Philippine, US Armies' commandos hone counterterrorism skills
The exercise is an annual bilateral training activity.
BULACAN: The Philippine Army's commando group instrumental in neutralising two terrorists who led Daesh's 2017 Marawi city siege has commenced a joint-exercise including counterterrorism with their US counterpart.
The First Scout Ranger Regiment of the Philippine Army and the U.S. Army’s Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC) kicked off Exercise SOCPAC Piston (ESP) 23-2 in an opening ceremony at Camp Tecson, the regiment's headquarters, in San Miguel municipality, Bulacan province, on March 6, 2023.
The regiment's Deputy Commander Col. Isagani O. Criste and Cpt. Brandon Souryavong of the U.S. Army led the opening ceremony of Exercise SOCPAC Piston, formerly called Exercise Balance Piston, the Philippine Army said Wednesday.
The exercise is an annual bilateral training activity that focuses on cross-training and bolstering the interoperability of the Philippine Army Special Operations Forces and U.S. Army SOCPAC.
"The 2023 iteration of the exercise will focus on sniper operations and target interdiction in the jungle and urban environment," said the Philippine Army.
"The ESP will be participated in by 25 personnel from the 21st Scout Ranger (SR) Company; SR School; Scout Sniper Platoon; and personnel from the Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 1316, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), U.S. Army."
The US and Australian Armies helped the Filipino troops retake Lanao del Sur’s provincial capital city of Marawi from the clutches of the pro-Daesh Maute and Abu Sayyaf Groups after five months of intense fighting that started in May 2017.
Troops from the regiment killed Daesh East Asia emir and Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and Maute Group leader Omar Maute during a night ambush towards the end of the siege.
The Marawi battle was the Philippines's longest urban warfare, part of the war scenarios the Scout Rangers and the US Army are training for in the current exercise.