Newly installed Commanding General of the United States' I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF), MGen. Bradford Gering, on Wednesday, conveyed his thrust to sustain the gains of the collaborative engagements between Washington and Manila's marine corps.

Philippine Navy spokesperson Capt. Benjo Negranza said Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta, engaged in a fruitful discussion with Gering in terms of the country's plans for joint exercises and bilateral training initiatives with the US.

Negranza said their discussion also pushed for the possibility of sending Filipino marines to the US to undergo schooling.

"The Chief of Naval Staff also expressed the PN's appreciation of their unwavering support and the valuable lessons that have been shared between the two allied forces," he added.

Negranza noted that the I MEF has been among the steady partners of the PN in improving the capacity and capability of its marine forces through exercises such as the recently concluded Exercise Samasama 2023—which featured at-shore exercises and at-sea designed training to improve their naval forces' interoperability and cooperation of the participating navies.