Biggest PH-US Marines exercise officially ends

US and Filipino Marines pose for a group photo during the closing ceremony of Marine Aviation Support Activity held in Camp Aguinaldo in Taguig. (INQUIRER.net/John Eric Mendoza)

MANILA, Philippines — The biggest maritime exercise between the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) and the United States Marine Corps (USMC) officially ended on Friday.

A closing ceremony for the Marine Aviation Support Activity (Masa) was held in Fort Bonifacio.

 A total of 2,711 personnel and 43 air assets from both countries were utilized during Masa from July 6 to 21.

 “The skills and knowledge gained have undoubtedly enhanced our collective capabilities,” Marine Deputy Commandant Brig. Gen. Jimmy Larida said as he addressed Filipino and American soldiers.

Larida added that the exercise “also fostered a spirit of camaraderie between our forces.”

Marines from both counties conducted several  maritime exercises, among them were the live fire drills and bilateral air assault as well as subject matter expert exchanges.

The PMC and USMC were also supposed to sink the former BRP Lake Caliraya during the maritime strike in San Antonio, Zambales on July 13, but it was cancelled due to inclement weather.

There were plans to reschedule the sinking exercise but the activity was cancelled after the ship ran aground 60 meters away from the shoreline of Morong, Bataan on July 14.

Despite the cancellation, Larida said the team shifted from the sinking exercise to the establishment of a “real world” incident command system in Morong, Bataan to coordinate the emergency response.

“In every challenge there are opportunities,” he said in a press conference. “We found an opportunity to still train.”

 gsg