Navy to conduct Fleet Exercise

Sunstar, Wednesday, 26 January 2011

The Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM) Command will conduct a Fleet-Marine Exercise this week to enhance their troop capability.

Dubbed as "Exercise Pagsisikap 2011", in an opening ceremony Tuesday at Naval Station Felix Apolinario Panacan, this city, Commodore Philip L. Cacayan, Commander of NFEM, said the exercise has been conceptualized to enhance the fleet-marine amphibious capability of NFEM in support to the internal security operations of Eastern Mindanao Command.

Cacayan said the exercise aims to test and evaluate the "interoperability of fleet and marine units" with other services operating in a maritime environment against enemy threats.

Cacayan added that the exercise would also show people that the navy is capable enough and ready to serve the public in their best way.

Major General Rustico Guerrero, Commandant of Philippine Marine Corps (PMC), also assured the public in doing their best in training its men, as keeping their capabilities and abilities to provide security on the community.

Guerrero said as part of the contribution of the PMC, the corps will also establish a Warfighting and Lessons Learned Center this year, which will analyze all after battle and operation reports accumulated throughout its service.

Cacayan said the exercise will be compose of staff exercise, series of at sea serials, tactical maneuvers, maritime surveillance exercise, visit board search and seizure of a Philippine Navy auxiliary reserve unit vessel, amphibious raid, multi-purpose assault craft capability demonstration, and fleet-marine review.

"We have different scenario in our exercise in which dito masusubukan kung ano yung reaction ng ating mga sundalo, sailors, and marines," Guerrero said.