By Abbas Nazil
The 11th annual Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium (PALS), held from July 8–10, 2025, in Manila, Philippines, marked a milestone with the Philippine Marine Corps co-hosting the event for the first time alongside U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC).
Under the theme “Stronger together,” PALS 25 brought senior maritime and amphibious leaders from 23 Indo-Pacific nations together for strategic discussions, relationship building, and collaborative planning aimed at addressing shared security challenges.
The opening ceremony featured high-level remarks from Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Philippine Marine Corps Commandant Maj. Gen. Vicente Blanco, and MARFORPAC Commander Lt. Gen. James Glynn.
Their presence underscored the importance of unity in addressing regional threats and maintaining maritime stability.
A symbolic moment followed as the traditional Filipino tambuli horn was sounded and the PALS flag unfurled, emphasizing the cultural and collective significance of the gathering.
Key discussions throughout the symposium focused on interoperability, law enforcement, crisis response, leadership development, and innovation. Panels and expert-led sessions allowed for audience participation through moderated Q\&A formats.
Informal breakout sessions furthered these conversations by enabling focused, small-group exchanges on regional planning, security strategy, and maritime cooperation.
Teodoro emphasized the need for people-to-people trust and functional linkages that cascade from leadership to the ground level.
His remarks highlighted how collaboration among governments, militaries, and communities remains essential to maintaining peace in an evolving Indo-Pacific landscape.
The symposium also featured unique initiatives aimed at fostering holistic leadership. The Senior Enlisted Leaders (SEL) Program, held for the first time, focused on the critical role of enlisted personnel across Indo-Pacific militaries.
Participants shared strategies on strengthening the readiness of their respective forces.
U.S. Marine Corps Command Senior Enlisted Leader Joy Kitashima emphasized that bringing experienced enlisted leaders together was an overdue but vital inclusion.
Additionally, a Spouse Program featured curated off-site activities and cultural experiences to encourage engagement among the spouses of senior leaders, reinforcing the importance of family support in military leadership roles.
The symposium concluded with a formal ceremony including remarks from Adm. Stephen Koehler, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, and the ceremonial passing of the PALS flag.
The event ended with a tour of Intramuros, showcasing cultural heritage sites including Fort Santiago and Casa Manila Museum, symbolizing the strong connection between security and cultural understanding.
Established in 2015 by MARFORPAC, PALS has grown into a vital platform for building trust and cooperation across the Indo-Pacific.
With past co-hosts like Japan, Indonesia, and Korea, this year’s Philippine co-hosting signified expanding regional collaboration.
Lt. Gen. Glynn expressed confidence that the relationships and knowledge exchanged at PALS 25 would strengthen future joint maritime efforts and operational readiness across the region.