PH soldiers teach US troops how to cook cobra, exotic meals

Soldiers learn to cook a chicken in a field environment during a jungle warfare training exercise as part of a buildup to Exercise Balikatan 2014. PHOTO BY LANCE CPL. SHALTIEL DOMINGUEZ/US MARINE CORPS

MANILA, Philippines—US troops participating in the Balikatan exercises at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija were taught by Philippine soldiers how to cook a cobra as part of the jungle survival training.

The soldiers from the Philippine Army Special Forces taught the US forces the basics in jungle survival such as trapping, foraging, nutrition and preparing animals and plants for consumption, wrote Lance Corporal Shaltiel Dominguez in an article published at Defense Video and Image Distribution System.

The US soldiers are proficient in urban operations, and the jungle training will help them “should the need arise.” The resources used for the survival include coconuts, herbs, goats, fish, chickens and snakes.

Philippine Army TSg. Riden Dumalig, drains the blood of a cobra snake during survival training. Soldiers learned multiple jungle survival techniques and tactics during Balikatan 2014. PHOTO BY SPC. MICHAEL G. HERRERO/US ARMY

“It’s important that soldiers are able to survive off the land to sustain themselves, especially in environments where there’s not much opportunities for resupply,” said 1st Lt. Nicholas Risher, officer-in-charge of the 25th Infantry Division. “If we can feed ourselves out there, then we can last longer and fight harder.”

It was Army’s Technical Sergeant Riden Dumalig, an instructor from the Special Forces, who taught the American soldiers how to cook a cobra in a jungle environment.

“I like training and interacting with the American soldiers,” said Dumalig. “It’s a good learning experience for both parties, and I feel that we are teaching them valuable knowledge that will help them when they conduct operations in the jungle.”

Sixty soldiers from the US’ 3rd Battalion, 7th Artillery Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, and 3rd Battalion, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division participated in the training.

“For me, the hands-on instruction we’re getting from the Philippine Special Forces is the best part of the training,” said Risher. “This is valuable training that we can’t get anywhere else. This is especially valuable at a time when we’re moving out of Iraq and Afghanistan into other environments, and it allows us to be more prepared for conflicts in the Pacific or anywhere there’s a jungle environment.”

The RP-US Balikatan Exercises this year is centered on maritime security. About 5,500 American and Filipino soldiers will take part in humanitarian activities and field exercises that will be held in mostly in Luzon from May 5-16.

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