links: https://www.afp.mil.ph/index.php/8-afp-news/1311-afp-u-s-military-hold-balikatan-s-combined-arms-live-fire-exercise-in-tarlac
AFP, U.S. Military hold Balikatan's Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise in Tarlac
CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City - Filipino and American service members successfully completed the Combined Arms Live Fire Exercises (CALFEX) at Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base in Capas, Tarlac on Thursday, March 31.
The CALFEX was among the highlights of this year’s Balikatan Exercises being conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and United States Indo-Pacific Command from March 28 to April 8, 2022.
AFP Chief of Staff General Andres Centino witnessed the event at the Durungawan View Deck in CERAB. He was joined by Lieutenant General Ernesto Torres Jr, Commander of AFP Northern Luzon Command; and Major General Charlton Sean Gaerlan; Philippines Exercise Director.
Also in attendance were U.S. Army Colonel Joshua Bookout, Commander of 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team; and Colonel Jeffrey Vanantwerp, Deputy Commander for Operations of 25th Infantry Division of the US Army.
The Combined Army Forces (CARFOR)-led drill was participated by 500 combined Philippine and United States Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force service members.
Among the units and assets utilized were the Philippine Army’s 1st Brigade Combat Team with Armoured Personnel Carriers equipped with remote control weapons system, and 105MM Howitzers; and the Philippine Air Force Super Tucano.
The U.S. Armed Forces deployed Infantry Brigade Combat Teams, Field Artillery Battalion with Howitzers and Mortars, an Engineering Battalion, and the U.S. Army’s High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System.
The complex live-fire event was executed through ground maneuver, artillery, mortars, and air elements to seize an enemy objective. Supporting air and ground combat elements worked together to provide indirect and suppressing fire to allow the main ground combat element to advance and destroy the notional enemy.
CALFEX is among the activities under Balikatan’s Joint Interoperability Exercise aimed at enhancing joint and combined interoperability and partner capacity during a crisis.
The CALFEX is the culmination of staff planning at various levels of the AFP and U.S. Armed Forces with an emphasis on enhancing crisis action planning capabilities in maritime security and territorial defense operations.
“We conducted the CALFEX to improve our interoperability during combined and joint operations. This is one way of ensuring that we can operate jointly with our allies. This also serves as an opportunity for us as we are procuring new equipment; we are able to test our new weapons and armaments,” said General Centino.///(Photos by Mark Anthony Junio, Videos by TSg Randulf Obinque/ PAOAFP)
links:
Human Rights Advocacy Promotions | Human Rights
Home - Human rights Promotions Website
http://www.humanrightspromotions.co.nr
------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------
