PH, US Marines test cohesion in MASA ’22

Everything is set for the second part of the Marine Aviation Support Activity (MASA) 2022 between the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) and the United States Marine Corps (USMC), a Marine officer said Sunday, July 17.

The next phase of the MASA 2022 will be held in Zambales and Taguig City from July 18 to 22, said Brig. Gen. Raul Jesus Caldez, acting PMC commandant.

The training will include helicopter rope suspension training and aeromedical evacuation training.

Caldez, who is also the exercise director of MASA 2022, said he looks forward to the successful conduct of the activity “as the PMC and USMC are expected to execute and refine their tactics, techniques, and procedures for interoperability.”

MASA is a bilateral exercise between the PMC and the USMC which aims to enhance the combined and joint interoperability among participating forces in conducting combined tactical operations and heliborne operations.

The training proves to be crucial for both forces as the evolving security landscape emphasizes the need for the Marines to improve their aviation operations, especially if they are needed during combat and humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR).

The opening ceremony of MASA 2022 was held last June 6 at the PMC headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. 

The first part of the training was conducted in Palawan from June 6 to 17 where Filipino marines engaged in a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) rapid infiltration (HIRAIN) drill with personnel from the United States Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC) at the Laoag International Airport in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

Lt. Gen. Steven R. Rudder, commander of the US Marines’ MARFORPAC, had thanked the Philippine government for supporting the conduct of the PH-US MASA 22.

“Training side-by-side increases a combined military capability and friendship which directly contributes strength to this alliance,” Rudder had said during the first phase of the training.