Revitalizing the Army's Jungle Edge

Hawaii's JOTC Set the Standard for Modern Jungle Warfare

By 1LT Michael Bonifazio and LTC Charles A. Staab

July 1, 2026 | Infantry, Summer 2026 Edition

Read Time: < 16 mins

(Photo courtesy of 25th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office)

As a fighting force whose mission is to fight and win our nation’s war on any scale and in any part of the globe, the U.S. Army has always been committed to sharpening its ability to move, fight, and win in any environment on Earth — the jungle is no exception. For land forces, operating in the jungle requires bespoke knowledge, equipment, and mindset as the terrain presents “as much of a psychological challenge as a physical one.”1From Pacific Theater campaigns during World War II to specialized training in Panama, the U.S. Army has maintained a distinctive edge in jungle warfare operations for decades. Today, that legacy continues to grow on the Hawaiian island of Oahu with the newly accredited Jungle Operations Training Course (JOTC). Operating out of Lightning Academy — the 25th Infantry Division’s premier Pacific training venue for regional and global partners — JOTC stands as the first U.S. Army course of its kind to earn accreditation from the U.S. Army Infantry School (USAIS). This milestone formally recognizes JOTC as a military course that meets the standards of Army instruction while delivering tactical and technical instruction that is strategically relevant for today’s operational environment.

Reflecting years of dedicated effort, curriculum development, and jungle instructor (JI) expertise, this accreditation underscores the importance of jungle training in preparing Soldiers for the next generation of multidomain operations in complex environments. As our nation’s security focus shifts to an increasingly unpredictable world, JOTC is now also postured to pave the way for the next generation of jungle operations beyond Hawaii. It now serves as the executive agent in training and advising Soldiers of the newly formed Army Security Cooperation Group-South (ASCG-S) as they prepare to apply JOTC’s program of instruction (POI) to jungle training initiatives in Panama, demonstrating the course’s growing influence in the Western Hemisphere. This strategic partnership advances our national security realignment to a vital region at a decisive time, reinforcing assurance to partners and deterrence to adversaries.2

Historical Jungle Training in the U.S. Army

The U.S. Army’s focus on jungle training has deep roots, particularly under the canopies of Hawaii. Offering a uniquely valuable training environment, the state’s landscape has been utilized by American military forces to prepare for operations in Southeast Asia and the islands of the Pacific throughout 25th ID’s history. Jungle training in Hawaii began as early as 1942 when American Soldiers prepared to launch campaigns around the Pacific Theater. One of the war’s earliest engagements in the Indo-Pacific was marked by jungle-trained Soldiers and troops deploying to the Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands to face Japanese forces.3This conflict demanded that U.S. Soldiers were able to fight in and move through an environment defined by dense vegetation, extreme heat and humidity, and dangerous fauna and flora — the jungle itself was as formidable as it was unfamiliar. To continue this necessary preparation of American Soldiers for jungle operations, the Army established a larger, more structured training facility called the Pacific Combat Training Center. This facility aimed to sharpen the skills of Soldiers who were flowing through Hawaii before deploying to the Pacific Theater. By the end of WWII, more than 300,000 Soldiers had been trained at the center.4

The physical resilience and adaptive thinking fostered through jungle training was furthered as the Korean War once again called on American Soldiers to step forward as jungle experts. Soldiers trained at the “Jungle and Guerilla Warfare Training Center” during the 1950s and into the 1960s as the 25th ID prepared to deploy to Vietnam in 1965.5After the Vietnam War, jungle training was executed through the preceding “Recondo School,” a facility featuring a five-week training program that focused on mountaineering, pathfinding techniques, and patrolling. Jungle training then shifted to Fort Sherman, Panama, where U.S. forces trained in more dense jungles and on a larger scale at the Jungle Operations Training Center. As the turn of the 21st century saw the Army’s strategic focus shift to the impending global war on terrorism, this program was shut down in 1999, leaving the Army without a formal jungle training program.6When time ultimately revealed a critical gap in readiness, the 25th ID worked to reestablish a jungle school in Hawaii in 2014, resuming its operational capability and laying the foundation for the current JOTC. With the accreditation of JOTC in December 2025, service members from across the joint force and foreign partners are now able to come to Oahu to learn critical jungle skills shaped by decades of lessons learned, embrace this history, and carry forward the lineage of the American jungle fighter.

