Philippines, US marines hold 5-day bilateral exercise

MANILA, Philippines — Soldiers belonging to the Philippine and US Marine Corps will conduct a five-day military training in Taguig and Subic, Zambales beginning today.

The second part of the Marine Aviation Support Activity (MASA) 2022, which ends on July 22, will include exercises on helicopter rope suspension and aeromedical evacuation.

Brig. Gen. Raul Jesus Caldez, acting commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps and MASA 2022 director, said everything is set for the bilateral exercise.

Caldez said he is looking forward to the successful conduct of the activity as the Philippine and US Marine Corps are expected to execute their tactics, techniques and procedures for interoperability.

Col. Gregorio Hernandez Jr., who is the assistant training director of MASA 2022, is supervising the training.

The first part of MASA 2022 was held from June 6 to 16 in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte and Puerto Princesa City in Palawan.

Both the Philippine and US forces demonstrated their aviation assets as they conducted trainings on forward arming and refueling, high mobility artillery rocket system rapid infiltration and unmanned aviation systems.