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SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii — The blue Pacific is now saturated with Army green as allies and partners join forces to prepare for large-scale combat operations.

As the Army adapts and evolves its network to reduce complexity and tailor capabilities at echelon, it relies on persistent experimentation, fielding and Soldier feedback to refine network operational concepts.

The 25th Infantry Division has been a critical experimentation partner in this effort, most recently during the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 24-01 exercise at Schofield Barracks employing the Integrated Tactical Network, or ITN, for its networked communications.

“Here in the Pacific, we’re faced with unique environmental considerations, from triple canopy jungles to the mountains and volcanoes,” said Maj. Justin James, division deputy communications officer (G6) for the 25th ID. “The ITN is going to help us communicate over terrain in which we couldn't before.”

The ITN is comprised of a flexible network kit that incorporates commercial capabilities such as tactical data radios, commercial cell technologies, and tactical cross domain solutions that integrate into the Army’s network foundation. The flexibility of the ITN allows higher echelons to take on complex network planning and management, while retaining necessary network capabilities for commanders at lower echelons who are focusing on the fight.

One priority for the 25th ID during the execution of JPMRC 24-1 was to exercise and fight on the Sensitive but Unclassified - Encrypted, or SBU-E, network to the greatest extent possible. The use of the SBU-E enclave supported communications across echelons and the joint and coalition communities.

“In a future fight, the U.S. will have to fight with its partners and allies and to make that interoperability real, our network has to be as flat, fast and accurate as possible,” said Col. Rob Shaw, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division commander. “Because it's at an [acceptable] level of encryption I can pull in our partner nations."

Over the past six years, nine brigade combat teams and six security force assistance brigades have successfully conducted operations using SBU-E at brigade and below to provide increased operational flexibility, interoperability, and security, while retaining secret voice and data communications where required.

During the experimentations, the 3-25 established communications up to division and down to the tactical command post using SBU-E to follow each tactical operations center movement. This provided Army network developers with data to inform network design.

Persistent Experimentation: Extending the Network

To complement the existing ground-based ITN capabilities, the Army inserted new aerial tier experiments by incorporating the ITN’s tactical radios into fixed wing drones, which significantly extended the network across intra- and inter-island terrains and onto a UH-60 Blackhawk for air to ground communications.

The Aerial Tier Network Extension featured a K-1000 drone, which completed a 26-hour flight carrying full motion video with the radio creating a single mesh network to significantly extend the mesh network.

The Aerial Integrated System, also known as ITN in the air, provided shared position location information between the pilot down to dismounted troops equipped with end user devices.

“As soon as the helicopter comes into the line of sight, the system creates a communications bubble between the pilot, who is tracking the mission on a tablet, and the ground forces, who are communicating with the pilot and each other using their end user devices,” said Maj. John Azbill, 3-25 S6. “Air to ground communications are especially critical during our night time air assault operations.”

The unit also successfully experimented with a joint-enabled radio for shore-to-ship joint call for fires, which enabled the forward observer to initiate the fires chain up to a U.S. Navy destroyer offshore to launch a notional fires mission.

“We're in the Pacific, so joint fires missions are probably what we're going to most rely upon to fight,” Shaw said.

The 25th ID will continue to participate in operational exercises in 2024, where it will refine its ITN capabilities and provide the Army with additional feedback on how to implement a strategic communications link across the Indo-Pacific.

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii – The 25th Infantry Division and U.S. Army Hawaii held a Quarterly Recognition Ceremony, Dec. 12, 2023, at Weyand Field, Schofield Barracks.

The ceremony was held to honor 45 25th Infantry Division Soldiers for completing volunteer hours during the third quarter and 26 U.S. Army Hawaii Department of Defense civilian employees for their respective lengths of service.

“Volunteerism is truly powerful, and we cannot thank you enough for what you do,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Marcus Evans, the 25th Inf. Div. and USARHAW commanding general to the awardees. “You are the unsung heroes who build bridges and transform the lives of those you help while also setting a positive example for others to follow. Your acts of service are the support pillars for our strong, caring and fruitful Ohana.”

25th Inf. Div. Soldiers were awarded either the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal or a Volunteer Recognition Certificate of Appreciation based upon the total number of community service hours completed.

“I accumulated over 100 volunteer hours working as my battalion B.O.S.S. (Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers) representative and being a member of the Hui Ha’a team,” said U.S. Army Cpl. Victoria Henry, an information technology specialist assigned to 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, 25th Inf. Div. Artillery (DIVARTY) Brigade. “I definitely feel like volunteering is important because it builds character and you meet new people at the same time. I’m grateful and appreciative my work is being noticed, especially by such high-ranking people.”

Each award recipient was selected and nominated by their respective brigade command team or organization leadership to be recognized and awarded.

In total, 25th Inf. Div. Soldiers amassed over 5,000 hours of volunteer work within the quarter – which equates to almost one full calendar year of time.

