Indonesia Air Force chief in PH to boost ties

Indonesian Air Force Chief Agus Supriatna (left) stand in attention with Philippine Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado during a visit to Villamor Air Base. PHOTO FROM PH AIR FORCE

Indonesian Air Force chief Agus Supriatna is in the Philippines from August 10 to 12 for a visit.

He paid courtesy calls to the Air Force Headquarters in Pasay City and the General Headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo.

Philippine Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado awarded Supriatna with the honorary PAF Gold Wings Badge.

The visit paves the way for continuing mutual relationship and consultation on training exchange between the two air forces, said Air Force spokesperson Colonel Enrico Canaya.

A Philippine-Indonesia Cadets Exchange Program is underway, Canaya said.

Five Indonesian Air Force Academy cadets visited Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas from August 2 to 7 to observe the training at the PAF Officer Candidate School (PAFOCS) and practices in the Philippine military.

In exchange, five PAFOCS cadets will also be sent to observe training at the Indonesian Air Force Academy on September 8 to 11 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

There are also eight Indonesian students with the rank of Major (1 Navy, 1 Air Force, 6 Army) who are studying at the Command and General Staff College in Camp Aguinaldo.

One Indonesian Air Force officer with a rank of Captain is undergoing a 4-month Squadron Officer Course schooling which started last August 10, 2015, at the Air Force Officer School in Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas, Canaya said.