Joint AFP units retake airfield in simulated exercise

MANILA, Philippines — With the scenario that soldiers need to regain control of an enemy-captured facility, Army, Air Force and Navy forces launched Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) exercises to retake an airfield in Nueva Ecija yesterday.

The mission of the scenario was to retake the Fort Magsaysay Airfield and other encampments seized by enemy forces and destroy their command and control and logistics facility in the area.

Special Operations Forces conducted a military free fall from Philippine Air Force UH-1H helicopters and launched an air assault following intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations.

A platoon of Army reservists also took part in the scenario, being a formidable pool of forces that can be deployed in various operations such as territorial defense, counter-insurgency and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, among others.

The event forms part of the ongoing Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) DAGIT-PA (Dagat, Langit at Lupa) 03-2019 joint exercise.

“The airfield retake exercise allows our forces to gain significant knowledge and develop special training techniques in joint air-to-land operations. This will also prepare us for any untoward incidents and potential enemy incursion in the future,” Commodore Adeluis Bordado, commander of AFP education, training and doctrine command and exercise director for DAGIT-PA, said.

After the scenario, joint ground forces conducted MOUT operations at the Mega Drug Rehab Facility in Fort Magsaysay which included chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive exercises; combat engineering; explosive ordnance disposal and K-9 teams.

“The MOUT focused on urban close combat, search and breach, joint fires and airspace operations. This exercise was an opportunity to train our troops in dealing with urban terrorism utilizing not only modern equipment but testing how effective our combat schemes are,” Bordado said.

The AFP said more than 1,500 soldiers, including reservists, are participating in the ongoing DAGIT-PA exercises which aim to develop joint sea, air and land operations. It was launched on Sept. 16 and will end on Sept. 27.

Among other activities under the joint exercise were the air/maritime interdiction operation in Palawan, amphibious landing in Zambales and a combined arms live fire exercise in Tarlac which all focus on capabilities development in maritime security, military operations in urban terrain and amphibious operations.