Amphibious Assault Vehicles Courses Culminate in Zambales

03 Oktober 2021

Activities in the Marine School of Armor (all photos : PMC)

SAN ANTONIO, Zambales – The Marine School of Armor’s Armor Assault Battalion courses culminated on September 23, 2021 with Commandant MGen. Ariel R. Caculitan PN(M) as the guest of honor. This event formally ended the Basic Amphibous Assault Vehicles (AAV) Course Class-01 (Water Operations Phase), AAV Operations and Maintenance Training, AAV Riders Training for Marine Amphibious Ready Unit, and the retraining of the 76th Assault Amphibian Company convened in the first week of September by the School Director, Maj. Francel P. Mendoza PN(M) (GSC).

These specialized trainings aimed to prepare and increase the full potential of Marines in undertaking forward-deployed missions of the Philippine Navy. AAVs are complex assets requiring proficiency in maneuvers ashore and afloat, command and communications, safety procedures, and interoperability with air, land, surface, and sub-surface.

MGen. Caculitan underscored that empowerment and skills development are essential in developing the Corps' strategic capability. He called upon the AAV personnel to instill competencies in AAV operations, conduct preventive maintenance, follow scheduled inspection, and repair as may be needed. He said, “The proficiency acquired from the training makes you more knowledgeable of your job. Since knowledge is power, this power manifests our capability to support our Marine Corps operating concept – the Archipelagic Coastal Defense.” (PMC)

Marines conduct cross-training among its Operations, Artillery, and Armor Schools 

Marines conduct cross-training among its Operations, Artillery, and Armor Schools 

SAN ANTONIO, Zambales – The newly activated schools, the Marine Special Operations School of the Force Reconnaissance Group and the Marine Artillery School of the Field Artillery Battalion cross-trained with the Assault Armor Battalion’s Marine School of Armor (MSA).

The Commanders of each unit were able to synchronize Marine personnel training with amphibious warfare, the unique competency of the Philippine Marine Corps. Amphibious warfare requires amphibious operation, which is acknowledged as the most complex military maneuver and military operation. Cross-training mitigates risks and increases the proficiency in performing the complexities of an amphibious operation.

Maj. Francel P. Mendoza PN(M) (GSC), the MSA Director, supported the interoperability training to harmonize each skill set and to effectively address the complexities of amphibious operations. Marine Commandant Maj. Gen. Ariel R. Caculitan PN(M) encourages interoperability training within the organization to increase readiness in operations and prepare the Corps to be more responsive in archipelagic coastal defense. This kind of training is also replicated in other branches of service of the AFP to complement their ground, air, surface, and sub-surface capabilities. (PMC)