Maguindanao del Norte, Philippines – The highly anticipated Joint Marine Exercise 2025 (MAREX 2025) officially commenced on March 31, 2025, at the 1st Marine Brigade Headquarters in Camp Iranun, Sitio Bombaran, Brgy. Togaig, Barira. The exercise, a collaborative effort between the Philippine Marine Corps and the U.S. Marine Corps, aims to enhance interoperability and operational readiness among participating forces.
Brigadier General Romulo Quemado II, Commander of the 1st Marine Brigade and Exercise Director, announced that 480 Marine personnel and other security forces will take part in the exercise, which will run until April 11, 2025. Assisting him in overseeing the event is Colonel Zaldy A. Dioneda, who serves as the Assistant Exercise Director.
MAREX 2025 involves not only the Philippine and U.S. Marines but also key service branches, including the Philippine Army, the Regional Mobile Force Battalion of the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Coast Guard, and Marine Reservists. This broad participation underscores the exercise’s significance in enhancing joint tactical operations and bolstering national defense strategies.
The training focuses on improving amphibious and coastal defense operations, with key components such as a Joint Littoral Live-Fire Exercise and amphibious assault maneuvers. These activities are essential in counter-landing scenarios and territorial defense efforts, ensuring the region’s stability and security.
Major General Donald M. Gumiran, Commander of the 6th Infantry (Kampilan) Division and Joint Task Force Central, served as the guest of honor and speaker during the opening ceremony. Emphasizing the importance of joint operations, Maj. Gen. Gumiran highlighted how interoperability is crucial in modern military engagements. “It is not enough to be skilled individually—we must be able to operate seamlessly with our counterparts. MAREX 2025 provides an invaluable opportunity to exchange knowledge, refine coordination, and enhance the Littoral Response Group Concept,” he said.
The Philippine Army’s Field Artillery Battalions, under the Army Artillery Regiment, will also contribute to the exercise with a Joint Littoral Live-Fire Exercise on April 8-9 in Datu Blah Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte. Participating units, including the 6th, 7th, 9th, and 10th Field Artillery Battalions, alongside the Field Artillery Battalion of the 1st Marine Brigade, will conduct synchronized fire missions to enhance coordination and combat readiness in coastal defense scenarios.
Beyond combat preparedness, MAREX 2025 aligns with the Philippine Army’s modernization initiatives and national disaster preparedness programs. The large-scale exercise serves as a critical evaluation of the military’s capacity to mobilize and sustain forces—an essential factor in national security and disaster response efforts.
MAREX 2025 reaffirms the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ commitment to regional security, strengthened alliances, and enhanced defense capabilities, ensuring effective territorial defense operations in the years to come.