The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the United States Armed Forces (USAF) conducted a combat lifesaving training in Tacloban City as part of the ongoing Exercise Balikatan 41-26.

The three-day Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) training, scheduled from 20 to 22 April, brings together troops from the Philippine Army’s Artillery Regiment and personnel from the United States Army, sharpening the troops’ battlefield medical skills and confidence to respond effectively to battlefield medical emergencies.

The TCCC training is designed to equip soldiers with critical competencies such as hemorrhage control, airway management, and casualty evacuation under fire. These are the skills considered essential in modern military operations.

The joint activity highlights continued defense cooperation between the Philippines and the United States, with both forces working to enhance interoperability and readiness in high-risk environments.

Through initiatives like the TCCC training, the AFP and US Armed Forces reaffirm their commitment to building more capable, adaptive, and people-centered military units.

Beyond combat preparedness, the exercise underscores a shared priority: ensuring the protection and preservation of human life during military operations.

Exercise Balikatan is an annual joint military drill between Philippine and US forces, aimed at strengthening defense capabilities and regional security cooperation.