The military during a calamity, here and internationally

The response of various countries to aid the victims of Yolanda demonstrates not only their willingness to help but also their capability to mobilize on short notice. This capability is of course based on their military assets and systems to handle a big logistical challenge that are important in the conduct of war. Napoleon is recognized for his strategic and tactical genius in dealing with very complicated military campaigns. But students of warfare also know Napoleon’s genius to handle the logistical and organizational challenges, having pioneered on the concept of a self reliant Grand Armee’ marching with long trains of supply wagons filled with food, water, ammos, uniforms, boots, socks, etc, and not having to live off the land he was invading. It was Napoleon who said ‘An army marches on its stomach.’ ‘C'est la soupe qui fait le soldat.’
We now see this in the responses of the big powers, except for China, and even see already the emerging alliances with the prominent participation of the US, Japan, Australia and UK. I think these powers see this as an opportunity not only to exercise their soft power by coming to the aid of a stricken country, but also to test, exercise and sharpen their mobilization and logistical capability, systems and doctrines in an actual, world scale situation. Imagine a carrier strike force of the US arriving in just days. Imagine those big transport aircraft, including the Ospreys on the ground in the stricken areas almost instantly. Same with the British aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, reportedly on her way as a demonstration of UK's capability to help and project power.

In the case of the AFP and allied services, this is also a great opportunity to conduct mobilization exercises in an actual situation to test doctrines, systems and equipment, from the highest command level in Camp Aguinaldo, overseen by the SND and the CIC, to the smallest unit (including the truck driver and soldiers and trainees deployed to help in cleaning up the stricken areas and collecting cadavers in an orderly manner, all of which activities can develop experiences and lessons learned applicable in succeeding calamities and the battlefield. This will also help decision makers in the Executive and Congress, and, very importantly, the public and media, in determining what the AFP and allied departments need to upgrade their capabilities to meet mammoth emergency needs in time of peace and, God forbid, time of war. 

There appears to be a cacophony of people asking “Where are our planes, our helicopters, our ships, our trucks?” but I ask the question, where were they when some quarters were complaining about and blocking the billions being proposed to be allocated for AFP Modernization during the budget debates in the six congresses I had to privilege of serving. 

Now, hopefully, we can more rationally tackle how to best upgrade the AFP and make it an agency to protect not only our citizens and territory but very importantly to protect our economic assets.