US and Brunei forces strengthen readiness and trust during Exercise Pahlawan Warrior

TUTONG CAMP, Brunei — U.S. soldiers and Oklahoma National Guardsmen trained alongside Royal Brunei Land Forces during Exercise Pahlawan Warrior 26 from Aug. 11-21, focusing on shared tactics, jungle skills and relationship-building to increase readiness.

About 130 U.S. personnel traveled to Brunei under Operation Pathways for the biennial event led by the Oklahoma National Guard’s 1st Squadron, 180th Cavalry Regiment. Training paired small units from both militaries for tactical operations and subject matter exchanges spanning cyber defense, medical operations and public affairs.

“For me, leadership requires adaptability,” said Royal Brunei Land Forces Lt. Col. Mohammad Sufrien bin Johan. “We are not here to determine which method is better, which country does better, but to identify what works, why it works and how it can be adapted to our respective forces.”

Troops drew on complementary strengths, with U.S. experience in live-fire range operations and Bruneian expertise in jungle environments. “Our soldiers have showed a lot of grit, but the Royal Brunei Land Forces go through this like they do it every day, because they do,” said U.S. Army Maj. Kent Turner, commander of U.S. personnel during the exercise. “Their ability to navigate on different analog systems and go from one hilltop to the other at a rapid pace is just amazing.”

Medical evacuation training involved U.S. Army Soldiers with the 547th Medical Company Area Support, 62nd Medical Brigade, from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, alongside Royal Brunei Land Force and Air Force personnel at Tutong Camp near Bandar Seri Begawan on Aug. 13. Jungle land navigation drills on Aug. 12 saw Oklahoma Army National Guardsmen and Bruneian counterparts plotting grid coordinates together to refine movement and communication in dense terrain.

“[They] are highly adaptable, resilient and ready to thrive anywhere, side by side with the troops of the Royal Brunei Land Forces on the exact opposite side of the globe,” said RBLF Col. Erwan bin Haji Ibrahim.

Leaders emphasized that integrating at the small-unit level built familiarity with each other’s procedures and fostered trust. “They really are becoming friends,” Turner said. “I’m sure that some of the people, when they leave, they will remain in contact with them throughout. And what that’s done is, it’s picked up both sides, Royal Brunei [Land Forces] and also with our U.S. forces. Everybody is excited to be here.”

The environment also tested junior leaders’ decision-making in unfamiliar terrain and with limited communications. “We want to test the junior leadership in terms of decision-making,” Sufrien bin Johan said. “For the soldiers, it’s about the communication, coordination and understanding. … The major focus here is so that they understand each other’s procedures and try to adapt it into a realistic tactical situation.”

“It’s much different than being a junior leader back in Oklahoma for a drill weekend,” said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Colby Wyatt, Oklahoma National Guard joint staff director. “Now you’re having to travel all the way around the world, communicate with people who speak a different language, and you’re not just leading — there’s an operational piece, there’s a logistical piece. They learn at such a faster pace, and then they’re able to take that information back to their unit and train those that maybe didn’t get to make the trip.”

Outside formal training, participants exchanged patches, shared meals and traded language—U.S. soldiers learning Malay phrases and Bruneian soldiers picking up Oklahoma slang. “I sincerely hope our Oklahoman friends had at least a little time to explore the beauty of Brunei Darussalam and taste our local food,” Haji Ibrahim said. “The true value of Pahlawan Warrior is in the human connection. Lifelong friendships have been forged here. I hope this experience inspires [U.S. service members] to return to this region in the future.”

“It’s really a tactical operation with strategic impact,” Wyatt said. “We can take soldiers at the tactical level, put them into an environment like this, and they can gain the training that they need. But the strategic impact is what it means for the United States and for our soldiers to have a relationship with another country.”

“Our mission with Pahlawan Warrior is to contribute to a sustained and mature defense relationship between Brunei Darussalam and the United States of America,” Sufrien bin Johan said. “Beyond that, the real measurement of success is not only during this one exercise, but the trust and coordination between both nations and our commitment toward peace and stability in the region.”

The Oklahoma National Guard’s ties with Brunei have grown since Guardsmen first joined Pahlawan Warrior in 2024, with this year’s iteration continuing collaboration at the tactical, operational and strategic levels.