CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City–The Armed Forces of the Philippines through the Philippine Marine Corps  (PMC) and the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Forces Pacific opened the Marine Aviation Support Activity 2022 (MASA 22) on 6-June-2022 at the PMC headquarters in Taguig City.

Activities commenced on 6-June-2022 in the province of Palawan which includes combined joint forward arming and refueling demonstration, and a lecture on unmanned air systems operations, ending on 17-June-2022.

Four C-17 aircraft of the U.S. Air Force arrived in Laoag City also on 6-June-2022, along with a U.S. C-130 plane that landed carrying personnel and equipment for the second leg of the exercise that runs from July 18 to 22.

This series features lectures on sensor operations, air surveillance, air defense, and HIMARS infiltration.

MASA 2022 aims to enhance the combined and joint interoperability between Philippine and U.S. marine forces in conducting combined tactical operations and heliborne operations.

MASA 2022 also includes integrated and joint interoperability activities such as coastal defense forward arming and refueling, and subject matter exchanges for unmanned aviation system and engineering with participants from the Naval Air Wing of the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Air Force.

PMC Commandant, MGen. Nestor C. Herico PN(M) recognizes the aviation’s vital role in military operations as he underscores the need to have a strong Navy and strong Marines in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Steven R. Rudder, Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, acknowledges that “training side-by-side increases a combined military capability and friendship which directly contributes strength to this alliance,” as Lt. Gen. Rudder expresses his gratitude to the Philippine government for supporting the conduct of PH-US MASA 22.