The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) disclosed on Tuesday that the 2025 Balikatan Exercises with the United States military will feature a “full battle test” to evaluate military doctrines and procedures.
During a speech at the 38th founding anniversary of the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom), based in Camp Servillano Aquino, Tarlac City, AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said that the exercises will be comprehensive.
“In a matter of days, we will be starting our ‘Balikatan’ exercises (with American military forces.) This is the 40th iteration of the ‘Balikatan’ exercises and most of the exercises will be conducted here in the area, the joint operational area of Nolcom,” Brawner said.
Nolcom’s area of responsibility covers the Ilocos, Cordillera, and Cagayan regions, and Central Luzon.
This year’s “Balikatan” exercises are scheduled for late April to mid-May. Specific details regarding participating troops, assets, and types of drills are yet to be released.
“Under your joint area of operations or joint operational area, most of the activities of the ‘Balikatan’ will be held there. And then again, our (command and control) will be utilized to ensure that we have a common operational picture while we are conducting our full battle test,” the AFP chief said.
Brawner also revealed that the “full battle test” will involve evaluating plans, doctrines, and procedures developed over the past years.
“And this year we are going to test them. It’s very important that we prepare for any eventuality,” said Brawner, who refused to specify the plans, doctrines, and procedures to be tested, citing security reasons.
“When I talk about warfare, we are already at war. I am not referring to the kinetic warfare that we see between Ukraine and Russia or between Israel and Hamas. But we are experiencing already cyber warfare, information warfare, cognitive warfare, political warfare,” Brawner said.