By: LTCOL OMAR L TONSAY PN(M)(GSC)
Director, Naval Public Affairs Office
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Combined navy units from participating Southeast Asian countries hold the Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT 2011) exercises as scheduled with the recent (June 17, 2011) conduct of Command Post Exercise (CPX) and preparations for the forthcoming holding of a Field Training Exercise (FTX) on June 20 – 23, 2011 at strategic points of the exercise area.
According to exercise orders issued by SEACAT 2011 Exercise Director for the Philippine Navy (PN), Captain Franco Sebastian T Pan, he said that “The CPX is designed to exercise communication flow and decision making processes in preparation for the FTX. PN liaison officers together with their counterparts from other participating navies will consolidate and be posted at the Change Command and Control Center in Singapore.” He added that “An FTX will take place throughout the Southeast Asia Maritime Domain particularly along strategic points of its vital sea lanes. This includes the movement of the USS Safeguard as the Contact of Interest (COI) to Philippine area of responsibility for coordinated surveillance operations, tracking, and eventual conduct of Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) aboard the COI.”
The exercise is led by the US Navy and is centered this year in Changi, Singapore where the exercise Command and Control Center is located. A battle staff from each participating navy is organized in the respective navy headquarters of the participants to monitor all the activities of the exercise.
The FTX on the other hand will involve PN surface, air, and special operations units, as well as its Coast Watch Systems (CWS) to be employed for maritime surveillance, tracking, interdiction, and boarding and searching operations. A total of three (3) boardings will take place at the Philippine exercise area in Sulu and Celebes seas by Naval Forces West, Naval Forces eastern Mindanao, and Naval Forces Western Mindanao.
Participating navies from the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and the United States conduct the annual SEACAT combined exercise within strategic points along the vital seal lanes stretching along the Malacca Strait, Sulu Sea and Celebes Sea to enhance interoperability and share tactical and doctrinal best practices.
PHILIPPINE NAVY
