MANILA: Members of the Philippine Army (PA) and the Australian Army commenced the second edition of this year’s Exercise “KASANGGA” on Monday in Camarines Sur province, focusing on enhancing tactical skills through specialized land warfare training.
According to Philippines News Agency, the four-week military exercise aims to cover critical areas such as urban operations, close combat techniques, combat shooting, and tactical casualty care. Colonel Louie Dema-ala, a spokesperson for the Army, highlighted in a statement on Tuesday that the drills will also include training in explosive assault breaching, cybersecurity operations, and mortar gunnery with forward observers. Additionally, there will be an exchange of civil-military operations knowledge between the troops.
“The Philippine Army – Australian Army Exercise (PAAAE) ‘KASANGGA’ 2024-2 marks the first combined training exercise between Filipino and Australian ground troops in the Bicol Region,” Dema-ala stated. He noted that a total of 266 participants
, comprising 216 PA personnel and 50 Australian Army personnel, are taking part in the exercise scheduled from October 14 to November 8, 2024.
The drills are being conducted at the headquarters of the PA’s 9th Infantry Division in Camp Elias Angeles, San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur. This iteration of Exercise “KASANGGA” follows the first combined exercise for this year, which was hosted by the PA’s 5th Infantry Division in Isabela from May to June.
The primary objective of Exercise “KASANGGA” is to bolster the interoperability and warfighting capabilities of both armies, ensuring readiness for various military functions.