Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Roy M. Galido highlighted the importance of large-scale training exercises during the Talk to Troops with training participants of the first-ever Combined Arms Training Exercise (CATEX) “Katihan” at the newly refurbished Makabulos Grandstand in Camp O’Donnell, Capas, Tarlac on March 18, 2024.
Lt. Gen. Galido talked about the importance of large-scale training exercise to capacitate the Army in dealing with current and emerging threats and to effectively defend the country. “We now need to change our mindset and our doctrines focusing on defending our country,” the Army Chief remarked.
Prior to the Talk to Troops, the Army Chief and Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Commander Maj. Gen. Luis Rex D. Bergante led the CATEX Katihan’s After Activity Review where the Exercise Control Group took stock of the challenges encountered during the exercise as well as the aspects that need to be sustained and improved.
CATEX “Katihan” is the first-ever large-scale exercise that tested the Army’s capability to move, maneuver, and sustain large-scale forces during combat operations. The exercise was conducted through operational planning and execution of a combined-arms operation, in which the full integration and synchronization of all warfighting functions is applied in a controlled but realistic environment. It can be noted that earlier iterations of the Combined Arms Training Exercise involved soldiers who are taking various career and specialization courses facilitated by Army training schools and centers.
Photos by Cpl. Rodgen V. Quirante, OACPA