The Philippine Army's airborne troopers joined their counterparts from Japan, the United States, Singapore, Australia, Netherlands, France, Canada, Britain, Poland, Italy, and Germany in a recent multilateral sky diving exercise at Camp Narashino in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.

In a statement on Thursday, Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said the airborne units of the participating countries showcase their military free fall and airborne capabilities. 

The skydive drill was part of the New Year jump among allied nations in the Indo-Pacific region from 11 to 12 January held at the 1st Airborne Brigade in Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) headquarters. 

Dema-ala said the Philippine Army’s airborne troopers demonstrated their readiness to conduct airborne operations in special aerial missions to support the country’s territorial defense operations.

This was followed by simulated air assault operations by the airborne troopers from the US Army, US Marine Corps, US Air Force, Singaporean Army, Australian Army, Royal Netherlands Army, French Army, Canadian Army, British Army, Polish Land Forces, Italian Army, German Army, and 1st Airborne Brigade of JGSDF.

“The simulation showcased the capabilities and synchronized collaborations of the Indo-Pacific nations in addressing common threats or adversaries in the region,” said Dema-ala. 

The New Year Jump in Indo-Pacific is an annual Japan event that started in 1974. This serves as a prayer service for the safety of airborne jumps throughout the year and fosters greater understanding and confidence in the JGSDF. 

Dema-ala said the 2025 iteration of the activity marks the first participation of the Philippine Army.