Ten (10) Officers of the Philippine Air Force flew to Indonesia to attend the 6th Philippines-Indonesia Junior Officer Exchange Visit Program (PHIL-INDO JOEVP) conducted on September 26, 2016, which was hosted by the Indonesian Air Force (IDAF).
The PAF participants in the PHIL-INDO JOEVP are: Lt Col Perfecto R Magalong Jr. PAF (GSC), Lt Col Derrick S Ablog PAF, Lt Col Peter Adrian E Eslava PAF (GSC), Lt Col Jasper P Lepsot PAF, Maj Alexander C Ilagan PAF, Maj Archibald S Magbanua PAF, Maj Manuel Paolo A Lascano PAF, Maj Renee Faye P Montenegro PAF, Cpt Reina M Caraig PAF, and Cpt Julie B Barroga PAF.
Now on its 6th year, the PHIL-INDO JOEVP is an annual bilateral activity between the Philippines and Indonesia that aims to promote military cooperation, strengthen friendly relations, and more importantly, develop the capabilities of personnel of both countries vis-à-vis their respective Air Forces.
Upon arrival, the Assistant Chief of FLO, Maj Angel A Luntungan TNI, welcomed the PAF delegates. A courtesy call and briefing then followed where they were able to discuss the following: contractual obligation of pilots, standard training for newly recruit Officers, pilot qualification and promotion system, policy on assignment and re-assignment of Officers, multi-lateral working relationship with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, procurement system, Officer’s service obligations, C-130H aircraft simulator training policies and qualifications, and doctrine formulation and policies.
For the first two (2) days, the PAF delegates interacted with their respective counterparts from the IDAF and toured around the Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI) Air Force bases. During the activity, some PAF Officers got the opportunity to fly the IAF PUMA flight simulator.
They also conducted “live firings” of their munitions at Pintad Company, a weapons and ammunition firm, as well as, toured around the T Dirgantara Indonesia Company, an aircraft manufacturing firm, where they had the chance to observe their aircraft manufacturing laboratories including the two (2) nearly completed NC212i aircraft for the PAF.
They then visited the facility of the Indonesian Peace and Security Center (IPSC), Southeast Asia’s biggest peacekeeping and anti-terror training camp. Moreover, the PAF delegates paid a quick visit to two (2) significant TNI Air Force base facilities namely: the Halim Air Force Base (home of the transport aircraft), and the Atang Sendjaja Air Force Base (home of the Helicopter Wing).