The Philippine Army (PA) and Indonesian Army is planning to conduct a bilateral exercise in Jakarta, Indonesia in June to enhance their capabilities in counterinsurgency operations.
A four-day site survey and planning conference for the Training Activity Indonesia-Philippines (TA DOLPHINE) XIV-2022 Exercise was wrapped up by representatives from the two armies in Jakarta, Indonesia on Friday, April 1.
Col. Samuel Yunque, chief of staff of PA’s First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSSR), and Col. Fendri Navyanto Raminta, brigade commander of the Indonesian Army’s 17th Para Raider Infantry Brigade, led the site inspection and conference planning activity for this year’s exercise.
“TA DOLPHINE XIV-2022, which was approved during the 27th Indonesian Army-Philippine Army Working Group Meeting, will focus on the exchange of information, tactics, technics and procedures in the conduct of counterinsurgency operations,” said Col. Xerxes Trinidad, PA spokesperson.
The 14th iteration of the exercise will be physically conducted from June 6 to 17, 2022 at the Taipur Military Camp, CIlodong and Sangga Buana Training Site, in Karawang, West Java, Indonesia.
This was a welcome development for the two armies since last year’s drills between the PA's FSSR and the Indonesian Army's Strategic Command were only held via video teleconferencing due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
From urban and jungle warfare special operations last year, the PA and Indonesian Army will now work on their counterinsurgency operations as both countries have a similar problem on this particular security challenge due to its shared borders.
“ highlighted importance of conducting bilateral combined exercise between the Philippines and Indonesia because the two countries share not just borders but common regional security interests as well,” Trinidad said.