Elements of I and III Marine Expeditionary Forces (MEF) concluded the latest iteration of the Archipelagic Coastal Defense Continuum (ACDC) bilateral training with units from across the Philippine Marine Corps, including the Philippine Coastal Defense Regiment on May 31, 2024. The training took place from the diverse landscapes of Paredes in the north to the mountainous jungles of Barira in the southern Philippines.
Since the battles of World War II, the U.S.-Philippine alliance has stood the test of time, reaffirming commitments through agreements such as the Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951, the Visiting Forces Agreement of 1998, and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement signed in 2014. These agreements have facilitated the introduction of ACDC, a series of enduring bilateral training opportunities between the U.S.
Military and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The continuum supports the Philippine Marine Corps’ Archipelagic Coastal Defense Concept, announced in 2021 as part of the Philippine Marine Corps’ adoption of a new operating doctrine to strengthen the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ ability to defend its homeland and ensure peace and stability within its waters in accordance with international law.
“I’m confident and very positive that this will enhance our interoperability,” said Brig. Gen. Romeo T. Racadio, exercise director for ACDC and Deputy Commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps. Racadio elaborated, saying, “Given those other factors which we have enjoyed even before – our camaraderie and strong alliance – in terms of capacity and capability, this [ACDC] will definitely benefit us.”
