Third US Air Contingent now in PHL

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 26): Third US Air Contingent now in PHL

The United States deployed Sunday the third iteration of its Air Contingent to the Philippines at the invitation of the Government of the Philippines.

"As part of this contingent, the US Air Force has deployed two C-130 Hercules aircraft and approximately 100 Airmen from the 374th Air Wing at Yokota Air Base, Japan, and the 36th Contingency Response Group from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base, Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines," a US Embassy statement said.

And while there, the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) airmen are conducting bilateral training missions as well as subject matter expert exchanges, and integrating with units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The Air Contingent aims to promote increased inter-operability between US and Filipino forces, and to further enhance security cooperation between the allies.

PACAF stood up the first rotation of an Air Contingent at Clark Air Base, Philippines, in April 2016, following a joint announcement by then-Philippine Secretary of National Defense Voltaire Gazmin and US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter that highlighted several initiatives aimed to reinforce US long-standing relationship with the Philippines, and to reaffirm their commitment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

The two-week Air Contingent in April consisted of A-l0C Thunderbolt IIs, HH-60G Pave Hawks, and approximately 200 personnel from multiple PACAF units.

The second two-week iteration of the Air Contingent, stood up June 15 and consists of EA-18G Growlers and Navy personnel.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=926139