Army, PAF drills boost internal, territorial defense power

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 26, 2023): Army, PAF drills boost internal, territorial defense power (By Priam Nepomuceno)

JOINT DRILLS. Philippine Army and Philippine Air Force troops at the opening ceremony of the five-day PA-PAF Interoperability Exercise (IOX) at the Army's 5th Infantry Division headquarters in Camp Melchor F. Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela on Monday (Sept. 25, 2023). Around 836 personnel from the PA and PAF are participating in the exercise. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Army)

MANILA – Philippine Army (PA) spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad on Tuesday said their ongoing five-day exercise with the Philippine Air Force (PAF) is to enhance the communication and coordination of the two services be it for internal security or territorial defense missions.

The five-day PA-PAF Interoperability Exercise (IOX) at the 5th Infantry Division in Camp Melchor F. Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela started on Monday and will run until Friday, he added.

"(This iOX also seeks) to enhance personnel competencies and unit capabilities and be readily deployable, as well as to sustain and jointly address contingencies (and) to enhance the interoperability relations between the PA and PAF through the conduct of training exercise in support to the accomplishment of the respective missions," Trinidad told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in a message.

He added that this year's IOX includes command post exercises, subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs) and field training exercises (FTXs).

Around 836 personnel from the PA and PAF are participating in the SMEEs on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, air-to-ground operations, close air support, fast rope insertion extraction system, military free fall, hoist, communication and support system, and sustainment operations.

Meanwhile, the battle staff exercise will focus on problem-action scenarios, which will all be applied to the FTX as a culmination activity.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1210538