Philippine, Australian Armies to conduct joint exercises

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 6): Philippine, Australian Armies to conduct joint exercises

Members of the Australian and Philippine Armies will conduct two joint exercises which will be held separately in both countries this year.

This is in line with the existing defense cooperation program of the two countries, PA spokesperson Col. Benjamin Hao said.

The two military exercises are the Philippines-Australia Exercise "Dusk" Caracha and the Philippines-Australia Exercise "Dawn" Caracha.

Hao said Exercise "Dusk" Caracha 2015 is a combined training activity between the Special Operations Commands (SOCOM) of both the Philippine and Australian Army to be held in Perth, Western Australia from Sept. 15 to 26.

He added that the PA will send a total of 25 personnel from the Light Reaction Regiment (LRR), SOCOM in Australia to participate in the exercise.

Exercise "Dusk" Caracha aims to enhance the counter-terrorist skills and capabilities of the Philippine Army's Light Reaction Regiment utilizing the training facilities of the Special Air Service Regiment in Australia.

This also includes close-quarter battle training, sniper skills development training, and unit collective training.

On the other hand, the Philippines-Australia Exercise "Dawn" Caracha 2015, scheduled on Oct. 19 to 30 in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, will involve 102 participants from the Philippine Army and 15 soldiers from Australian Army.

Exercise "Dawn" Caracha is an annual army-to-army exercise between the Special Air Service Regiment, SOCOM, Australia and the SOCOM, Philippine Army which aims to enhance the interoperability between the Special Forces units of both countries.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=800928