The Philippines and United States have concluded a two-week bilateral training between both countries' marine corps Friday, June 17.
According to the US Embassy in the Philippines, the US Marine Corps (USMC) and Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) concluded the two-week training which is part of Marine Aviation Support Activity (MASA) 22.1.
It was held in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte and Antonio Batista Air Base in Palawan from June 6 to 17.
Units from the Philippine Air Force and Philippine Naval Air Wing also participated in the exercise
Lt. Gen. Steven Rudder, commanding general of the US Marine Forces Pacific, said the bilateral exercise increased the PMC and USMC’s interoperability and improved aviation-related capabilities in support of US-Philippine mutual defense.
“Training side by side increases our combined military capability, but also our friendship, which directly contributes to the strength of our alliance. This exercise builds on decades of cooperation, friendship, and shared experience,” Rudder said.
Brig. Gen. Jimmy Larida, PMC 3rd Marine Brigade commander, said the MASA 22.1 exercise in Palawan is important for the Marine forces and aviators "to enhance our effectiveness and readiness to protect our territory."
"It will also improve our interoperability with the US Marine Corps and contribute to our longstanding alliance with the US armed forces,” Larida said.
MASA 22.1 included integrated and joint interoperability activities such as coastal defense, forward arming and refueling, and subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE) for small unmanned aviation systems and engineering.
Exercise participants also took part in a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) SMEE, which culminated in a practical demonstration.
The exercise also marked a historic first with the inaugural deployment of the TPS-80 Ground/Air Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) in the Philippines.
Marine Air Control Squadron 4 employed the G/ATOR in Laoag City to provide airspace surveillance and air defense in support of theater security cooperation and enhanced bilateral training during the bilateral training.
Meanwhile, MASA 22.2 will be held from July 18 to 22. It is expected to include combined tactical and heliborne training between USMC and PMC partner units.