FORT ADISORN, Thailand -- The combined U.S.-Thai formation learned from each other during the exercise, facing training challenges such as mountain rescue operations, casualty care and security operations tailored to prepare the Royal Thai Army to respond to natural disasters- all while contending with the driving rain of Thailand's monsoon season.

"As I look out at the audience I see a group of professionals who have gained great insight and experience over these last few weeks," said Brig. Gen. Wallace Turner, Assistant Adjutant General and Commander of the Washington Army National Guard in his address to the assembled Soldiers. "The long days and the hard work you have put in has paid off."

In its fifth iteration, Hanuman Guardian has built on the training and lessons learned from previous exercises.

"With each successive year we, with our RTA partners, have made Hanuman Guardian a better and better exercise," said Lt. Col. Ian Palmer, commander of the 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment. "We are committed to making HG 2017 even better than this year."

"The coordination, the training, the life support, and everything else associated with the exercise gets better and better," said Palmer.

In addition to providing valuable training to the Soldiers of the 2nd SBCT, leaders were faced with the challenge of coordinating and conducting training with many different units. Soldiers from the Washington Army National Guard provided high-angle rappel and helicopter hoist training, aviators from the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment flew hundreds of flight hours with their Thai counterparts, medics and Soldiers from 18th Medical Command shared healthcare practices with RTA doctors and civilian medical personnel and the 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Brigade provided logistics support to make it all possible.

"It's really amazing to see the number of parties involved with putting Hanuman Guardian together," said Palmer. "We have US units from both the active and reserve component, from CONUS and Hawaii, and from combat arms units to doctors and veterinarians all working together to strengthen our partnership with the RTA."

Hanuman Guardian is the first of four training exercises conducted as part of Pacific Pathways. In addition to training in Thailand, the Lancer Brigade is preparing to train with allies in the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia; each iteration has the aim of improving interoperability with Soldiers and leaders in the Indo-Pacific region.