DIVARTY volunteer award recipients included – Lt. Col. Matthew Cahill, Maj. Kevin Holmes, 1st Lt. Steven Sunthonlap, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Dario Noguera, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Austin Chestnut, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Adam Decker, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jacob Miles, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Charles Osei, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Whitney Smiley, Master Sgt. Bryan Corbett, Sgt. 1st Class Florentino Martinez, Staff Sgt. Caelab Carter, Staff Sgt. Lester Herbert, Staff Sgt. Adrian Thomas, Sgt. Bernard Corpuz, Sgt. Rachel Sweeney, Cpl. Victoria Henry, Spc. Kiara Newbill, and Dr. Manulani Meyer.

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team volunteer award recipients included – 2nd Lt. Demetri Germanos, Sgt. Malachi Johnson, SPC Jae Pursel, and Pfc. Letici Casatii.

3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team volunteer award recipients included – Staff Sgt. Henry Garcia Discua, Staff Sgt. Luis Ojeda Castillo, Sgt. Stephanie Palacios, Spc. Kenneth Crisostomo, Spc. Craig Gascon, and Pfc. Julian Banuelos.

25th Division Sustainment Brigade volunteer award recipients included – Sgt. 1st Class Richard Soto, Sgt. Veronica Bos, Sgt. Brandon Burr, Sgt. Kenneth Marshall, 1st Lt. Emily Adkins, 1st Lt. Erick Ochola, Warrant Officer Trevor Colclasure, Sgt. 1st Class Elizabeth Ramos, Staff Sgt. Robert Flowers, Sgt. Alba Zambrano Ramirez, Spc. Jason Highsmith, Pfc. Diego Loeza, PV2 Ashante Kendall, PV2 Kethio Nelson, and PV2 Axel Solis.

25th Combat Aviation Brigade volunteer award recipient included Spc. Nathaniel Abcede.

U.S. Army Hawaii Department of Defense Length of Service awardees included – Bryan Son (5 years), Maria Martinez-Glory (5 years), Johnie Hickmon (5 years), Alian Hernandez (5 years), Joshua Jackson (5 years), Peter Sablan (5 years), Ricky Morales (5 years), Edwin Allen (10 years), Cameron Holmes (10 years), Jesse Wagnon (10 years), Baltazar Barrientos (20 years), Renee Benito (20 years), Victor Jimenez-Perez (20 years), Jasper Johnson (20 years), Melvin Kinsey (20 years), Monty Loa (20 years), Jodee Watters (20 years), Marcial Gasper (25 years), Stephen Litten (25 years), Yeshua Maxwell (25 years), Edward Brown III (30 years), Larry Magaoay (30 years), Jerome Joseph (35 years), and Candace Johnson (40 years).

The U.S. Army Hawaii Department of Defense Civilian of the Quarter awardees included Debra McMonagle and Timothy Gustavus.

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii – The 25th Infantry Division and U.S. Army Hawaii conducted an installation tour for over 25 U.S. military war veterans, Sept. 13, 2023.

The tour was held as a part of ‘Forever Young Veterans’ nonprofit organization’s six-day trip to Pearl Harbor for Hawaii-affiliated U.S. veterans in addition to visiting Schofield Barracks to share in the latest capabilities and training offered by the 25th Inf. Div., meet and greet with Soldiers, and share their stories.

During the tour, the veterans and their families had the opportunity to visit the 25th Inf. Div. Tropic Lightning Museum to showcase the history of the unit. Additionally, they visited Lightning Academy - where schools such as Small-Unit Ranger Tactics, Jungle Operations Training Course, and Air Assault Course are conducted.

“It’s not every day you get to meet a WWII veteran who also fought in Vietnam; it was phenomenal,” said U.S. Army 1st Sgt. David Beck, the 25th Inf. Div. Lightning Academy first sergeant. “I think the greatest thing we got to see were the veterans meeting some of today’s future leaders. For our Soldiers to be able to meet people from the past and learn from them still is the greatest thing that we should continuously build upon.”

The group, which included six veterans who served with the 25th Inf. Div., consisting of one WWII Normandy D-Day veteran, one Korean War veteran, 23 Vietnam Combat veterans, and two Vietnam Era veterans.

“Coming back here has been the dream of my life, because in my heart I’m 25th,” said Larry Dobesh, a Vietnam veteran and former 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Inf. Div. ‘Wolfhound’. “Talking to the young guys, they’ve got the spirit, and I can see that they’re living what they believe in. It’s a feeling that not many people can understand, but I do because they’re patriots.”

Forever Young Veterans is a Memphis-based nonprofit organization started in 2006 by Diane Hight in honor of her father, who served in WWII. The organization seeks to provide honor, healing and hope to U.S. military veterans 65 and older by returning them to former battlegrounds, reuniting them with their previous units and granting veterans individual wishes.

“When Larry asked to return to Schofield Barracks, we built this 'Trip of Honor' around him,” said Hight. “When we contacted the division, they were open to hosting our 27 veterans, and the visit was better than we ever dreamed. While we've been here, I've noticed how emotional the veterans are. This trip has brought back memories, and the experience has been more meaningful than we ever imagined.”

