JUNE 6, 2025 — Elements of I and III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) concluded Exercise KAMANDAG 9 June 6, 2025, capping weeks of multilateral training across the Philippine archipelago, advancing air, maritime, and littoral capabilities and reaffirming the shared vision of peace and prosperity among the United States, the Philippines, Japan, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, Australia, France, and Thailand.
Conducted in Palawan, Northern Luzon, and the waters between, KAMANDAG 9 marked a historic first for the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) 25.3 Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF), which assumed the role of I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) Forward, gaining MV-22B Ospreys assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 364 and KC-130J Super Hercules assigned to Marine Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 352 along with their critical transport lift and assault support capabilities. Under the leadership of Col. Jason C. Armas, the MRF-D MAGTF continuously coordinated with 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR), III MEF, the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC), Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) and Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC), utilizing the Bilateral Coordination Center (BCC) to synchronize planning and actions of combined forces across the Philippines. During the KAMANDAG 9 closing ceremony, Col. Armas delivered remarks alongside his Philippine counterparts.
“Over the past weeks, we moved from Tawi-Tawi to Batanes, side by side, adapting, adjusting, getting after it. We rehearsed how we’ll respond to natural disasters, to crises ashore and to threats that don’t advertise themselves until they’re already in motion,” said Armas. “And through it all—language barriers, equipment differences, competing rhythms—we built something that does not show up in a slide: trust. Not the kind built in briefings or handshakes, the kind you earn crossing the beach at 0400 under pressure, across the land, sea, and air.”
KAMANDAG 9 featured complex and distributed operations aimed at improving multi-domain command and control, expeditionary airfield logistics, maritime domain security and awareness, and multinational humanitarian response across the entire archipelago. Notable activities included:
- Navy and Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) and complementary Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) related training in Northern Luzon, part of a larger Maritime Key Terrain Security Operation executed and coordinated by 3rd MLR and the Philippine Marine Corps’ 4th Brigade.
- A multilateral amphibious Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief (HADR) shore-to-shore insertions in Palawan, conducted by the Philippine Marines Corps’ 3rd Brigade and Japanese Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade. The event concluded with simulated casualty assistance training and transport with the ROKMC to a JGSDF Role I medical center and Combat Logistics Battalion 1 Role II medical center for higher echelon medical care.
- A MKTSO in Palawan, beginning with bilateral MV-22B Osprey insertion of PMC and MRF-D forces onto the beaches in Berong, Palawan, and nearby airfield, culminating in a counter-landing live-fire exercise where U.S. and Philippine Marines repelled a simulated adversary using entrenched littoral defenses enabled by joint and combined integrated fires.
- Subject Matter Expert Exchanges focusing on logistics, engineering, special operations, small Unmanned Aerial Reconnaissance, marksmanship, air defense, medical readiness, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) training, intelligence and counterintelligence, cyber defense training, and more.
- A Combined Senior Enlisted Leadership Symposium, where enlisted leaders from the Philippines, U.S., Japan, Korea, and Australia shared perspectives on enlisted challenges common across nations.
- Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) training between Philippine and U.S. special operations forces near Tawi-Tawi.
From the BCC in Manila to fortified trenches on Palawan’s and Luzon’s coastline, the exercise demonstrated the full weight of a modern MAGTF working seamlessly alongside its Philippine, Japanese, and Korean counterparts.
“There is no doubt that the past few days have been a source of inspiration, driven by a remarkable sense of unity and shared vision brought to life through each exercise,” said Brig. Gen. Vicente Blanco, Commandant of the PMC and Exercise Director. “The actions that each of you undertook, such as synchronizing movements, conducting strategic maneuvers and testing protocols, demonstrate our solidarity and is a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we collaborate with one another.”
KAMANDAG, an acronym for “Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma ng Dagat” or “Cooperation of Warriors of the Sea,” stands as a testament to nearly 80 years of alliance under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty and further enhanced by the Visiting Forces Agreement and Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. Each year, KAMANDAG grows in scope, complexity, and purpose.
“So let this be remembered, not just for the reps we ran or the rounds we fired, but for the relationships we forged and the signal we sent,” said Col. Armas. “We are ready. We are united, and if the storm comes, we won’t scatter, we will stand together.”
As KAMANDAG 9 concludes, training between the MRF-D MAGTF and PMC continues. For the next month and a half, a rifle company with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, MRF-D 25.3, will remain in Palawan to hone bilateral infantry skills in a crucible of jungle training. The lessons learned, relationships strengthened, and capabilities rehearsed position allies and partners to act with purpose, precision, and unity in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“Above all, may the lessons gained and connections forged become springboards for future engagements as we move forward,” said Brig. Gen. Blanco. “Let me reaffirm that no adversary will ever be greater than our collective strength. Let us continue working shoulder to shoulder to uphold peace and stability now and in the years to come.”
Story by Capt. John Fischer
Marine Rotational Force – Darwin