US, PH armies war games kicks off

Philippine Army and United States Army Pacific officials and personnel during the opening ceremony of Exercise Salaknib at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija. PHOTO FROM THE PHILIPPINE ARMY

MANILA, Philippines — The first phase of war games between the Philippine Army (PA) and its counterparts in the United States officially began on Monday, joined by about 3,500 ground troops from both countries.

The Army and the United States Army Pacific (Usarpac) commenced this year’s Exercise Salaknib in an opening ceremony at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.

It will include around 1,800 personnel from PA’s 5th and 7th Infantry Divisions and Specialty Enabler units and 1,700 US servicemen from Usarpac’s 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and 25th Infantry Division.

The ground troops will train side by side in Fort Magsaysay and other venues in Central Luzon and Northern Luzon.

READ: Around 16,000 US, PH personnel joining Balikatan 2024 — AFP

First phase

Salaknib’s first phase will precede the Balikatan exercise — the biggest annual bilateral drills between two countries — slated to begin by the end of the month. The next leg of the army-to-army drills is scheduled for the third quarter of the year.

Salaknib — which means shield in Ilocano — is an annual exercise between Manila and Washington’s armies to strengthen the interoperability of their ground forces.

Aside from the Salaknib, the joint exercise between the Philippine Air Force and their US counterparts called Cope Thunder also began Monday.