US Marines to assist PH soldiers

ZAMBOANGA CITY: The Pentagon has deployed US Marines in the southern Philippines to assist Filipino soldiers in counterterrorism training.

The Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) under deputy commander Brig. Gen. Aldrin Annani confirmed the arrival of the US Marines who replaced a batch of Special Operations Task Force (SOTF) 511.

Annani lauded the departing US troops led by Maj. Jeffrey Schuele and awarded the latter’s group the Military Civic Action Medal and plaques for their valuable contributions.

Schuele’s group was deployed here on July 15, 2023 and were to return to their mother unit on January 31 after a six-month tour in southern Philippines.

Schuele expressed his gratitude to his Filipino counterpart for making their mission a success.

He also encouraged the Wesmincom to give the same support to the new group of US Marines.

Annani welcomed the new batch of American soldiers who will be part of the SOTF 511.2 in the next six months.

He expressed his gratitude to the SOTF 511.2 for supporting the endeavors of the Western Mindanao Command.

The Pentagon has been providing training and technical support to local troops since 2021 in its effort to help the Philippines combat terrorism.

Filipino and American military commanders gave little details of the operations of the JSOTF which was previously called Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines and was part of Operation Enduring Freedom and the global War on Terror.

The operation targeted various Jihadist terror groups operating in the country.

By 2009, about 600 US military personnel were advising and assisting the Philippine military in the South. In addition, the Central Intelligence Agency had sent its elite paramilitary officers from their Special Activities Division in 2014 to hunt down, kill, or capture key terrorist leaders.

The group has had the most success in combating and capturing al-Qaida leaders and the other leaders of associated groups like Abu Sayyaf.