PH, US airmen start 12-day bilateral training to boost cooperation

Filipino and American airmen will train for 12 days at various military installations across the Philippines starting Monday.

Upon the invitation of the Philippine government, the airmen of both countries will participate in subject matter exchanges that will cover command and control tactics, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief response, the Pacific Air Forces (Pacaf) said in a statement.

The exchanges, which will be held from April 23 to May 4, will be the sixth iteration of the US-Philippine Air Contingent established by the US Pacific Command and carried out by the Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, according to Pacaf.

The first US-Philippine Air Contingent was held in April 2016.

The Pacaf said it will send HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and airmen from units across the Pacific to Clark Air Base in Pampanga and Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu as part of the contingent.

The Pacaf is one of the nine US Air Force major commands and a component of US Pacific Command. /ee