PH-US start naval training to boost maritime security

From the Manila Times (Jan 29, 2022): PH-US start naval training to boost maritime security (By Francis Earl Cueto)

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has started its training with the United States Navy and Marine Corps, as part of the Marine Exercise (MAREX) 2022.

According to a statement from the US Embassy in Manila, both countries are expected to further their maritime security capabilities.

"We appreciate this opportunity to strengthen our enduring alliance with the Philippines in the Indo-Pacific region through combined amphibious operations," Capt. Karry DeWayne Sanders, commodore of Amphibious Squadron One said.

"Our shared focus of regional security, stability, and prosperity in the Pacific will continue to enhance our partner nation's capability as it has for the last seven decades," he added.

MAREX 22 PH is a combined PH-US Marine Forces bilateral exercise that aims to develop PH-US Marine Forces' capabilities in amphibious operations in support of counter-terrorism, internal security operations, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR).

It will have simultaneous amphibious operation events in the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Western Command (WESCOM) in Palawan and the Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM) Joint Areas of Operation (JAO) from Jan. 27 to Feb. 2, 2022.

All amphibious planning and executions will be in the WESCOM area, while all HADR and medical training exercises will be held in the WESTMINCOM area with the participation of the provincial government of Tawi-Tawi.

Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) Commandant, MGen. Ariel Caculitan PN(M) expressed his appreciation for the partnership with the US Marine Corps.

He underscored the importance of training to equip the Marines with better skills and knowledge and to achieve a smarter Marine Corps.

"We must continue to conduct relevant training that will improve our individual and collective capabilities. MAREX is joined by our foreign counterpart and our major ally, the United States Marine Corps, that has long been training with us and sharing with us the duty to preserve regional peace and security," he said.

"Our goal is to successfully integrate our forces during planning and execution to conduct a full-scale expeditionary amphibious operation, side-by-side with our Filipino partners. Marine Exercise 2022 Philippines will further strengthen our commitment in the Indo-Pacific region as well as be a memorable experience for our Marines and sailors," Col. James Lively, Commanding Officer of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, said.

Due to the pandemic, the forces will minimize contact throughout the exercise and implement protocols to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Among the events include the amphibious assault coordination and execution, subject matter expert exchanges, and integrated maritime operations such as search and seizure operations and tactical maneuvering.

"Our goal is to successfully integrate our forces during planning and execution to conduct a full-scale, expeditionary amphibious operation, side-by-side with our Filipino partners. This exercise will further strengthen our commitment in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as be a memorable experience for our Marines and sailors," Col. James Lively, Commanding Officer, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit said.

"We must continue to conduct relevant training that will improve our individual and collective capabilities," said MGen. Ariel Caculitan, commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps.

"MAREX is joined by our foreign counterpart and our major ally, the United States Marine Corps, that has long been training with us and sharing with us the duty to preserve regional peace and security," he added.

US maritime assets participating in the exercise include the ships of the Essex (ESX) Amphibious Ready Group comprised of USS Essex (LHD 2), USS Portland (LPD 27), and USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) with the embarked forces of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to include Battalion Landing Team 1/1, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced), Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 214, and Combat Logistics Battalion (CLB) 11. Together, these units form a robust team to work alongside their Philippine Navy and Marine Corps counterparts.

As the Philippines and US celebrate 75 years of security cooperation, MAREX 22 represents a mutual commitment to enhance the security and stability of the region.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/01/29/news/ph-us-start-naval-training-to-boost-maritime-security/1831044