MANILA -- In line with the ongoing efforts to develop a military capability on joint operations, the Philippine Army (PA) announced that it has participated for the first time in the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Joint Exercise (AJEX), dubbed as "Dagat, Langit at Lupa" (DAGIT-PA).
Lt. Col. Louie Villanueva, Army spokesperson, said the military joint exercise, which formally started at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija Wednesday, is the original inter-operability drill between the Air Force and Navy - with the integration of the PA and the AFP Special Forces this year.
DAGIT-PA, which would end Friday, is also being conducted in the Palawan-based Western Command and the Tarlac-headquartered Northern Luzon Command area-of-operations.
"It is a unilateral exercise focusing on the development of the AFP capability on joint operations," Villanueva added.
PA participation is focused on the conduct of command post and field training activities that are anchored on Territorial Defense and Internal Security Operations.
"The Army always put premium on training to achieve efficiency in the conduct of ground operations and to enhance personnel capacity as well as unit capabilities as part of joint and combined forces that will enable them to readily respond to address contingencies across the mission areas," Villanueva said.
Participating PA units include the Army Support Command with its Explosive and Ordnance Disposal and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear units, Training and Doctrine Command, Mechanized Infantry Division, Fort Magsaysay Army Station Hospital, 500th Engineer Combat Battalion, K-9 Battalion, Army Artillery Regiment, Army Signal Regiment, Civil Military Operation Regiment, and Army Aviation Battalion.
In addition, the 7th Infantry Division, aside from serving as host of the exercise, also participated - along with the AFP Special Operations Command with its Special Operation Forces component. (PNA)
