Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr., First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR) Commander Brig. Gen. Freddie T. Dela Cruz, U.S. Army Pacific’s 25th Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. Joseph A. Ryan, Australian Defense Attaché to the Philippines Col. Paul J. Barta, and the FSRR top brass pose for a group photo at the sidelines of the Battle of Marawi Symposium in Camp Pablo Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan on April 27, 2023.
The Philippine Army’s Scout Ranger veterans shared their best practices and lessons learned during the Battle of Marawi Symposium to U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) and Australian Defence Force (ADF) delegates at the First Scout Ranger Regiment’s (FSRR) Headquarters in Camp Pablo Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan on April 27, 2023.
Among the resource persons include Lt. Gen. Danilo G. Pamonag (Ret), speaker for the Joint Task Force Commander’s Perspective; Col. Samuel G. Yunque, speaker for the Battalion Commander’s Perspective; Col. Jo-Ar A. Herrera, speaker for Information Operations; Lt. Col. Reynir Nirza, speaker for Joint Task Group Vector Operations Planning; and Maj. Arnel V. Carandang, speaker for Company Commander’s Perspective. They shared to American and Australian soldiers the best practices; tactics, techniques, and procedures; lessons learned; and experiences during the five-month Marawi Liberation campaign in 2017. The symposium was held upon the request of USARPAC counterparts to the Exercise Control Group (ECG) for Exercises Salaknib and Balikatan.
Meanwhile, USARPAC’s 25th Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. Joseph A. Ryan led the 60 USARPAC delegation while Col. Paul J. Barta, Australian Defense Attaché to the Philippines, led the 40 ADF delegates to the trilateral symposium.
Maj. Gen. Ryan, in his speech, lauded the professionalism and dedication of Scout Rangers who played a vital role in the liberation of Marawi City nearly six years ago. Maj. Gen. Ryan also highlighted the sterling leadership at all echelons of command and the Philippine Army soldiers’ innovativeness and quick adaptation to ground situation that contributed to the successful culmination of the five-month campaign. “These lessons and experiences were clearly hard-earned and should not be forgotten. The lessons learned in conducting urban warfare including tactical innovation, effective use of information for defense, and command and control of the tactical, operational and strategic levels remain pertinent against today’s threats,” Col. Barta remarked.
“Looking back on the decisive moves and subsequent wins of our troops, the Philippine army emerged victorious against the Maute Group largely because of the seamless interoperability of the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy,” Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr., who served as the deputy commander of Task Force Ranao and spokesman of Task Force Marawi, said in his keynote address during the symposium. “Another essential contributory factor to the victory was the convergence with local and regional stakeholders who were proactively involved from the start to end of the liberation campaign,” the Army Chief added.
Photos by Pfc. Rodgen V. Quirante PA/ OACPA
Lt. Gen. Danilo G. Pamonag (Ret), speaker for the Joint Task Force Commander’s Perspective, delivers lecture during the Battle of Marawi Symposium in Camp Pablo Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan on April 27, 2023.
First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR) Commander Brig. Gen. Freddie T. Dela Cruz delivers his address during the Battle of Marawi Symposium in Camp Pablo Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan on April 27, 2023.
Col. Samuel G. Yunque, speaker for the Battalion Commander’s Perspective, delivers message during the Battle of Marawi Symposium in Camp Pablo Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan on April 27, 2023.
Lt. Col. Reynir Nirza, speaker for the Joint Task Group Vector Operations Planning, delivers lecture during the Battle of Marawi Symposium in Camp Pablo Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan on April 27, 2023.
Col. Jo-Ar A. Herrera, speaker for Information Operations, delivers lecture during the Battle of Marawi Symposium in Camp Pablo Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan on April 27, 2023.
Maj. Arnel V. Carandang, speaker for the Company Commander’s Perspective, delivers lecture during the Battle of Marawi Symposium in Camp Pablo Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan on April 27, 2023.
U.S. Army Pacific’s 25th Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. Joseph A. Ryan delivers his remarks during the Battle of Marawi Symposium in Camp Pablo Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan on April 27, 2023.
Australian Defense Attaché to the Philippines Col. Paul J. Barta delivers his remarks during the Battle of Marawi Symposium in Camp Pablo Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan on April 27, 2023.
U.S. Army Pacific soldier asks question during the open forum part of the Battle of Marawi Symposium in Camp Pablo Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan on April 27, 2023.
U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) and Australian Defence Force (ADF) delegates attend the Battle of Marawi Symposium at the First Scout Ranger Regiment’s Headquarters in Camp Pablo Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan on April 27, 2023.