Balance Piston exercise to boost PH, US troops interoperability

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 16, 2022): Balance Piston exercise to boost PH, US troops interoperability (By Priam Nepomuceno)

BALANCE PISTON. Officials of the Philippine Army's Special Force Regiment "Airborne" and the US Army Special Forces lead the opening of the Balance Piston 22-1 exercise in Fort Ramon Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija on Feb. 14, 2022. The Philippine Army on Wednesday (Feb. 16, 2022) said the Balance Piston 22-1 aims to test and validate plans, procedures, and concepts to enhance collaboration and interoperability between Filipino and US Special Forces. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Army)

The Philippine Army’s (PA) Special Force Regiment "Airborne" (SFRA) and the US Army Special Forces formally opened the three-week Balance Piston 22-1 exercise that would improve interoperability between the two services, at Fort Ramon Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija on February 14.

PA spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad, in a statement Wednesday, said the Balance Piston 22-1 aims to test and validate plans, procedures, and concepts to enhance collaboration and interoperability between Filipino and US Special Forces.

"(The) Joint/Combined Exchange Training Balance Piston 22-1 is an annual bilateral exercise that provides an avenue to Filipino and US Special Forces to learn and exchange tactics, techniques, procedures, and best practices," he said.

The exercise, which ends on March 7, will focus on Human Rights and Law of Armed Conflict; Combat Management of Marksmanship Skills; Small Unmanned Aerial Systems Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures; Command and Control Structure; Mission Planning; Unconventional Warfare Subject Matter Experts Exchange; Crisis Action Planning, Fundamentals of Reconnaissance; Find, Fix, Finish, Exploit, Analyze, Disseminate; Urban Reconnaissance; Tactical Combat Casualty Care; and a Culmination Exercise.

Meanwhile, SFRA acting commander, Col. Eliglen F. Villaflor, who served as the event's keynote speaker, said the exercise would help the unit identify operational capabilities and competency gaps.

“Observe and learn from our US Special Forces partners,” he said.

Trinidad added that the annual exercise reinforces the thrust of Army Chief, Lt. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr., in enhancing the skills of soldiers and competencies of Army units to further empower them in mission accomplishment.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1167865