Vice Adm. Frank Bradley, Joint Special Operations Command commanding officer, met with Philippine and Japanese Special Operations Forces during a series of engagements in the region, July 9-12, 2023, reaffirming JSOC’s ironclad commitment to America’s allies in the Indo-Pacific.
Vice Adm. Bradley was welcomed to the region by Brigadier General Freddie Dela Cruz, commander of the Special Operations Command Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Colonel Isagani Criste, commander of the Philippine army’s First Scout Ranger Regiment. He received an update brief on a recent FSRR training exercise and discussed increased special operations combined training opportunities between the two nations.
From the Philippines, Vice Adm. Bradley traveled to Kadena Air Base, Japan, where he participated in a round table discussion with U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command, U.S. Special Operations Command Pacific and U.S. Special Operations Command Korea command teams, as well as multiple Japanese Special Operations Forces key leaders, representing air, land and maritime SOF.
While in Kadena, leaders discussed the importance of Special Operations Forces as a deterrent against aggression in the region, the possibility of including additional partners in bilateral training events, and the value of realistic joint-combined training exercises.
“Our nations have a shared interest in territorial defense and integrated deterrence,” said Vice Adm. Bradley. “Our alliances with the Philippines and Japan are essential to ensuring a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. Special Operations integration is critical to maintaining that stability.”