CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City—General Andres Centino, the Chief of Staff of the AFP, visited and inspected on April 14, various sites where the 38th PH-US Balikatan Exercises are being held.
Accompanied by MGen Eric Nicanor, the Deputy Chief of Staff for C4ISTAR Systems, J6, the CSAFP met with the Filipino and American personnel manning the Combined Coordination Center and the Cyber Defense Exercise (CYDEX) participants at the Office of J6, at the AFP Headquarters.
The CYDEX aims to grow and build on established capabilities for conducting multilateral defensive cyberspace operations. It also aims to improve primary and intermediate-level defensive cyber capabilities for enhanced deterrence against threats.
A trip to the Combined Joint Logistic Over-The-Shore exercise area in Casiguran, Aurora, followed this. The CSAFP was welcomed by Commander Mark William Concepcion PN (GSC), Commanding Officer of LC288 (BRP Waray) and Capt Joel Stewart USN, Commander, CJLOTS. PH and US assets conduct ship-to-shore logistics training in a contested environment.
The activity kicked off on April 11 with 400 US troops and 200 AFP personnel participating to demonstrate their logistics capabilities.
Said exercise aims to demonstrate the US and PH's ability to transfer mission essential cargoes from sea to shore when fixed port facilities are unavailable, damaged, or denied due to enemy activities or calamities.
Later, the CSAFP together with LtGen Fernyl Buca, Commander, NOLCOM also visited Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, which will be one of the sites for a field training exercise and humanitarian civic assistance.
The CSAFP was welcomed by MGen Andrew D Costelo, Commander of 7ID,PA; MGen Arturo G Rojas PN(M), Commander, AFP SOCOM; Bgen Alvin V Flores, Deputy Commander, TRADOC; and Col Norberto P Aromin Jr, ARM (GSC), Acting Regiment Commander, Army Aviation Regiment.
Officers of the 25th Infantry Division led by Ltc Joe Quinn, Security Cooperation Officer, and Ltc Lisa Kirby Communications Officer with Ltc Sean Karrels, Squadron Commander; and Maj Eric Ng of the 65th Engineer Brigade showed to CSAFP the capabilities of their respective units that support the activities of Balikatan Exercises.
The Balikatan Exercises will run until April 28, with over 17,500 Filipino and American military personnel participating in enhancing their joint and combi
ned capabilities in maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire exercise, urban operations, aviation operations, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response. (Photo by PO3 Viluan Ret & Sgt Ambay/PAO, AFP)
