Balikatan to boost AFP interoperability with US forces - Nolcom

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 12, 2023): Balikatan to boost AFP interoperability with US forces - Nolcom (By Zorayda Tecson)

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) chief, Lt. Gen. Fernyl Buca, on Wednesday said the Balikatan Exercise will provide invaluable opportunities for Filipino soldiers to further enhance their readiness, capabilities and interoperability with the United States military forces.

Buca said the joint military exercises will also offer hands-on training in conducting joint and inter-agency maritime patrols with other law enforcement agencies.

Likewise, he said the exercise will also include humanitarian civic assistance programs aimed at improving the lives of communities through engineering civic assistance projects, medical response training and community relations programs.

“Another significant aspect of the Balikatan Exercise is the opportunity for the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) to test its capabilities in performing interoperability missions with other allied nations' armed forces. This allows for better coordination and cooperation in protecting and preserving the Philippines' territory and serving the Filipino people in times of peace or crises,” Buca said in a statement.

The highly anticipated 38th PH-US Exercise Balikatan officially started Tuesday at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, marking the largest-ever bilateral military exercise between the AFP and the US Armed Forces.

Some 17,600 troops from the US-PH Armed Forces will take part in this joint military exercise which is scheduled to be held in North and Central Luzon and the provinces of Palawan and Antique.

With the training sites located within Nolcom's area of operations such as in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija; Naval Education, Training and Doctrine Command in the provinces of Zambales and Cagayan, Buca said they will be actively involved in various components of the Balikatan including command post exercise, cyber defense exercise, field training exercise and humanitarian civic assistance.

“This will involve close collaboration and cooperation with their US counterparts, allowing for the exchange of information, technologies and best practices,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Nolcom chief assured the public that the ongoing Balikatan Exercise will not hamper the day-to-day activities of the people in North and Central Luzon.

He underscored the command's efforts to balance the exercise's objectives with the well-being and security of the local population, while also actively participating in joint military exercises that enhance the AFP's capabilities and readiness.

Since its inception in 1998, the Balikatan Exercise has played a critical role in enhancing interoperability, promoting cooperation, and fostering mutual understanding between the two forces, and continues to serve as a cornerstone of the military partnership between the two nations.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199243