CAMP GENERAL EMILIO AGUINALDO, PHILIPPINES
02.23.2026
Story by Tech. Sgt. Orlando Corpuz
Hawaii Air National Guard Headquarters
Religious and legal leaders from the Hawaii and Guam National Guard joined counterparts from the Armed Forces of the Philippines for a Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) held Feb. 18–21 at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, strengthening alliance cooperation and interoperability in the Indo-Pacific.
Conducted under the U.S. National Guard’s State Partnership Program, the engagement brought together chaplains, judge advocates general(JAG), officers and noncommissioned officers to share professional expertise and reinforce long-standing security ties between the partner forces.
The State Partnership Program links U.S. states and territories with partner nations to build long-term, mutually beneficial security relationships, and participants described the event as a continuation of that effort in the Indo-Pacific region.
“The Indo-Pacific is a geographic area that the Philippines, Guam, and Hawaii call home,” said U.S. Army Chaplain (Col.) Christopher Guadiz, Hawaii National Guard command chaplain. “We are all stakeholders in ensuring we can achieve peace through our collective strength.”
The engagement reflects more than 25 years of cooperation between the Philippines and the Hawaii and Guam National Guard, rooted in shared history and formalized through the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty. Leaders emphasized that partnerships like the SMEE contribute to regional stability by strengthening trust and coordination among allies.
This year’s exchange marked the second iteration of the SMEE for the Hawaii National Guard delegation, who in addition to Guadiz, included an additional Senior Chaplain and a communications expert. The inaugural event for Hawaii, held the previous year, focused on chaplain and personnel training, while the 2026 engagement replaced personnel experts with Guam National Guard and U.S. Navy JAGs.
Organizers said the partnership highlighted the complementary roles of legal and religious advisors, who traditionally serve on a commander’s special staff and provide guidance on ethical, legal and spiritual matters.
“It was appropriate that our Philippine counterparts saw lawyers and ministers working together,” said Guadiz. “Historically, ethical military leaders have relied upon these two specialty branches of the military for advice and counsel.”
Training blocks focused on practical skills that directly support mission readiness and ethical leadership. Judge advocate teams discussed maritime law and the legal considerations involved in maritime military and law enforcement operations, while chaplains collaborated on doctrine and solution-focused counseling techniques intended to improve service member care and resilience.
Beyond technical training, attendees highlighted the importance of professional relationships and cultural connections among the forces. Many participating U.S. service members share Filipino heritage, reinforcing personal ties alongside military cooperation.
“As a proud Filipino American, it’s been a true honor to be part of such an endeavor, the cultural ties that the Guam and Hawaii National Guard share with the Philippines cannot be overlooked,” Guadiz said. “Many of our Servicemembers are of Filipino heritage.”
By the end of the four-day exchange, participants identified practical tools they could apply in their respective commands and reaffirmed their commitment to collective defense and cooperation.
Officials said engagements like the SMEE demonstrate the enduring partnership among the Philippines, Guam and Hawaii — one built on shared values, mutual respect and a common goal of maintaining peace through cooperation.
During his opening ceremony remarks, Guadiz addressed the audience in native Philippine dialect, saying, “Magkakasama tayo — we’re in this together.”
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