Amphibious Ops to Give AFP Greater Mobility, Flexibility

20 November 2022

Amphibious operation with KAAV7 (photos : Wescom)

MANILA – Having the capability to conduct amphibious operations will allow personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) greater mobility and flexibility.

AFP chief Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro made this remark in his message read by Western Command (Wescom) head, Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, during the conduct of amphibious operations in Barangay Samariñana, Brooke's Point, Palawan on November 14.

"As an effect of this joint exercise, our troops will acquire and enhance strategic mobility and flexibility, because the sea allows our troops maximum strategic, operational, tactical mobility, and flexibility. With an enhanced ability to strike at the enemy’s weakest point," he said in a statement posted on the Wescom Facebook page late Tuesday.

An amphibious operation is a military operation launched from the sea by an amphibious force to conduct ground operations in a hostile environment.

An amphibious force is an amphibious task force and amphibious landing force organized, trained, and equipped for amphibious operations. It is a combined force composed of sea, air, and land components.

The amphibious operations are part of the ongoing "DAGIT-PA" exercises, scheduled from November 7 to 18.

"Not only that but the projection of power ashore will also be enhanced. Hence, the only way to truly project power and influence ashore is to introduce our ground combat troops. And most importantly, if all else fails, the ability to make a forceable entry from the sea is the most important strength of amphibious operations," Bacarro added.

With the AFP gearing towards a more multi-capable and modern defense force, he said, the amphibious operation has shed light on what Philippine maritime forces are capable of and what it could be in the future while integrating with other major services in the joint conduct of operations.

"On the other hand, as we conduct this joint amphibious operations exercise, it clearly (sets) forth what is mandatory in the success of our joint amphibious operations, which is the unity of effort and operational coherence among AFP units," he added.

Bacarro said another purpose of the exercise is to recognize and prevent initial vulnerabilities, and technical, operational, and logistical problems.

"You have also learned the importance of accurate, timely, and comprehensive military intelligence that incorporate weather and hydrographic conditions in the area of operations. Therefore, you have identified the potential hazards that will affect our joint amphibious operation, and from there, utilize that as part of the basis for planning the amphibious operations," he said.

"DAGIT-PA", which stands for "Dagat, Langit at Lupa", entails the participation of the three major services of the AFP – the Navy, Air Force, and Army – as employed in joint operations.

This year's "DAGIT-PA" is the sixth iteration of the joint exercise unilaterally conducted by the AFP.

Four major events will highlight the exercise: table top exercise, staff exercise, cyber defense exercise, and field training exercises (FTX) in various locations in Palawan.

Except for the FTX, all training events will be conducted in Camp General Artemio Ricarte in Puerto Princesa City.

(PNA)