Having completed over 50 trips, visiting nine countries, and honoring over 2,700 veterans, Hight said that she looks forward to continuing to give back to the veterans who sacrificed for our country.

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii – The 25th Infantry Division and U.S. Army Hawaii hosted a Division Change of Command Ceremony Aug. 25, 2023, at the installation’s historic Weyand Field.

The ceremony was held to honor U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Joseph A. Ryan as the outgoing 25th Inf. Div. and USARHAW commanding general, and welcome U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Marcus S. Evans as the incoming 25th Inf. Div. and USARHAW commanding general.

Ryan served as the Division commanding general from July 2021 to August 2023. During his tenure as commander, Ryan oversaw several Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC) rotations, deployed 25th Inf. Div. forces throughout the Indo-Pacific as a part of Operation Pathways, and led Task Force Ohana, providing support to Soldiers, families, and the local community.

“I stood here, and I spoke two years ago about commanding with the Hawaiian values of Ha’aha’a and Alaka’i in mind,” said Ryan about his time as the 25th Inf. Div. commanding general. “To be humble and modest, to respect others, to persevere and to lead with courage and commitment. What an honor it has been to serve with you.”

Ryan will move on to become the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army, in Washington D.C. He thanked his family, loved ones, and mentors for their support.

“Family is important in Hawaii,” said Ryan. “To have family here as part of my change of command, and the people I celebrate it with and actually execute it with such as Lt. Gen. Xavier Brunson and Maj. Gen. Marcus Evans, both of whom I’ve known for decades, is really important. It makes this pretty easy because you know what you’ve dedicated yourself to for the past two years is in good hands.”

Ryan welcomed Evans to his new position, as this marks the third time Ryan and Evans have changed command positions.

“Marcus Evans has been my teammate for the last 25 years,” said Ryan. “I’m nothing if not utterly envious of him today. He and Kelly are very simply joining the greatest Division in the Army.”

Evans most recently served as the Chief of Staff, U.S. Special Operations Command.

“Thank you for this opportunity to command in this Division,” said Evans. “Joe and Julie, Kelly and I can’t thank you enough for this transition, and more importantly for you all’s friendship over the years. Thank you both for what your leadership and service has meant to this Division and to our Army. All the best in your next assignment.”

Evans has multiple operational deployments, has served in Airborne, Ranger, Light Infantry and Mechanized formations, and has previously commanded the NATO Special Operations Component Command – Afghanistan, the 75th Ranger Regiment, and the forward deployed Joint Special Operations Task Force.

“I’m truly blessed to be a part of such an incredible unit such as the Tropic Lightning Division,” said Evans. “I look forward to serving alongside you all.”

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SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii — A pair of Child Development Centers being built on separate Army installations in Hawaii “will revolutionize the [CDCs] within our ranks,” the commander of Army Garrison Hawaii said Tuesday.

Construction of a $44.7 million development center at Schofield Barracks in central Oahu and a $53.1 million center at Aliamanu Military Reservation in Honolulu is expected to be completed by 2026. Together, they will accommodate roughly 660 babies, toddlers and children under age 6.

“That is a significant commitment to our families,” Col. Steve McGunegle said during a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday at Schofield Barracks.

“These state-of-the-art facilities are taking a giant leap forward to provide the best possible care and nurturing environment for our keiki, who are the future of our nation,” he said, using the Hawaiian word for children.

“Every detail was considered for the end-users and children,” said an Army Garrison Hawaii news release describing the centers’ designs. For example, the indoor playrooms to be used during bad weather will have extra soundproofing to prevent napping kids from being disturbed.

“The playgrounds were meticulously designed and reviewed several times, down to redesigning the trike paths several times and even considering what direction the slides should exit,” the release said.

The shortage of daycare space has been a chronic problem for all the services, and Oahu, among other locations, has been among the locations to experiences that scarcity acutely.

Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth has prioritized quality-of-life improvements for soldiers and their families, including expanding childcare options for them.

Wormuth in January toured Army installations in Hawaii and touted planned improvements and expected limitations.

“How do we weigh, essentially, buying a new child development center, for example, against money that we are spending towards developing our new weapons systems, which are also very, very important as we transform to the Army of 2030?” she said during a Jan. 24 town hall meeting at Schofield.

The pair of Child Development Centers will go a long way in whittling down the number of families waiting to get their young children into daycare.

“These two facilities will largely exhaust the current wait list,” McGunegle said during an interview after the ceremony. The ”immediate-need” wait list fluctuates between 400 and 600, he said.

“So, if we don't see additional growth or additional demand, then these two centers would meet what we see as the current demand.”

Although located on Army installations, the centers will serve members of all the services, including Defense Department civilian employees, he said.

The two centers will employ more than 200 workers. They will have a combined 75,000 square feet of floor space and an equal amount of playground space, the garrison news release said.

That far exceeds the 57,600 square feet of a football field and its end zones, according to the release.