The 502nd Infantry Brigade, also known as the Liberator Brigade, conducted an Air-to-Ground Operations Seminar with practical exercises on 1 February 2026 in Echague, Isabela, in coordination with the Tactical Operations Group 2 of the Philippine Air Force.
The activity formed part of the Company Integration Training Exercise–01 and involved 246 participants from the four provinces of Region 2. These included reservist students, officers, and enlisted personnel from various Army units, support units, and reserve components.
Military officials said the training focused on enhancing coordination and communication between ground forces and air units, particularly on the proper employment of air assets during combat operations and humanitarian assistance and disaster response missions.
The exercise featured the actual deployment of two Black Hawk helicopters, giving participants hands-on experience in real-time air-to-ground coordination under simulated operational conditions.
Officials added that the brigade-initiated training aimed to improve interoperability between Army and Air Force units and strengthen the operational readiness of both active and reserve personnel assigned in the region.