The Philippine Army and the Australian Army have commenced Exercise Kasangga 2024-2 in Bicol, marking the first combined training exercise between Filipino and Australian ground troops in the region.
A total of 266 participants, including 216 Philippine Army personnel and 50 Australian Army personnel, are taking part in the exercise, which is scheduled to run from October 14 to November 8, 2024.
The combined exercise covers critical areas such as urban operations, close combat techniques, combat shooting, and tactical casualty care.
Soldiers will also undergo training in explosive assault breaching, cybersecurity operations, mortar gunnery with forward observers, and Civil-Military Operations (CMO) exchanges.
Exercise Kasangga aims to enhance the skills and bolster the interoperability of both armies in various war-fighting functions.
This marks the second iteration of the combined exercise for the year, following the first exercise hosted by the 5th Infantry Division from May to June 2024.