CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – A successful Military Free Fall (MFF) Jump Exercise was conducted in Long Beach, San Vicente, Palawan on April 30, 2024, as part of the 39th annual Balikatan Exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the United States Indo-Pacific Command (US-INDOPACOM).
Para-jumpers from the Philippine Marine Corps Reconnaissance, Special Operations Wing of the Philippine Air Force, Special Forces Regiment Airborne, and their U.S. counterparts took part in the exercise. Members from the Australian Defence Force also joined as observers. The MFF Jump was a key component of the Balikatan Exercise, emphasizing the importance of interoperability and joint training.
Prior to the free fall jump, participants engaged in a comprehensive familiarization session and a lecture on countering Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), which was conducted in connection with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Exercise.
AFP and USINDOPACOM special operations conducted the MFF jump from a U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) MC-130. The U.S. Special Forces, the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF), the Light Reaction Regiment (LRR), and the First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR) of the Philippine Army secured Long Beach to ensure a safe environment for the para-jumpers.
Following the MFF, a U.S. Air Force C-146A Wolfhound from the 492nd Special Operations Wing, AFSOC, made a low-approach maneuver for the first time in the Philippines, laying the groundwork for runway independence for future AFSOC and other Air Force aircraft.
This exercise is a testament to the enduring partnership and shared commitment to regional security between the Philippines and the United States. The 39th Balikatan Exercise continues to strengthen the operational capabilities of both nations, enhancing their ability to respond to a range of security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.///
Photo by AFP Western Command
