Military planners share skills

Australia and the Philippines continue to build shared military planning skills that make combined operations and activities a success.

From September 21 to October 2, the Armed Forces of the Philippines hosted a Combined Joint Planning Mobile Training Team (MTT) from the ADF.

Comprising four instructors from the ADF Warfare Training Centre (ADFWTC), the MTT worked with planners from the Philippine Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.

MAJ Lachlan Newham led the Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines (JATT-P) in Manila. Each year it coordinates more than 20 ADF MTTs to engage with Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel across a range of military skill sets.

“The ability to plan effectively and synchronise military operations is fundamental to mission success,” MAJ Newham said.

“By working through realistic scenarios together, AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] planners strengthened the skills required to support future operations while building the professional relationships that underpin interoperability.”

The recent combined joint planning MTT was the first time the ADF delivered the training to the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ recently established Strategic Command and Eastern Mindanao Command.

Based on the joint warfare planning foundations courses delivered by the ADFWTC at RAAF Base Williamtown, NSW, the scenario-based training enabled participants to apply the ADF decision-making and planning process to a realistic operational scenario.

MAJ Newham said such activities delivered benefits beyond the classroom.

“By investing in our people and developing shared approaches to military planning, we strengthen trust, enhance mutual understanding and ensure our forces are better prepared to work together during future exercises, operations and to confront shared regional security challenges,” he said.