PH, US finalize plans for bilateral war games in March

The US government’s continuing role in Philippine security could be gleaned from regular military exercises between American and Filipino soldiers, like this drill in Zambales province in May 2017. (File photo by EDWIN BACASMAS / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Army and the United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) have finalized their plans for the Central Luzon bilateral war games in March.

Col. Xerxes Trinidad, the spokesperson for the Philippine Army, said the two armies have concluded the final review of plans for this year’s Salaknib Exercises.

“Salaknib” means “shield” in Ilocano.

Trinidad said the Army’s office of the chief of staff for education and training and the USARPAC finalized plans for the bilateral war games.

The Salaknib Exercises, an annual Philippine-US Army training exercise aimed at enhancing defense readiness and interoperability of the two armies, will be held from March 5 to 24 at different sites in Central Luzon.

Salaknib aims to enhance Philippine and US defense readiness by developing tactical interoperability and showcasing the US government’s resolve to fulfill its alliance obligations in the Indo-Pacific region.

Participating in the exercises are the Army’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, Training and Doctrine Command, Support Command, the 51st Engineering Brigade, Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Artillery Regiment, Aviation Regiment, Armor Division, Light Reaction Regiment, Special Forces Regiment, and the First Scout Ranger Regiment as well as their US counterparts in the Pacific Command.

—JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE

READ: WHAT WENT BEFORE: PH-US military alliance