US, PHL marines to test mettle as exercise moves to Palawan

MARINE forces from the Philippines and the United States would test today (January 31) their level of interoperability and capability in amphibious operations as the ongoing Marine Exercise (Marex) 2022 shifts to the waters of Palawan.

The Marex, which began last week in the country and one of the series of military exercises involving Filipino and American troops planned this year, hopes to further improve the joint capability of both countries in maritime security operations.

The training, which is being held under the overall auspices of the Mutual Defense Treaty and governed by the Visiting Forces Agreement, involves Filipino marines and their US counterparts as well as American sailors.

Both the Philippine Marines and the Armed Forces Western Command (Wescom) said today’s seato-land operations would be held at Sitio Cabcabin Beach at Barangay Samariñana in Brooke’s Point, Palawan.

The seaborne operations are just part of the war games, which include amphibious assault coordination and execution, subject matter exchanges and integrated maritime operations such as search and seizure and tactical maneuvering.

Due to the pandemic, the US Embassy in Manila said that both forces would minimize contact during the duration of the Marex and would observe protocols in order to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19.

“During Marex 22, the US and the Philippines will conduct maritime operations training to boost their joint ability to enhance mutual defense capabilities and respond to national disasters,” the embassy said in a statement.

“We appreciate this opportunity to strengthen our enduring alliance with the Philippines in the Indopacific region through combined amphibious operations,” the statement quoted Capt. Karry Dewayne Sanders, commander of Amphibious Squadron One, as saying.

“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,” added Col. James Lively, commander of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit of the US Marines.

American assets participating in the Marex include the Essex Amphibious Ready Group, which is composed of the USS Essex, the USS Portland and the USS Pearl Harbor, with the embarked forces of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Philippine Marines Commander, Major Gen. Ariel R. Caculitan 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 trainings 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,” Caculitan said.

More than a month from now, Army forces from both countries would also undertake more than two weeks of military training in selected sites in Central Luzon and within the operational area of the 7th Infantry Division.