PHL, US army teams engage in bilateral training events
UNITED States’s soldiers have arrived in the Philippines to conduct their first-ever partner training rotation with the Philippine Army, with bilateral training events taking place until June.
As engagements primarily take place at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, the 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) and the Philippine Army (PA) will impart subjectmatter expert exchanges across the spectrum of military operations— including communications, logistics and unit-training management.
Through these combined engagements, US soldiers will learn and train alongside Filipino partners, as they share their best practices and collaborate on areas of mutual interest, laying the groundwork for future exercises between the two nations.
“We are very excited to train with our Philippine partners,” said Capt. Oleg Sheynfeld, commander of the SFAB team in the Philippines. “Throughout our rotation, we will conduct subject-matter expert exchanges to increase interoperability between our forces across the spectrum of military operations.”
The team is part of the 5th SFAB’S Force Package 21-1, which began employing US soldiers into the Indo-pacific in January 2021. A unit consists of about 20 highly-skilled, hand-selected soldiers capable of
providing advanced training expertise in military specialties like communications, logistics and medical aid. Collectively, it brings more than 100 years of military experience.
Members will partner with various PA units—including the 1st Brigade Combat Team, the 99th Infantry Battalion, Training and Doctrine Command, Support Command, and the Forward Service Support Unit.
“The PA and US Army bilateral training aims to enhance the capabilities and interoperability of both forces in conventional, joint and combined operations as it promotes solidarity in the global fight against terror in all its forms,” said PA Spokesperson Col. Ramon Zagala.
US Army Pacific and 5th SFAB are committed to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019, as they strictly adhere to Philippine government health protocols and guidelines.
At full capacity, the 5th SFAB operates with 820 professional advisors specially selected, trained and equipped to advise, support, liaise, as well as assess with conventional partner security forces from the battalion to corps levels to build capacity supportive of regional security. When called upon, the unit can employ up to 61 advisor teams to integrate with conventional foreignpartner security forces.