Combined units from the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) and Philippine Navy’s (PN) Naval Forces West (NFW) conducted an amphibious landing exercise in San Vicente, Palawan on Monday, Feb. 10, to enhance their connectedness and interoperability.
The exercise held on the shores of Long Beach in Barangay New Agutaya involved amphibious landing with movement utilizing boats from the Combat Support Brigade, boosting the troops' capability to move themselves from a ship to the shore.
It was supported by joint forces from the Naval Special Operations Unit (NAVSOU), Joint Special Operations Unit 1, and Naval Combat Engineering Brigade (NCEB) who performed beach clearing and breaching operations, while troops from the 61st Force Reconnaissance Company served as the assaulting force.
“This exercise aimed to enhance interoperability, cooperation, and sustain the operational readiness of the 3rd Marine Brigade (3MBde) and NFW units,” said Maj. Gen. Arturo Rojas, commandant of the Marines.
“The exercise also played a key role in refining individual knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) related to warfighting functions, further enhancing overall readiness, response capabilities, and decision-making processes in preparation for future operations,” he added.
Rojas highlighted the importance of the exercise in testing new capabilities within the PMC and the PN, particularly in the conduct of humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations.
The drill marked the first unilateral amphibious landing exercise initiated by Brig. Gen. Antonio Mangoroban, commander of 3MBde.
Exercise Komodo
Meanwhile, the Navy sent off the 175-member strong Naval Task Group 84 aboard Gregorio del Pilar-class patrol ship BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) to Bali, Indonesia for the upcoming Multilateral Naval Exercise KOMODO (MNEK) 2025.
The ship departed the Naval Operating Base in Subic, Zambales on Feb. 8. It was scheduled to arrive in Bali ahead of the exercise slated for Feb. 16 to 22.
The MNEK is a biennial multilateral naval exercise participated by 31 navies and hosted by the Indonesian Navy.
“The purpose of the exercise is to enhance cooperation with participating navies in building a common understanding of humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations. It also aims to maintain and enhance good diplomatic relations and rapport with ASEAN and Indo-Pacific navies through naval diplomacy,” the PN said.
Captain Malone B. Agudelo leads the Naval Task Group 84 while BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16) is under the command of Commander Johanns Cruzada. Meanwhile, Captain Glenn Dizon, deputy commander for fleet operations of the Fleet-Marine Ready Force, serves as the exercise director for the PN contingent for the said naval exercise.
The MNEK 2025, the fifth iteration of the exercise, is set to feature a wide range of activities which is grouped into three: the fleet activity, maritime hospitality, and community relations.
The fleet activity includes an international fleet review, subject matter expertise exchange (MSEE), and the Sea Phase of the drill.
Meanwhile, maritime hospitality includes a symposium on international maritime security as well as bilateral meetings.
Lastly, the community relations part includes a medical civic action program, release of baby turtles, coral planting, and a taekwondo tournament.