Troops of the First Scout Ranger Regiment and the United States Army’s Special Operations Command Pacific commenced a joint military training exercise geared towards improving both forces’ sniping capabilities in jungle and urban environments.

Philippine Army spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad, in a statement Wednesday, said the bilateral training exercise, which began on 6 March at the FSSR base in Camp Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan, is expected to conclude within this month.

“The 2023 iteration of the exercise will focus on sniper operations and target interdiction in the jungle and urban environment,” he added.

Trinidad said the training course called Exercise SOCPAC Piston 23-2, formerly known as Exercise Balance Piston, focuses on cross-training and bolstering the interoperability of the PA Special Operations Forces and US Army SOCPAC.

The sniping drills will be participated by 25 personnel from the 21st Scout Ranger Company; SR School; Scout Sniper Platoon; and personnel from the Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 1316, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), US Army.