Military training activities between Australia and the Philippines will increase in 2025, strengthening cooperation and broadening interoperability.
The Joint Australian Training Team - Philippines (JATT-P) program will conduct over 20 training activities and exchanges this year between the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), more than doubling the number delivered in 2024.
Established in 2019, JATT-P involves Mobile Training Teams (MTTs) from ADF conducting training activities in the Philippines and provides support to a range of exercises.
Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones AO CSC, RAN said the JATT-P program formed part of Australia's Enhanced Defence Cooperation Program with the Philippines.
"The JATT-P program allows us to continue building the strong people-to-people links that support our deep cooperation in defence and security," Vice Admiral Jones said.
"The Philippines is one of Australia's most important regional defence partners, and we share a commitment to a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
"Our ongoing and deepening interactions with the Philippines signals our commitment to being a major and relible defence partner in the region."
Throughout 2025, MTTs will engage with several hundred personnel from AFP and representatives of the Department of National Defense.
Each MTT will deliver targeted training in a specific skillset, mission, or area of military expertise.
This will allow both nations to develop, enable and sustain joint and service combat proficiency in fields. This includes combined joint planning, fire support, combat engineering, maritime sustainment, aircraft maintenance, intelligence analysis, and aviation safety.
Major Lachlan Newham, Coordinator for JATT-P, said MTTs varied in size and delivered both field and classroom-based training.
"The 2025 program builds on the success of our previous engagements, encompassing maritime, land and air domains" Major Newham said.
"We will also conduct engagement and training in cyber security, as well as logistics and support functions necessary for contemporary operations.
"Our experience of JATT-P has been that it's an invaluable way for us to share experience and better understand each other's perspective, and our approach to different skillsets.
"A defining feature is the close and genuine personal bonds and trust that invariably forms between our personnel and their Filipino counterparts more broadly."
