MULTILATERAL EXERCISE. A United States Army Pacific official greets members of the Philippine Army delegation after the opening ceremony of the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC) Rotation 23-01 at the Schofield Barracks in Oahu, Hawaii on Oct. 20, 2022. Aside from the Philippines, soldiers from Thailand and Indonesia as well as observers from seven other nations will also join the exercise. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Army)
MANILA – The Philippine Army (PA) has deployed a 103-strong delegation to the month-long Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC) Rotation 23-01 which will be held in various locations in the US state of Hawaii.
Army spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad, in a statement over the weekend, said the exercise formally kicked off at Oahu, Hawaii on Oct. 20.
"The JPMRC, which will be conducted across the Hawaiian islands, envisions a tough, realistic exercise that tests large-scale combat capabilities in live, virtual, and constructed environments. The exercise will level up the capability of the 91st Brigade Reconnaissance Team, 1st Brigade Combat Team in terms of combined arms operations," he added.
The JPMRC is the United States Army Pacific's regional combat training center for units and leaders in the complex operating environment of the Pacific Theater.
Trinidad said doctrine writers and researchers will also capture the best practices and operational aspects of the exercise which will help the PA establish its doctrine related to the Combat Readiness Training Area.
"The Philippine Army’s participation in JPMRC will strengthen its security and defense cooperation with the US and other partners in the Indo-Pacific region," he added.
The JPMRC 23-01 includes soldiers from Thailand and Indonesia as well as observers from seven other nations.
They will train side by side with around 6,000 troops from the US Army’s 25th Infantry Division and 8,400 service members from the US joint components.
The exercise is expected to end by Nov. 16.
”We’re not here to focus on our very differences but on our similarities that make us a world-class force able to fight and win the Pacific. This exercise will deepen our partnerships, keep those friendships and be more interoperable,” 25th Infantry Division deputy commander Brig Gen. Jeffrey A. VanAntwerp said in his remarks. (PNA)
