AFP receives recon kits, outfits from US military

From the Philippine Information Agency  (Sep 18): AFP receives recon kits, outfits from US military

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) received from the U.S. military a new Dismounted Reconnaissance Sets Kits and Outfits (DRSKO) package.

“The equipment that we have collaboratively worked with and trained on and provided to the Philippine government is exactly the same equipment that we provide to our own military forces and to our civilian counterparts,” said U.S. Army COL Kenneth Deal of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DITRA) during the turnover ceremony Thursday at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

The DRSKO is a portable collection of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) protective gear and detection equipment used to support dismounted Reconnaissance, Surveillance and CBRN site assessment missions. This increases the AFP’s capabilities to conduct CBRN site assessments to mitigate risks and gather intelligence on Chemical Agents, Biological Agents or other potential chemical hazards. It was designed to equip a team of 27 CBRN personnel.

The AFP previously completed extensive training in the United States in preparation for receiving this equipment as part of its modernization efforts. 

“Today after six short months, we have this professional CBRN platoon standing before us. We are proud of what they have done as you are proud of what they have done. We think that this is going to be a nucleus to grow a much more robust support structure,” Col. Deal added.

Likewise, the US looks forward to the AFP’s successful adoption of the equipment and corresponding training in order to meet APEC 2015 requirements and furthering the competency of its newly acquired capability into upcoming training exercise like Balikatan.

The turnover was a collective effort of the U.S. Embassy, U.S. Pacific Command, Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group, Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological and DITRA working diligently with our AFP counterparts.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/241442482029/afp-receives-recon-kits-outfits-from-us-military