MANGILAO, Guam – Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, or AFP, Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or ROTC, cadets recently conducted training with University of Guam ROTC cadets under the Department of War National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program.
The engagement was centered on the Cultural Understanding Learning Program, or CULP, a key initiative aimed at fostering cooperation at the earliest stages of a military career.
The primary objective of the partnership is to build partner capacity by sharing knowledge and resources, enhance the internal capabilities of both forces and improve interoperability by ensuring that both nations can operate together seamlessly, a critical factor for any joint response.
“The goal is to integrate them at a junior level, to expose both the UOG cadets and the AFP to partners," said Sgt. 1st Class Danielglen Salas, SPP noncommissioned officer. "We hope in turn that the relationship that they establish here at this young age, young time in their career, that it's going to flourish as they become seniors in their ranks."
This strategic alliance is rooted in shared history and geography. With the Philippines and Guam as key anchors in the Western Pacific, their ability to work together is vital to regional stability. Salas emphasized the critical need for this partnership in the current geopolitical environment, stating both sides are much stronger together.
The enduring nature of this relationship is a testament to shared values and culture, Salas said.
"What we want people out there to remember is that this is 25 years of a strategic partnership,” Salas said. “After 25 years to the day – it's very unique and it's still very strong. We lean on to each other and it's because of our cultural similarities of where we come from in this region.”