A 25th Infantry Division Soldier participates in a hands-on exam for ruck rafting during the Jungle Operations Training Course, which was conducted as part of Exercise Balikatan 2026 at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, on 30 April 2026. (Photo by SGT Rayonne Bissant)

JOTC in Hawaii: From Rebirth to Accreditation

Following the Army’s shift to the Indo-Pacific region after 10 years of fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Lightning Academy revived JOTC to reestablish the 25th ID’s role as the Army’s leading generator of jungle operators.7Taking advantage of Hawaii’s unique terrain, tropical climate, and historic legacy, this school sought to restore institutional expertise that had been dormant for more than a decade. Over the course of the 2010s, the division continually improved and refined JOTC, implementing best practices, doctrine, and lessons learned from both foreign allies and historical operations. With limited training areas and resources, compared to larger, more established Army bases located on the U.S. mainland, JOTC leaders prioritized efficiency and high-quality training until it became clear that the tools with which the course equipped Soldiers would evolve the Army’s warfighting readiness and capabilities. Rather than waiting for the next conflict to require American troops to undergo jungle training, JOTC was designed to proactively equip Soldiers with these tools and do so within 12 days. These deliberate days of continuous training involve a relatively small cost to leaders’ time and manpower while producing value that only compounds when jungle fighters return to their formations ready and able to share and apply their newfound jungle expertise. JOTC’s development was a long-term investment, and it is already beginning to pay off.

A 25th Infantry Division Soldier conducts the swimming assessment portion of Jungle Operations Training Course at Schofield Barracks, HI, on 29 July 2024. (Photo by SSG Katelyn Vazquez)

The JOTC that is executed today features an intensive 12-day POI conducted at both Lightning Academy and various locations around East Range, one of Schofield Barracks’ primary training areas. Focusing on both individual skills and squad-level tactics, the course teaches and evaluates students’ performance in fieldcraft, medical considerations in the jungle, construction of rope mobility systems, tracking and counter-tracking, survival training, land navigation, waterborne operations, and small unit tactics. These topics are presented to the students following a “crawl, walk, run” training progression methodology.

Phase I or “Crawl/Walk Phase” introduces students to the training area, assesses their physical fitness, and tests their ability to conduct critical skills to standard. Because JOTC offers a unique training experience in the jungles of Oahu, students must be able to adapt to the humid climate, difficult terrain, and dense vegetation. The course tests whether students can adapt from the moment they arrive at the course. A deliberate packing list layout ensures that students have procured the items that JOTC says are necessary to be successful in the jungle, especially items that service members might have never considered or used before operating in this environment. For example, machetes, survival kits, and hammocks might determine whether or not students can successfully maneuver through a templated route, obtain shelter and sustenance in a foreign area, or ensure harmful flora and fauna do not make rest cycles difficult and dangerous. Physical events like the Combat Water Survival Assessment (CWSA) and Jungle 5-Kilometer Run ensure students are physically fit enough to safely and successfully complete the course and operate in the jungle. Testing on knots and rope mobility systems also marks Phase I, as students must demonstrate their ability to navigate a terrain feature using a one-rope bridge as well as construct a 3:1 line haul system capable of extracting a casualty or load.

Phase II or “Walk/Run Phase” builds on the foundational skills assessed during Phase I. While jungle students are first assessed individually, Phase II is designed to make clear that teamwork and shared understanding are pivotal for the success of a squad operating in the jungle. Here, students will be assigned formal squads with deliberate leadership as they refine their collective ability to move, fight, and survive in a jungle environment, delving into rappelling, waterborne operations, survival, tracking, and tactics. Phase II concludes with a squad-level culminating field exercise (CULEX) conducted over three days that challenges jungle students to navigate operational scenarios and environmental obstacles alike. The CULEX also provides students with an opportunity to lead under physical and mental duress, as they are assigned formal roles within their squads and provided direct feedback following each iteration. Whether they are traversing a waterway or extracting a casualty from the bottom of a gulch, students are constantly tested by JIs and the environment to shape them into true jungle operators.

