PH, US Marine units join RIMPAC harbor phase drills

“The Philippine Navy’s participation to RIMPAC 2018 trumpets the Command’s commitment in promoting multilateral cooperation to strengthen relationship and cooperation among participating navies of the world,” the PN spokesperson said.(Photo courtesy: Naval Public Affairs Office via PNA)

MANILA — US and Philippine Marine Corps units conducted a series of exercises as part of this year’s “Rim of the Pacific” (RIMPAC) harbor phase activities.

This was announced by Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson Cmdr. Jonathan Zata in a statement Monday,

RIMPAC officially started June 28 and will end on August 2.

Zata added the PMC contingent to Naval Task Force 86 RIMPAC quickly disembarked at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam upon arrival last June 26, and proceeded to the Boondock Training Site, Marine Corps Base in Hawaii for the above-mentioned exercises.

Part of the harbor phase activities include the amphibious assault vehicle familiarization, a shore-to-shore exercise that aims to enhance the sea-to-land capabilities of the PMC contingent as part of RIMPAC 2018 exercise.

Meanwhile, the US Marine Corps conducted a combat life-saving training that intends to provide intermediate step between the buddy aid-style basic life support and the advanced life support skills.

Zata added that training on military operations in urban terrain was also conducted to enhance the PMC contingent on its urban war-fighting tactics, techniques and procedures.

“The Philippine Navy’s participation to RIMPAC 2018 trumpets the Command’s commitment in promoting multilateral cooperation to strengthen relationship and cooperation among participating navies of the world,” the PN spokesperson said.

The country’s contingent to RIMPAC 2018 consists of the strategic sealift vessel, the BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602), the frigate BRP Andres Bonifacio (FF-17), an AgustaWestland AW-109 naval helicopter and around 700 sailors and marines.