Another PHL-US military exercise next month

JOINT United States and Philippine Marines are set to conduct early next month an amphibious landing exercise to improve interoperability, increase combat readiness and continue to build professional relationships between the two countries.

Lt. Cheryl Tindog, Philippine Marines spokesman, said the target venues of the exercise are Crow Valley in Tarlac, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Subic in Zambales, Camp O’Donnel also in Tarlac and in Ternate, Cavite. Tindog said while there will be no kinetic exercises in Palawan, humanitarian and civic action will be conducted there and in Zambales.

The opening ceremony will kick-off on October 8. The exercise will be concluded on October 18. The USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, will arrive in Subic where the opening ceremony will be held, Tindog said. She said bulk of the exercises will be undertaken in Crow Valley.

“Sa Crow Valley, doon gagawin ang crewmanship, amphibious assault… usually mga tanks natin and gagamitin... focus ng training objective natin ay sa HADR or humanitarian assistance disaster response dahil alam naman natin na ang Marines natin nade-deploy sa disaster response,” Tindog said.

In Fort Magsaysay, Tindog said artillery exercises will be undertaken, while boat raid, boat handling and jungle survival will be conducted in Ternate. Asked what’s new with the incoming exercise, Tindog said there will be Air Force components on both sides.

“Mayroon din tayong Army [participation] sa Camp O’Donnel, ang mga logistics natin doon, very holistic ang training objective, we want to maximize ang magbe-benefit from the exercise itself, halos lahat ng component may subject matter exchanges,” Tindog said.

The exercise will be participated in by some 1,200 Filipino soldiers and around 2,000 to 2,500 US troops.

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