As guidance from the Pentagon called for a revival of jungle training among the force in 2025, the U.S. Army needed to identify a domestic, established institution as the executive agent of official U.S. jungle operations training.8This organization would be charged with maintaining a formal jungle operations schoolhouse that is nested with the POI and instructor standards of USAIS. Key among the qualities of an executive agent, this schoolhouse would need to be capable of training service members from across the joint force as well as supporting delivery of this accredited training in national and international domains.

Recognizing its proven POI and professional instruction, USAIS selected the 25th ID’s Jungle Operations Training Course as this executive agent. This accreditation initiative triggered a formal review of JOTC’s POI and instructors to ensure that it met the expected training standards and aligned JOTC with all courses nested with USAIS, to include Air Assault, Airborne, and Ranger courses. This review resulted in the official accreditation of JOTC as of December 2025, producing an additional opportunity for service members to learn unique skills while supplementing the U.S. Army’s ability to increase the readiness of its warfighters to operate in any environment. The importance and impact of this accreditation effort was immediately evident, as JOTC wasted no time in partnering with ASCG-S in executing the Pentagon’s initiative to restore jungle training in Panama.9

Training the ASCG-S and Strategic Partnership

As the U.S. military refocuses on strengthening its presence and capabilities in the Western Hemisphere, restoring jungle training in Panama was among the top lines of effort.10Not only was it critical to revive this institution quickly, but to also ensure the institution could deliver the level of training quality and instructor professionalism established by JOTC Hawaii. Sharing a common mission, the cadre of Lightning Academy and ASCG-S — recently reflagged from 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade — quickly aligned in a mutually beneficial partnership. The closing weeks of 2025 saw ASCG-S establish a foothold at the Lightning Academy on Oahu, as their leaders and cadre underwent a deliberate training cycle conducted by 25th ID JIs. The first step of this training cycle saw the JIs prepare ASCG-S personnel for JOTC, ensuring they understood the course overview, critical events, and considerations as both a student and an instructor. ASCG-S personnel then enrolled in a full JOTC course, undergoing jungle training and developing an understanding of what every JOTC student experiences. When the ASCG-S cadre graduated JOTC, Hawaii JIs would then teach them JOTC POI and instructor conduct before evaluating their ability to present course material and uphold the JOTC standard. By the time these training cycles concluded, JOTC had trained and certified 56 ASCG-S instructors, overseen two operational tryouts in Panama, and informed ASCG-S’s own instructor certification program within the span of three months. By March 2026, ASCG-S executed its first, fully self-efficient Panamanian Jungle Course.11

The speed and effectiveness of this initiative stemmed directly from JOTC’s professionalism combined with ASCG’s dedication. ASCG-S spokesperson, MAJ Val Bryant, high-lighted the utility of these organizations’ relationship, stating that Hawaii JIs “have been crucial, mentoring us during the [Panamanian] school’s build, and we look forward to sustaining that partnership.”12This collaboration continues to grow as JOTC and ASCG-S cadre prepare to meet in the Philippines in support of the Fiscal Year 2026 JOTC Mobile Training Team (MTT). This initiative enables the ASCG-S cadre to continue to expand their knowledge and experience in jungle warfare as they support JOTC in executing jungle training in a massive collaboration between U.S. forces and the Filipino Special Forces and First Scout Ranger Regiment. Launching ASCG-S instructor training while serving as a model for international partners, JOTC had already begun reinforcing U.S. Army readiness and strengthening global partnerships just weeks following its accreditation.

Voices of Impact

As JOTC has undergone multiple revisions and revivals through the better part of the last century, its enduring adaptability and impact can be attributed to key figures ranging from JIs to 25th ID leaders. Their combined expertise and dedication to curriculum development, training execution, and course evaluation — fueled by instructor and student feedback — has not only revitalized jungle training but has established a scalable and proven model for future domestic and international training initiatives.

