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The Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines program has passed the halfway mark for 2025, with both nations hailing its growing impact on defence cooperation and operational readiness in the Indo-Pacific.
Established in 2019, the Joint Australian Training Team - Philippines (JATT-P) has steadily expanded the number and scope of exchanges between the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The program centres on deploying ADF Mobile Training Teams to the Philippines, where they deliver specialised training or conduct subject-matter exchanges in skills critical to territorial defence.
In 2025, the program has broadened its focus to include more complex activities across combat engineering, deployed air traffic control, artillery and joint fires, and airfield damage repair and assessment. The two militaries are also sharing expertise in infantry tactics, land operations, military public affairs and counter-IED techniques.
Chief of Joint Operations Vice Admiral Justin Jones said the program had deepened interoperability and built valuable trust between the two forces.
“JATT-P’s value lies in combined operations and exercises and in the knowledge and relationships we’ve built that are delivering results in the field,” VADM Jones said.
“That will be on display during Exercise Alon 25 in the Philippines this August, when our forces train side by side to respond to shared security challenges and contribute to a stable, secure region.”
JATT-P coordinator, Major Lachlan Newham, said 2025 had seen an increase in air and maritime training elements, along with more sophisticated land and operational planning activities.
“Our personnel bring a broad range of skills and experience and they’re just as eager to learn from AFP counterparts as they are to share their own expertise,” MAJ Newham said.
“This exchange works both ways. Our people return home with a stronger understanding of how the AFP operates, the environment they serve in and their unwavering commitment to defending the sovereignty of the Philippines.”
As the program moves into the second half of the year, both nations are framing JATT-P as a cornerstone of regional defence cooperation, one that blends technical training with enduring personal and institutional partnerships.
