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AIR FORCE REVIEW
Vol2,No2
 
EDITORIAL
Flying in the Changing Times
Lt Col Jose Tony E Villarete PAF 
The Philippine Air Force is 54 years old. Awealth of experience and lessons learned for thepast 54 years of dedicated and exemplary service tothe country and its people provide the PAF withvaluable inputs in the formulation and developmentof doctrines. The preponderance of success storiesin the application of air power in various conflicts allover the world further strengthens the foundation forthe formulation of airdoctrines. Voluminous articles,theories, discussion papers and the like arecontinuously written by various air power advocateswhich always provide the necessary lights on ourpath towards doctrines development. However, thefast changing situation in the domestic andinternational scenes, require us to be more watchfuland analytical in our effort to keep our air doctrinesdynamic and relevant to the times.The ongoing peace process with the Southern Philippines Secessionist Groups andthe Communist Party of the Philippines and the call by the new administration for activeparticipation of the AFP in solving organized crimes, notwithstanding the considerablenumber of military operations other than war where the AFP has been actively engage, areto be carefully taken into consideration in the review of existing doctrines and informulating new ones. The PAF has been in the forefront of humanitarian assistance anddisaster relief operations and to some extent in developmental efforts such as theconceptualization of the "Air Force City" in Clarkfield, Pampanga as the hub of theaerospace and air transport industry in the country. The development of PAF bases allover the archipelago is premised on the need to improve our militarycapabilities and atthe same time spearhead the upgrading of the much needed aviation engineering supportfacilities of the country which became imperative in the implementation of the AFPmodernization program. The PAF should be able to deal with these domestic changes, vis-à-vis the emerging new national policies.World events will continue to influence changes in the geopolitical landscape of theAsia Pacific region. The new US administration under President Bush has recentlymanifested some significant shifts in US foreign policy in the region. The fast changingrelationship of the US with Mainland China, Japan and Korea would have far-reachingimplications to the region as well as to this country. Needless to say, these developmentswould affect the Philippines and thus, the need to continuously monitor emerging trendsas it relate to doctrine development. As we enter into a new international relations era, thePAF must correspondingly review and develop doctrines and strategies to cope with thechanging times.In doing so, we must remain open to the vast oceans of new concepts and ideasthat abound in the air power arena today. Technology is a key and critical element to theevolution of air power and should equally be considered along with our past experiencesand air power theories in our trek towards the formulation and revision of doctrines.
 
In our quest for a Faster, Stronger and Better Philippine Air Force, every airmanshould endeavor to keep pace with the emerging situations both in the country and in theworld. Keeping a vigilant watchful eye over the unfolding events will help us in our effortsof developing dynamic and relevant PAF doctrines. As we fly into new horizons, we mustnot let our mindsets shackle us in chains to the present. Together, let us exploit newconcepts and move towards the future ---the skies.
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