(NewsNation) — U.S. soldiers are training in the Hawaiian jungle in preparation for a possible conflict in the Indo-Pacific region.
Soldiers have traveled deep into the jungle for a final challenge known as the green mile. That test follows a grueling two weeks of training for troops.
According to the commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division, tension in the Pacific region calls for more readiness.
“The situation in the Indo-Pacific continues to inform our approach to readiness and to be more ready than we were yesterday,” said Maj. Gen. Marcus Evans. “What you’re observing out here in the jungle operations training course is that happening.”
Evans told NewsNation he is pushing to jungle train as many of the 12,000 forces he oversees as quickly as possible.
While the current class is all army, members of other military branches have also gone through the training.
During jungle training, service members learn how to survive in extreme conditions while being threatened by enemy air assaults or ambushes. In Oahu, the soldiers struggled just to move around in the thick jungle vegetation.
“It’s a lot different from what I’m used to. Never really been in the jungle so it’s a real big eye-opener in a good way. In a challenging way,” said candidate Staff Sgt. Ricardo Ramos
While soldiers may practice with mock takedowns of enemy soldiers, there is a real possibility of conflict in the Pacific. It’s valuable training, something many soldiers didn’t get before the Vietnam War, also fought in a jungle environment.
“We certainly look at those lessons learned that were experienced, and the ability to have a training base here on the island of Oahu and train in the jungle environment is inherent to our overall readiness,” Evans said.
China has claimed sovereignty over much of the South China Sea, including the Spratly Islands near the Philippines, which the U.S. is under treaty to defend.
In May, a Chinese fighter jet came dangerously close to a U.S. spy plane flying in international air space over the South China Sea.
Chinese military activity has also been fairly constant over and around Taiwan as well as in the Philippines.
More U.S. soldiers will start jungle training in just a few weeks.
“I feel like it’s a good tool to have in your pocket. A bunch more people should come and train in the jungle because you never know what could happen in the world,” Ramos said.
Military-to-military communication between the U.S. and China has resumed recently following the Biden-Xi summit in California in November. That has tamped down tension somewhat.
Still, jungle training will continue throughout the region to keep U.S. troops ready for any potential conflict.