The Philippine Army (PA) wrapped up combined training drills alongside their counterparts from the United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) in Cagayan Valley on Thursday.

The operational maneuver was carried out as part of the Philippine Army troopers’ Salaknib Exercise with their American counterparts, held from 16 to 19 June.

It aims to build up combat power to support follow-on operations related to territorial defense, involving coordinated land, air and sea movements using combined assets from the PA and USARPAC.

More than 100 mobility assets from both ground forces participated in a ground convoy operation from Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija to the Bagabag Airstrip in Nueva Vizcaya, the Isabela State University Oval in Echague, Isabela and Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela.

Combined forces from the Philippine Army and the U.S. Army Pacific conducted Military Free Fall drills at the Bagabag Airstrip in Nueva Vizcaya, along with Fast Rope Insertion and Extraction System (FRIES) exercises in Isabela. These drills assessed the ability of both forces to rapidly deploy troops in austere and challenging environments.

Additionally, both armies deployed tank assets to Port Irene in Cagayan using US Navy Landing Craft Units.

“The drills between Filipino and American ground forces align with the Philippine Army’s thrust to adopt mobile, agile and sustainable forces that can rapidly respond to various missions and contingencies,” Philippine Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said.  

The annual Army-to-Army exercise, Salaknib (based on an Ilocano term), is geared at strengthening the interoperability of Filipino and American army soldiers.