Exercise Planner

Anser; Hawaii; On-site; USD 119,000 - 173,000; Full time

Job summary

ANSER is seeking an Exercise Planner (senior or mid-level) to bolster MARFORPAC's role in Joint and Combined training exercises across the US Pacific Command area and beyond. You will support high-level exercises and engagements, coordinating with Joint Chiefs of Staff, Combatant Commands, and HQ elements.

The ideal candidate has 4+ years of staff-level planning experience, an active TS/SCI clearance, and strong knowledge of the Pacific theater.

Qualifications

• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility required.
• Bachelor’s degree; associates with 3+ years considered.
• 4+ years of relevant staff-level exercise planning experience.
• Experience planning/executing CPXs/FTXs in the PACOM AOR preferred.
• Knowledge of the Pacific theater and regional allies.

Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate FTXs, CPXs, TTXs, SLS and training events.
• Plan exercise operations and logistics using objectives, MARFORPAC capabilities, deployment requirements, and constraints.
• Support exercise planning across the Joint Event Life Cycle.
• Participate in planning meetings and develop plans documentation.
• Assist observer/controller activities and document lessons learned for after action reports.
• Support exercise database management via JTIMS and other DoD applications.
• Provide JOPES, DCAPES and TPFDD support as needed.
• Support training plans and Theater Security Cooperation efforts.

Skills

Top Secret clearance with SCI

Strong written and verbal comms

Staff-level exercise planning

PACOM AOR knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Associate’s degree with 3 years experience

Tools

JTIMS

JOPES

DCAPES

TPFDD

Job description

Camp Smith, HI | Last Updated: October 26, 2026

Company Overview: ANSER enhances national and homeland security by strengthening public institutions. We provide thought leadership for complex issues through independent analysis, and we deliver practical, useful solutions. ANSER values collaboration, integrity, and initiative and we are client focused in all that we do. Because we were established for the purpose of public service and not for profit, we measure our success in the impact of our service.

Position Summary

ANSER is seeking an Exercise Planner (senior or mid-level) to support Headquarters Marine Forces Pacific’s (MARFORPAC’s) role in Joint and Combined training exercises and events in the US Pacific Command (PACOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR) and beyond. You will support Joint Chiefs of Staff, Combatant Command, or Headquarters and Subordinate/Component exercises, engagements and assigned operations.

Day to Day Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate Field Training Exercises (FTXs), Command Post Exercises (CPXs), Tabletop Exercises (TTX), Senior Leader Seminars (SLS) and training events that prepare tactical, operational, and strategic forces for possible future contingencies.
• Plan exercise operations and logistics using an analysis of exercise objectives and tasks, MARFORPAC unit capabilities, deployment requirements, forward operating location assessments, and resource constraints.
• Support exercise planning across the Joint Event Life Cycle.
• Participate in planning meetings and develop and present plans documentation.
• Assist in observer/controller activities and document lessons learned for after action reporting.
• Support exercise database management and updates via JTIMS and other DOW applications.
• Provide JOPES, DCAPES and TPFDD support as needed.
• Support training plans and program development.
• Support Theater Security Cooperation plans and activities.

Required Qualifications

• Active Top Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility.
• Bachelor’s degree will consider associates degree with an additional three (3) years of practical experience.
• 4+ years of relevant experience within a three or four-star general officer/flag officer level operational or strategic command.
• Experience as a staff-level exercise planner, and experience planning/executing CPXs/FTXs within the PACOM AOR (preferred).
• Possess a working knowledge of the Pacific theater, and an understanding of the relationships and general interactions between each nation within.
• Operational and/or logistical experience in the PACOM AOR and supporting Theater Security Cooperation efforts (preferred).
• Knowledge of the operational and logistical support required for exercises, deployments, and mobilizations and familiar with TPFDD nomenclature.

Preferred Qualifications

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

Individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including but not limited to: business considerations, local market, internal equity, candidate qualifications such as skills, education and experience. ANSER provides employees benefits to support all aspects of their life including health, financial and well-being. For more information, please visit: http://www.anser.org

Full-Time Salary Range for this position:

$119,000 — $172,900 USD

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with ANSER, please call 703-416-2000 or e-mail [e-mail]

ANSER is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We seek individuals from a broad variety of backgrounds with varying levels of experience who have a desire to do meaningful work. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.