The Montana National Guard and Sri Lankan military have begun Atlas Angel II, a five-day training exercise focused on humanitarian assistance and emergency preparedness at the Sri Lanka Air Force Base in Katunayake.
Military personnel from the Montana National Guard and Sri Lankan Armed Forces gathered at the Katunayake Air Force Base on Monday to commence Atlas Angel II, a joint training initiative spanning five days through September 4. The exercise brings together soldiers and airmen from Montana, Pacific Air Forces, and the Sri Lankan military to conduct collaborative training in disaster response and emergency management across multiple locations including Katunayake and Kandy.
The partnership between Montana and Sri Lanka has developed over the past five years through the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, which facilitates military cooperation across maritime, aviation, and land-based operations. Senior commanders including Brig. Gen. Trace Thomas and Brig. Gen. Renea Dorvall represented the Montana National Guard at the ceremony. Thomas highlighted the strong relationship established between the two regions, noting that "bonds of friendship, partnership and family were well at hand."
Atlas Angel II expands upon a successful inaugural exercise conducted in 2024, when Montana deployed two C-130 aircraft to Sri Lanka for disaster response training. The current exercise covers specialized training areas including aircraft maintenance, urban search and rescue, medical response, incident command systems, construction engineering, and response protocols for natural disasters and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive emergencies.
Montana personnel participating in the exercise bring experience from responding to wildfires, floods, and severe weather events domestically, while learning from Sri Lankan counterparts who have developed extensive expertise in disaster management. Thomas emphasized that such collaborative training strengthens both operational readiness and international relationships, stating that "our partnership generates authentic momentum to train and work collaboratively." He challenged participants and leaders to begin planning for a potential Atlas Angel III exercise, signaling the commitment to sustaining the partnership's growth.