US ARMY Pacific commander Gen. Charles Flynn has offered assistance in training Filipino soldiers who will compose an Army brigade which the military is planning to organize.
Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said Flynn made the offer during a virtual meeting last Tuesday. Brawner said he welcomes the offer but details have yet to be discussed.
Brawner said the Army is planning to form a brigade combat team (BCT) in addition to the 1st Brigade Combat Team that was activated in 2018 and which has seen action in many parts of the country, including in the Abu Sayyaf-infested Sulu. The 1st BCT, composed of about 1,700 men, was formed for territorial defense and to address internal security threats.
The new BCT will be more equipped compared to the Army brigades.
“As of now, we have one (BCT) but the long-term plan is to organize more BCTs,” said Brawner.
Brawner said the US may send instructors to the Philippines for the training of the BCT members.
“(Flynn) He made the offer but there are still no specifics. It was made in general. He said, `We can train your BCT if you want, to learn from our mistakes.’ That’s what he said,” Brawner said quoting Flynn who is scheduled to visit the Philippines tentatively next month.
In 2019, then Army spokesman now Armed Forces spokesman Col. Ramon Zagala said the Army was planning to form two more BCTs to boost the Army capability in internal security and territorial defense operations.
