Adept and agile Philippine and US Armies: Honing multinational readiness and interoperability

Philippine Army troops board the Chinook helicopter during the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center-Exportable at Fort Magsaysay, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija this June 1-9, 2024.

FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City – The Philippine Army and the US Army troops come together to become fully-skilled and well-adept land force during the most immersive and realistic training activities of the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center-Exportable (JPMRC–X) at Fort Magsaysay, Palayan City, and Laur, Nueva Ecija this June 1-9, 2024.

JPMRC is an initiative of the United States Department of the Army which provides training opportunities for U.S. Army troops and like-minded partner nations across the Indo-Pacific. It also allows commanders to upskill all troops in unique environments where they will be deployed during an event of crisis. It consists of triad environments such as arctic, jungle, and archipelago revolving on three exercises — Hawaii-based training (HI), Alaska-based training (AK), and an exportable (X) capability.

Troops of the 28th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army lie in prone position while engaging the enemies during the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center-Exportable in Laur, Nueva Ecija this June 1-9, 2024.

This year marks the first deployment of JPMRC to the Philippines in an exportable capability. JPMRC-X leverages joint operations and enhances land power capacity between the Philippine Army and the US Army that would establish Combat Readiness Training Area (CRTA) locations in the country.

JPMRC-X or the JPMRC-PH 01-2024 involves real-time exercises where observer, coach, trainers (OC/Ts) and subject matter experts (SME) provide immediate feedback after training sessions in various war-fighting functions: mission command, movement and maneuver, intelligence, fires, sustainment, and protection.

Pivot to territorial defense posture

Transcending the complex environment of intercontinental defense offered a daunting and challenging collaborative military drills — more specifically when confronted in fast decision-making of commanders and leaders in a crisis.

Troops of the 5th Field Artillery Battalion, Philippine Army prepare the 105mm