Manila: The Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the Philippine Army (PA) kicked off their "Interoperability Exercise" (IOX) 03-24 on Monday. "The exercise aims to enhance interoperability, combat readiness, and operational efficiency between the two services. It serves as a platform to evaluate and refine joint tactics, techniques, and procedures, while also strengthening collaboration between the PAF and PA, particularly in air-to-ground communication and coordination," PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said in a statement. The opening rites for the drills took place at the 5th Infantry Division headquarters, Camp Melchor F. Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela. Hosted by the PAF, this year's IOX involves 1,100 PA personnel and 351 PAF personnel, who will participate in the training that will take place in Gamu, Isabela, and Rizal, Kalinga. The drills, which run until Friday, include a command post exercise, subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE) and a field training exercise (FTX). In the command post exerc ise, Castillo said participants will develop and assess various operational courses of action, with the most effective strategy to be tested in the FTX. Meanwhile, the SMEEs will focus on key aspects of joint operations between the PAF and the PA, including planning, intelligence, coordination, air support, insertion methods, UAV use, communication, medical evacuation, logistics, and security. The field training exercise, set for Oct. 10 at the Santor Military Reservation in Rizal, Kalinga, will operationalize the strategies developed during the command post exercise, incorporating lessons from the SMEEs. PAF reservists will also take part in the SMEEs, practical exercises, and the FTX. Source: Philippines News Agency