THOUSANDS of American and Filipino troops are due start next week 12-day training exercise meant to improve their skills on special operations and coastal defense, among others.
The exercise, “Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma ng Dagat” or “Kamandag,” will be held in training areas in Zambales, Cavite, Cagayan, Batanes, Tarlac, Palawan, and Taguig City, the Philippine Marines said.
The exercise formally opened at the Philippine Navy Officers Club at Naval Station Jose Francisco at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday, said Marines spokesman Maj. Emery Torre.
He said 2,550 troops from the US Marines will be involved in the exercise, along with 530 Philippine Marines and nearly 100 Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force personnel.
He said a number of troops from the Japan Self-Defense Force and Republic of Korea Marine Corps will join the exercise as observers.
The sixth iteration of the annual exercise is meant to enhance the capability of the two sides in the field of special operations, coast defense, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) response, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear operations.
Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan said the Philippine Marines is looking forward to the exercise, which will run until October 14.
Gaerlan said the US is “advanced in terms of amphibious operations, special operations, HADR and territorial defense capabilities.”
“Through this exercise, we are able to learn from their techniques, tactics, and procedures to develop our interoperability strategy in the Philippine Marine Corps, especially as we operationalize our Marine Corps Operating Concept for Archipelagic Coastal Defense.”
