GUEST COLUMNIST
The Philippine Army (PA), on March 22, 2025, commemorated the 128th anniversary of its founding. In his speech, Lt. Gen. Roy Galido PA, the commanding general of the PA, remarked, “Our role is clear, to safeguard the land domain while supporting coastal and littoral operations.” To achieve this amid a time when the global landscape is shifting, the Army focused on upgrading its equipment, ramping up training, and evolving its strategic doctrines.
The combat environment is rapidly evolving. The Army is quickly developing so that soldiers have the equipment they need to react fiercely and correctly. The integration of Sabrah ASCOD Light Tanks and the Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) equipped with Remote-Controlled Weapons Systems, the ATMOS2000 self-propelled (155mm) and towed howitzers, and recently obtained mortars represents major progress. These resources provide the Army the ability to counter evolving dangers with greater firepower, survivability, and battlefield flexibility.
Network-centric operations is the subject of additional modernization initiatives. The Army's capacity to evaluate and eliminate threats in real time has been strengthened by improved surveillance systems, electronic warfare capabilities, and integrated command-and-control technology. This change is highlighted by the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC), which mixes land, air, and naval forces to protect territory. With such advances, the Army adapts to evolving hybrid challenges and goes beyond traditional tactics.
It will also undertake important restructuring initiatives, including enhancing reconnaissance capabilities, the formation of the combat engineer regiment for strategic defense, adjusting reserve forces for internal and external operations, and redesigning infantry battalions for increased agility.
The effectiveness of a military unit depends on its level of training. Through rigorous training, the PA made sure that its soldiers were tactically agile enough to respond to various threats. In the recent Combined Arms Training Exercise (CATEX) "Katihan," roughly 6,000 soldiers engaged in challenging conditions intended to assess their combat performance, mobility, and logistical support. These exercises improved operational execution in a variety of terrains and improved coordination between different combat arms.
The Army has taken an active part in joint training operations with allied troops in addition to national exercises. It took part in the Balikatan exercises with members of the US Armed Forces that improved mission planning, force projection, and interoperability. In order to validate that Filipino soldiers are still proficient in a variety of combat situations, last year's exercises concentrated on amphibious operations, combined arms, aviation operations, and information and cyberspace operations.
Strategy follows doctrine. In recognition of this, the PA rushed its adoption of operational doctrines that promote cyberwarfare, logistical sustainment, and jointness. An effective synergy between the Army, Navy, and Air Force is vital, given the greater concern for external defense.
Warfare's unsung hero, logistics, is changing. Forces sustain operational potency via rapid force deployment, superior sustainment systems, and dynamic resupply chains. The Army is also including cyberwarfare, another urgent issue, into its plan. Defensive cyber capabilities, intelligence operations, and electronic warfare measures are being improved to combat cyber threats. The digital battlefield is just as important as the physical one.
Challenges nevertheless exist even as the Army is strengthened by modernization, training, and doctrinal developments. The first is striking a balance between internal security and external defense. In some areas, separatist groups and Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) are still active. The Army must prevent internal threats from regaining momentum while it shifts to external defense.
Getting political and popular support for the Army's modernization is another crucial barrier. The urgent need for defense spending must be articulated since it competes with many other national goals for financing. The Army must communicate effectively with the public and policymakers, urging the need for a well-equipped army for national security.
Lastly, it must maintain its apolitical posture despite mounting political tensions. The Army, as a part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), continuously upheld its constitutional duties in spite of pleas by various factions for them to be involved in politics. In order to preserve stability and public confidence, President Marcos reaffirmed, "The Armed Forces must remain the guardian of democracy, upholding its duty to protect and serve without political influence."
The Philippine Army is looking to the future as it marked its 128th anniversary. Its dedication to excellence, modernization, and strategic innovation is shaped by the lessons learned from the past. The Philippine Army will remain a powerful force for many generations to come because of its steadfast commitment to the Filipino people, its vow to defend the country, and its capacity for innovation and adaptation. As President Marcos aptly put it: "When peace and order are in place, we can pursue knowledge, we can work toward prosperity, and we can contribute to our country's progress."
Mabuhay and Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas!
(Lt. Gen. Aurelio B. Baladad (Ret) served as the 8th commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command, the 32nd commander of the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division, and the former deputy chief of staff for Operations, J3 of the AFP. He is now the VP for cooperative planning and marketing of PAFCPIC, a cooperative serving the active and retired AFP personnel.)