Among these key leaders, there is perhaps no one who has been more crucial or influential in the development of JOTC than Daniel Moss, the Lightning Academy’s current operations specialist. Before retiring from active duty as an Infantry sergeant major, Moss accrued almost 25 years of combat and military experience in light, airborne, and reconnaissance organizations. He served several years as a Ranger instructor and company first sergeant at 4th Ranger Training Battalion, and three years as the Lightning Academy first sergeant, all positions he feels were instrumental to his success in his current role. After spearheading this historic accreditation, Moss stated the following:

“It has been an incredible experience being a part of the Jungle Operations Training Course. When I say we have been working with the ‘complete package,’ I mean everyone involved over the last 10 years. The 25th ID has been fortunate to have had the caliber of Generals like [Ronald] Clark, [James] Jarrard, [Jeffrey] VanAntwerp, [Joseph] Ryan, [Marcus] Evans, and [James] Bartholomees, who understand the importance of jungle training, make it a priority, and have now expanded it beyond this division. The Infantry Commandant and the entire team at USAIS were crucial in making this training replicable, guiding us through the process of what right looks like. I would also like to personally thank Mr. [Gary] Fox and Mrs. [Melody] Venable for your mentorship to the team. Our current division leadership, Major General Bartholomees and division Command Sergeant Major [Shaun] Curry, supported the creation of an ASI-producing course, had faith in the team, and greenlit us to take JOTC to the next level. I cannot say enough about the ASCG-P, who were given the nearly impossible mission of starting with zero trained instructors and unfamiliar POI, yet still standing Fort Sherman back up in 180 days. Not only did they accomplish that, but they also agreed to send 15 instructors to the Philippines to run a joint course with us — who does that? Ultimately, though, it was and always has been Lightning Academy’s jungle instructors who made it happen every single day. While everyone I have mentioned supported and approved it, the JIs did the work on the ground and continue to do so. I am amazed at how far this has all come and the incredible work done by these NCOs and officers, both here on Oahu and in Panama.”

As previously noted, the successful accreditation of JOTC would not have been possible without constant attention to detail, hours of course revision and management, and care of all JOTC students, all of which are the JIs’ and senior instructors’ primary responsibilities. Charged with overseeing and mentoring fellow JIs while ensuring students receive accurate and high-quality instruction, the instructors have continually been the leading force in showing the 25th ID and entire U.S. Army why JOTC’s accreditation was a worthy and necessary effort. One of JOTC’s senior instructors, SFC Travis Squiers, commended his team’s dedication to the course: “JOTC and Lightning Academy leadership and instructors worked tirelessly to refine the POI, processes, and certification standards, ultimately earning formal recognition from USAIS. I’m honored to have been part of this effort and proud of our team’s accomplishments.”

Looking Ahead

The accreditation of JOTC in Hawaii and the establishment of its Panamanian counterpart marks a renewed commitment to the Army’s jungle warfare capability. Founded on a proud history of jungle operations and partnerships with allies abroad, JOTC fuels the Army’s ever-growing emphasis on multidomain operations. An army’s ability to fight, move, communicate, and survive in austere environments offers a decisive advantage, one that JOTC is designed to foster. By linking this training in Hawaii to strategic partnerships overseas, JOTC retains a critical operational edge.

Standing as a testament to innovation and adaptability, the burden that falls on JOTC is not a light one — though accreditation by USAIS imbues the institution with a heightened level of legitimacy and structure, it also requires a heightened level of commitment, professionalism, and responsibility. As the future of combat operations demands the U.S. Army fight and win in any environment, JOTC’s mission is now clear: wherever Soldiers are called, jungle experts will answer.

Soldiers conduct the “Green Mile” endurance event prior to graduation during jungle operations training at Camp Tecson, Philippines, on 2 June 2024. (Photo courtesy of 25th Infantry Division)

Notes