About PALS

BACKGROUND

The Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium (PALS) was established in 2015 as a Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (COMMARFORPAC) hosted multinational forum designed to bring together senior leaders of designated allied and partner nation Marine forces, Naval Infantries, Self Defense Forces and militaries with an interest in developing amphibious capabilities.

PURPOSE

As more Indo-Pacific nations seek to improve or develop amphibious capabilities, PALS provides a useful venue for senior amphibious force leaders to share ideas and enhance cooperation towards common interests that promote stability. The purpose of this Charter is to guide the voluntary, cooperative actions of the PALS participating forces in planning and hosting PALS. This document is not intended to be an international agreement and it is not enforceable under international or domestic law. This Charter does not confer or create any rights or obligations for any PALS partner and does not modify or add to any existing international agreement.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

To establish a community of amphibious professionals in the Indo-Pacific region.
To develop Marine-to-Marine/Naval Infantry/Amphibious Force relationships at a variety of levels to build confidence and trust for today and the future.
To exchange information on a broad range of amphibious matters of mutual interest.
To ensure lines of communication are established and maintained in order to facilitate continued coordination among delegates on a regular basis.
To discuss and develop cooperative initiatives, and identify those that merit further development and practice.
To demonstrate key aspects of amphibious operations, including warfighting and crisis response.
To promote development of amphibious capabilities, leading to forces capable of interoperating with each other when appropriate.

PARTICIPATION

Recognizing competing demands for senior leader participation in forums such as this, the primary audience for PALS is senior amphibious force leaders in each partner force.

The primary criteria for a participating amphibious force is its interest in the Indo-Pacific Region. Others will be considered on consensus of the co-hosts, accounting for the positions of other participants. PALS hosts will have latitude to manage the invitee list, with few exceptions.

Desired lead delegates for each participating nation will be from the Amphibious Force (Marine/Naval Infantry/Army) and its aligned naval force, as appropriate. Delegates will be permitted a “plus one” staff member, and every accommodation will be considered for interpreters and additional participants, space permitting. However, those nations funded through U.S. security cooperation funds will generally be limited to the participation specified on the PALS invitation.

Participants are expected to contribute, and share experiences, opportunities, and ideas, in order to maximize the value to all assembled participants. This may include providing presentations on relevant topics, participation in panel discussions, and/or participation in table-top exercises or similar activities.

In most cases, invited participants will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses. Exceptions and other details regarding participation and invitees are provided in the enclosed Administrative Arrangements template.

FREQUENCY

PALS is planned and conducted annually. It is recognized that scheduling may be altered due to planning factors; however, intent is to have no more than 18 months separation between symposiums.

HOSTING PALS

PALS is meant to be a collaborative community, built on the strength of its membership. Therefore, it is highly desired that regional partners share in hosting PALS, with MARFORPAC acting as a co-host to assist with designated support efforts. The intent is to rotate the location of PALS geographically across the Indo-Pacific region. Where more than one country volunteers to host for the same year, a selection will be based on the first to volunteer and agree to meet the financial, planning and execution requirements to host this conference. To the extent possible, conference locations will be selected two years in advance.

Before the end of each symposium, the hosts of the next PALS shall be designated separately, and dates tentatively scheduled.

A Concept Development Conference (CDC) for the future PALS shall occur immediately, or as soon as practical, following the current PALS. Other planning milestones will be determined by the co-host.

As possible, the draft agenda for the next PALS will be discussed as part of the standing agenda of the current PALS.

An “Administrative Arrangements” (AA) template is included as an enclosure to this charter. The AA is designed to highlight various details on PALS planning and to ensure mutual understanding of roles and responsibilities, to include fiscal arrangements.

PALS FORMAT AND TOPICAL THEMES

PALS will be flexible regarding specific format. The format might revolve around key-note presentations and/or panel discussions, in plenary or working group, and / or aided by a table-top exercise, etc. Key components of PALS, however, will be a mix of:

Topical discussion and activities to engage senior amphibious force leaders
Social interaction to facilitate relationships and camaraderie / team building
Open time to permit bilateral and multilateral discussions among participants, as they desire
A practical demonstration of a relevant amphibious capability and/or platform(s)

Given the wide spectrum of amphibious force missions, capabilities, and resources, in the Indo-Pacific, due diligence will be given to making PALS of value to participants from across the spectrum.

POTENTIAL THEMES AND TOPICS:

Structure and capabilities of regional amphibious forces
Amphibious doctrine
Sustaining an Amphibious force
Command and control of amphibious forces
Navy platforms supporting amphibious operations
Aviation support to amphibious forces
Amphibious operations planning
Amphibious forces as an element of national capability
Amphibious forces’ role in HA/DR operations
Amphibious forces’ role in Civil Military Operations (CMO)
Amphibious elements of CT operations
Amphibious forces’ role in maritime security operations
Amphibious assault / contested environment
Combined and multinational amphibious forces
ASEAN Amphibious Forces (ASEAN Military Ready Group)
Institutional and structural challenges for amphibious forces
Regional security cooperation among amphibious forces
Interoperability gaps and way ahead
Security concerns and imperatives
Emerging amphibious technologies and doctrine for littoral operations

During concept development, the co-hosts will have responsibility to organize the supporting presentations and discussions which may consist of briefings and panel discussions or other approaches. Plenary sessions will be planned in coordination with the co-hosts to ensure compliance with proper scheduling and format. Partnering with other countries is highly encouraged.

LANGUAGE OF WORK

English will be the language of communication between participants at all PALS events and cooperative activities, including planning conferences. As needed, accommodations will be made for interpretation and translation.

AMENDMENTS TO PALS CHARTER

Amendments to this Charter may be proposed by any participating amphibious force. Amendments shall be adopted upon agreement by a consensus of the partner forces.