ZAMBOANGA. Twenty personnel of the 104th Infantry Battalion completed a nine-day Army Aviation Operations Seminar at Camp Muksan in Siasi, Sulu, on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
Seminar Details
The 11th Infantry Division announced on Wednesday, June 17, that the seminar, which concluded on Tuesday, was held at Camp Muksan, the headquarters of the 104th Infantry Battalion in East Kuntad village, Siasi, Sulu. The nine-day specialized training was designed to enhance understanding of Army aviation operations and strengthen interoperability between ground and aviation units.
According to the 11th Infantry Division, the seminar was particularly relevant to Siasi, an island municipality with an existing airport, where effective ground-air coordination is vital in supporting security, humanitarian, and disaster response operations.
Training Objectives
Major Al-Qatar Kamlian, deputy assistant chief of staff for education and training of the 11th Infantry Division, stated that the seminar aimed to equip infantry troops with essential knowledge and skills to effectively coordinate, integrate, and operate with aviation assets in support of operational requirements.
The training covered key aspects of Army aviation operations, including aircraft capabilities and limitations, air-ground coordination, aviation communications, aircraft marshalling, aviation meteorology, air traffic control procedures, aviation safety, and practical exercises that reinforced participants' operational competencies.
Closing Ceremony
During the closing ceremony, Major Ron Albert Tumasis, executive officer of the 104th Infantry Battalion, expressed gratitude to the 11th Infantry Division and the Aviation Battalion for conducting the seminar, noting that the specialized training would further enhance the battalion's capability to effectively support ground and aviation operations.
Major General Leonardo Peña, commander of the 11th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Orion, emphasized that continuous capability development is vital in preparing soldiers for the evolving operational environment.
"Building capable and mission-ready troops requires continuous learning and adaptation. Through initiatives such as the Army Aviation Operations Seminar, we strengthen our ability to integrate ground and air assets, enabling our forces to respond more effectively to security, humanitarian, and disaster response operations while accomplishing our mission of sustaining peace and development in Sulu and Basilan," Peña said in a statement.
He added that the successful conduct of AAOS Class 01-2026 marked the beginning of similar specialized training programs that will be rolled out to other units of the 11th Infantry Division, ensuring that more troops acquire the competencies needed to effectively operate alongside aviation assets and enhance the division's overall operational readiness.
