All set for RP-U.S. joint wargames

These activities will be held in various areas in Zambales and Palawan from 9 to 18 October.

Ready to go The USS John P. Murtha is docked at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone prior to taking part in this year’s Kamandag Exercises that will be held in Zambales and Palawan. JONAS REYES

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Joint land-sea-air wargames will be held in areas in Luzon and Palawan as both Filipino and American soldiers join the Kaagapay Ng Mga Mandirigma Ng Dagat (Kamandag) exercises tomorrow.

The nine-day training exercises will test the interoperability of the two countries’ militias involving amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban operations, aviation operations, counterterrorism response and humanitarian assistance.

These activities will be held in various areas in Zambales and Palawan from 9 to 18 October, including a low-altitude air defense and threat reaction training.

The United States Embassy stated that this is the third of the annual exercise between the Philippines and US servicemen, adding that this type of exercise promotes military interoperability, readiness, and capabilities.

“Together, these activities represent an increase in military capability and a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and demonstrate the ability to forward deploy forces in the event of a crisis or natural disaster,�? the Embassy said.

Aside from military activities, the exercise will include cooperative health engagements, civil affairs interactions and community relations events. The embassy said that the purpose is to exchange information on hygiene skills, life support, first response, and safety protocols, as well as to conduct religious ministry, primary education, and athletic events.

The embassy pointed out that humanitarian and civic assistance activities enable service members to foster improved military to military ties and provide support to local communities.

Exercises like Kamandag 3 strengthen international partnerships and our forces’ abilities to rapidly respond to crises throughout the Indo-Pacific region.