The United States has deployed 1,300 of its troops for the Salaknib exercises in the country, a Philippine Army official said. Philippine Army Spokesperson Colonel Louie Demaala said that there are 1,800 troops from the Philippine Army who are involved in the said exercises. Very successful yung conduct of Salaknib Phase 1 and 2, likewise, ongoing ang mga subject matter expert exchange small training activities between Philippine Army and USARPAC, Demaala told Manila Standard. The ongoing Salaknib exercises is an annual bilateral exercise led by the Philippine Army and sponsored by the US Army Pacific USARPAC. Scheduled to conclude in September, the event is designed to enhance the US and Philippine Army s capacity and interoperability across the spectrum of military operations. On Thursday, Demaala clarified that the powerful midrange missile system that Washington deployed to the Philippines in April for the Balikatan joint exercises will remain in the country until the conclusion of Salaknib Phase 2 in September. Demaala told Manila Standard that deployment or redeployment of the Typhon missile system will still depend if the training objectives of Salaknib had been met. The groundbased midrange capability MRC that could launch Tomahawk and SM6 missiles was also used for a simulated firing drill during a bilateral exercise in the South China Sea in May. Among the 1,800 troops of the Army, around 40 of them, who are part of Army Artillery Regiment AAR, were directly trained for operating the Typhon missile system. As of now, almost 40 personnel are directly trained for the MRC and similar training will be conducted as planned. He said. Other Philippine Army personnels involved in Salaknib exercises came from units specifically in 5th and 7th Infantry Division and support personnel from Training and Doctrine Command and Philippine Army Headquarters in Taguig City. Aside from MRC training, other Salaknib activities were various Subject Matter Expert Exchange SMEE across different warfighting functions, Division and Brigade Size Staff Exercises tabletop and Reserve Force training platoon exercises. Originally posted with the headline: 1300 US troops deployed for Salaknib, Army says . All Rights Reserved, Newspaper Theme.
1,300 US troops and 1,800 Philippine Army troops are participating in the annual Salaknib exercises to enhance military cooperation and interoperability. The groundbased midrange missile system deployed for the exercises will remain in the Philippines until September, with about 40 Army Artillery Regiment personnel directly trained to operate it.Various training activities are ongoing, including Subject Matter Expert Exchange across different functions and reserve force training exercises.