A delegation of Armed Forces and military reserve officials recently reaffirmed a strong partnership with the national guards of Guam and Hawaii, enhancing cooperation on modernization and other fields.
The delegation, led by AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Reserve Force Development Maj. Gen. Gerold Gagan, attended the recent 147th National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) General Assembly and Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
“Our participation in the 147th NGAUS General Assembly was a resounding success,” said Gagan, referring to the 25-man Philippine delegation from the AFP and Association of Reservists and Reservist Administrators of the Philippines.
The other AFP officials who joined the gathering were AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations Maj. Gen. Arvin Lagamon, Naval Reserve Command Commander Maj. Gen. Doroteo Jalandoni, AFP Reserve Command commander Brig. Gen. Geminic Ramirez, and Air Force Reserve Command deputy commander Brig. Gen. Onorlie Brilantes.
“We reaffirmed our strong partnership with the Guam and Hawaii National Guards, strengthening defense cooperation, disaster response, and modernization efforts,” said Gagan.
“This mission has deepened our ties with the US National Guard and renewed our commitment to building a stronger AFP alongside our allies,” the official also said.
Col. Mikee Romero, a former lawmaker and chairman of ARRAPI, said: “It strengthens the cooperation between Filipino reservists and the US National Guard. We learned a lot from the assembly, especially about disaster response and national resilience.”
The other ARRAPI officials who joined the gathering were the association’s president, Lt. Col. Vladimir Mata, and Board of Trustees members Lt. Col. Peter Negrido and Lt. Col. Meliton Agpaoa.
Romero and Mata met with NGAUS chairman Maj. Gen. Paul Rodgers of Michigan. During the meeting, they discussed cooperation under the State Partnership Program with the Guam and Hawaii National Guards.
The delegation underscored the strong defense and security cooperation between the two nations.
The conference provided a venue to strengthen ties, exchange expertise, and foster collaboration on defense modernization, disaster response, and national resilience — key priorities for both the AFP and the US National Guard.
