiness, multi-domain operations, campaigning, and resilience via distributed training and infrastructure modernization. It also focuses on countering Chinese aggression and maintaining stability in the Western Pacific through advanced capabilities, coalition integration, and persistent presence.

About PMTEC: Established in 2022, the Pacific Multi-Domain Training and Experimentation Capability is a transformative enterprise funded and resourced by the United States Indo-Pacific Command to enhance joint, combined, and coalition warfighting readiness and lethality in the Indo-Pacific. PMTEC is a key component of the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, reinforcing the U.S. commitment to homeland defense and a free and open Indo-Pacific. PMTEC’s integration of advanced training technologies and its alignment with strategic priorities make it a cornerstone of U.S. efforts to maintain regional stability and counter adversarial aggression.