Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) deputy commandant and ‘Exercise Alon’ director Brig. Gen. Jimmy Larida (PNA photo by Priam Nepomuceno)

MANILA – The first-ever “Exercise Alon” between Filipino and Australian troops was a resounding success, exercise director and Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) deputy commandant Brig. Gen. Jimmy Larida said Tuesday.

“So it was indeed a very successful exercise even though this is the first and big amphibious exercise between the ADF (Australian Defense Force) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the planners and the training audience were able to jell immediately and resulted in the success of the exercises both in the air assault in Punta Baja in Palawan and the amphibious assault in Zambales,” Larida said on the sidelines of the drills’ closing ceremonies at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Commissioned Officers’ Club (AFPCOC) in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Larida said they would be able to improve the succeeding “Exercise Alon” and that they were able to identify the procedures Filipino troops are already proficient with and what skills they need to improve.

“So in the future we will able to improve, the beauty of this first-ever ‘Alon’ is, we were able to identify what particular procedures where we are already good in dealing with Australia and what particular tactical procedures that we should improve further so we will do everything to improve during the next iteration of this exercise,” he added.

Larida said the next iteration of “Exercise Alon” is eyeing a larger number of participants in its next edition in 2025.

He also said he envisions the drills to be like the annual “Balikatan” exercises between the AFP and the United States military.

“Exercise Alon” is part of Australia’s Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2023 (IPE23) which started on Aug. 14 and will end on Aug. 31.

It is also the first bilateral amphibious training activity between the AFP and the ADF.

IPE23 is Australia’s flagship international engagement activity in the Southeast Asian and Indian Ocean regions promoting security, stability, and stronger partnerships through bilateral and multilateral engagement training, capacity building, and humanitarian efforts.

“Exercise Alon” includes an air assault exercise in Palawan on August 21, combined amphibious assault exercise in Zambales on August 25, and live-fire training as the final phase in Capas Tarlac on August 31.

Participants included 560 from the AFP, and 1,200 from the ADF, with support from the 120 United States Marine Corps (USMC).

Participating assets included the helicopter landing dock HMAS Canberra and frigate HMAS Anzac, with the Tarlac-class BRP Davao Del Sur, close air support from RAAF F-35A Lightning II aircraft, Australian Army M-1A1 Abrams tank and two PMC amphibious assault vehicles.

“Exercise Alon” enhanced the forces’ capability in conducting combined operations and improved their tactics, techniques, and procedures on amphibious operations.

Meanwhile, Department of National Defense Undersecretary Ireneo Espino, who represented Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., in the closing ceremonies, said the exercise allowed the ADF and AFP with support from US troops “to successfully conduct complex operations in response to simulated security threat but also open avenues for more interoperability and deeper people to people cooperation”.

“Australia’s Indo-Pacific Endeavour or the IPE of which ‘Exercise Alon’ is a part presents a unique opportunity for the DND and the AFP to participate in and gather insights on regional security initiatives,” he added.

Espino said the exercise also serves as a venue for the Philippine Navy to strengthen its naval capabilities on maritime security while enhancing interoperability and linkages with its Australian counterparts.

“Considering that Australia is one of the only two defense partners with which the Philippines has a status of Visiting Forces Agreement, the IPE also advances our bilateral defense correlations,” he said. (PNA)