AFP Concludes 1st Day of 'DAGIT-PA' Inter-Operability Exercise

01 Desember 2020

DAGIT-PA exercise (all photos : AFP)

MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has concluded Day 1 of its Joint Inter-Operability Exercises under the ongoing Joint Exercise DAGIT-PA in Zamabales Sunday.

"DAGIT-PA" stands for “Dagat-Langit-Lupa” and is a unilateral exercise that aims to further enhance the joint force interoperability and cohesiveness of the AFP across defense mission areas.

"The AFP takes pride in its soldiers, sailors, air personnel and marines for successfully completing the first set of amphibious operations being conducted under the 4th AJEX 'DAGIT-PA'. We were able to gain more knowledge and further enhance our proficiency in sea to land operations through the joint exercises. We will be sure to use these skills and techniques in future operations from which our people will benefit in times of need," said DAGIT-PA 2020 exercise director, Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard A. Arevalo, who is also the AFP spokesperson.

"DAGIT-PA" formally opened last November 23 and will last until December 4. It will run in the Northern Luzon Command (NolCom) area-of-responsibility and AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

This AFP-wide exercise aims to enhance interoperability during joint operations of the Philippine Navy (PN), Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the Philippine Army (PA).

Joint inter-operability exercises (JIOEs) focused capabilities development in maritime security, military operations in urban terrain, and amphibious operations.

Amphibious operations, island defense, and combined-Arms Live-Fire exercises comprised this year’s JIOES.

Amphibious operation is a military operation launched from the sea by an amphibious force to conduct landing force operations within the littorals.

The littorals include those land areas that are predominantly susceptible to engagement and influence from the sea and may reach far inland.

It seeks to develop the military’s skills, techniques, and capabilities during rapid deployment of troops from ship to shore whether under hazardous circumstances or during natural disasters or hostile enemy actions.

This type of operation requires the unique ability to operate across air, land, and sea. It needs integrated Command and Control (C2) to achieve unity of effort, increased speed of action, and coordinated application of sea control and power projection capabilities.

On Sunday, the following exercises were completed; Publication Exercises (PUBEX), Plotting Exercises (PlotTex), Maneuvering Exercises (ManNex), Semaphore Exercise (SemaphorEx), Flag Hoisting Exercises (FlagHex), and Helicopter Exercises (HeliOps).

Assets used in these maneuvers are the strategic sealift vessel, the BRP Tarlac (LD-601), missile-frigate, BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), and an AugustaWestland AW-109 combat utility helicopter.

These ships are now anchored at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority as participants form critique on Day 1 and prepare for Day 2 of exercises. Organizers reported that all exercises were completed successfully and safely following strict health protocols prescribed by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Covid-19.

"Despite the current health crisis that our nation is facing, the AFP will continue to strengthen our defense capabilities and operational effectiveness through military exercises such as AJEX 'DAGIT-PA'. This is to better perform our sworn duty to protect our people and our nation from all kinds of threat,” Arevalo said. 

(PNA)