Air Contingent Promotes Preparedness, Cooperation

Brigadier General Benito N Ebuen Air Base, Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines—Air Base, Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines—A marshal from the Philippine Air Force directs a Philippine Air Force C-130 to its ramp position following the first bilateral mission of the current iteration of a rotational Air Contingent in the Philippines Sept 26. Two C-130 Hercules aircraft and crews from 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan, the 36th Contingency Response Group from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and other units from across U.S. Pacific Command will conduct bilateral training missions and subject matter expert exchanges alongside their Philippine Air Force counterparts. The Air Contingent is helping build the capacity of the Philippine Air Force and increases joint training, promotes interoperability and provides greater and more transparent air and maritime situational awareness to ensure safety for military and civilian activities in international waters and airspace. Its missions include air and maritime domain awareness, personnel recovery, combating piracy, and assuring access to the air and maritime domains in accordance with international law. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Mark Lazane)