File:2022-12-16 Cardom Mortar Carrier.jpg

English: The Philippine Army—guided by a new 2040 vision—made strides this Year in accomplishing its Mandate as a professional, capable and responsive Force Provider to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) which will celebrate its 87th Founding Anniversary anchored on the Theme "AFP@87: Kaisa ng Buong Sambayanan Tungo sa Mapayapa, Matatag at Maunlad na Pilipinas" on December 21, 2022.

The Philippine Army—which serves as the AFP's Land Force—continues its modernization thrust as it moves forward in its long-term Transformation Roadmap, Army Chief Lt. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner, Jr., said. It can be noted that the Philippine Army commenced this Year the Army Transformation Roadmap’s third and final Base Camp wherein it aims to achieve its full potential as a World-class Land Force by 2028. Lt. Gen. Brawner said that the Philippine Army—with the help of its Partners and Stakeholders—recently conducted a “Strategy Refresh” with the end view of becoming a cross-domain capable and multi-mission ready Ground Force by the year 2040. This new Vision is anchored on the Philippine Army’s Organizational and capability development plans, the AFP modernization initiatives, and the Philippine Development Plan “Ambisyon Natin 2040.”

The Philippine Army is also continuously modernizing its Defense Assets and Materiel under the second Horizon of the Revised AFP Modernization Program. For this Year, the Organization deployed game-changer Assets such as 12 units of 155 mm Self-Propelled Howitzers; 15 units of M113A2 Armored Mortar Carriers; two units of Vehicle Mounted Mine Detectors; two units of Armor Vehicle Launch Bridge, Unmanned Aerial Systems, Combat Radios, and Thermal Imagers. These new Assets will boost the capabilities of Ground Units as the Army shifts from internal security to territorial defense operations. Moreover, the Command installed 234 Very Small Aperture Terminals in remote Patrol Bases to provide connectivity to Troops and outlying Communities. To deal with emerging threats, the command activated units such as the 10th Field Artillery Battalion (SP-155), Cyber Battalion, five installation management Battalions, and three Infantry Battalions. It also reactivated the 1st Tank Battalion which will serve as the mother unit of existing and upcoming Tank Assets of the Philippine Army. Stakeholders are also playing a key role in modernizing and equipping the Philippine Army. For instance, the Army’s Aviation Regiment received two significant donations this year: a Bolkow Helicopter from a German Company and a Short Sherpa Cargo Plane from a local Corporate Donor. On the aspect of training, various Philippine Army Training Institutions offered individual and unit trainings to level up Soldiers' skills and unit capabilities. The growing number of Philippine Army's engagements with Foreign Partners is also a testament to the organization's stature as a sought-after exercise Partner. To note, the Philippine Army participated in this year's U.S. Army Pacific-led Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center Exercise in Hawaii, U.S.A. and Exercise Carabaroo with the Royal Australian Army in Darwin, Australia. The Headquarters Philippine Army also ensured that much-needed Resources are pushed down to all ground units to strengthen their mission-accomplishment.

These accomplishments enabled Army operating Troops, who are part of the joint force, to score key victories against the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) and Local Terrorist Groups (LTGs). Army Troops engaged state enemies in four decisive encounters, 15 major encounters, and 96 minor encounters, resulting in the neutralization of 1,407 communist and local Terrorists as well as the capture of 1,484 enemy Firearms from January 2022 to December 2022. The irreversible defeat of state enemies is highlighted by the neutralization of their key Leaders such as the Tiamzon Couple in Catbalogan City, Samar on August 2022. It is worth noting that the “whole of Nation approach” has bolstered the Army troops’ campaign to end the festering Communist insurgency, paving way for the dismantling of Guerrilla Fronts and the surrender and return to mainstream Society of 2,011 Rebels during the Year.

“The Philippine Army honors the hard work, sacrifice, and selfless service of Soldiers in fulfillment of their oath to serve the People and secure the Land," Lt. Gen. Brawner said. "Rest assured, your Philippine Army—which remains as the largest and oldest AFP major service—will sustain hard-earned peace in communities as it continues to safeguard our sovereignty," the Army Chief concluded.