United States Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan Caine has announced plans to visit the Philippines with the goal of enhancing collaboration between American citizen-soldiers and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reserve force.

This announcement follows a meeting between Gen. Caine and Philippine Air Force Reserve Col. Michael Romero during the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) convention. The two officials exchanged views on pressing regional security issues and the growing contributions of reserve units.

Col. Romero, who leads the Association of Reservists and Reserve Officers of the Philippines (ARRAPI), and Gen. Caine discussed how reservists and National Guardsmen contribute to stability operations throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

Gen. Caine, appointed in 2025 by President Donald Trump, has prioritized revitalizing the National Guard and enhancing integration with reserve forces as part of his leadership agenda.

The Philippine delegation at NGAUS included Maj. Gen. Gerold Gagan, Maj. Gen. Arvin Lagamon, Maj. Gen. Doroteo Jalandoni, Brig. Gen. Geminic Ramirez, and Brig. Gen. Onorlie Brillantes, accompanied by officials from ARRAPI.

Maj. Gen. Gagan emphasized the Philippines' growing cooperative efforts with the Guam and Hawaii National Guards, particularly in disaster response and defense initiatives.

In his NGAUS address, Gen. Caine commended the Texas National Guard for their efforts in rescuing over 525 individuals during recent floods. This message resonated strongly with the Filipino delegation, who had recently supported flood relief operations in Bulacan, aiding in the evacuation of more than 7,500 people displaced by Tropical Storm Crising.

Experts view the meeting as a meaningful advancement in Guard-to-reserve collaboration, potentially leading to expanded joint training programs and coordinated humanitarian efforts in the future.