Key Philippine Military and Insurgency-Related Events: WESCOM: RP-US-AUSSIE Troops culminate BK 38-23 in the WESCOM Joint Operational Area

Sunday, April 30, 2023

WESCOM: RP-US-AUSSIE Troops culminate BK 38-23 in the WESCOM Joint Operational Area

Posted to the Western Command (WESCOM) Facebook Page (Apr 30, 2023): RP-US-AUSSIE Troops culminate BK 38-23 in the WESCOM Joint Operational Area

CAMP GENERAL RICARTE, Palawan – Philippine Army’s 18th Special Forces Company, Philippine Coast Guard’s Special Operations Group – Palawan, US Special Forces, and Australia’s 2nd Commando Regiment on April 28, Friday, culminated the BALIKATAN Exercise in the Western Command (WESCOM) Joint Operational Area (JOA) through a simple closing ceremony at the Headquarters of the 18th Special Forces Company in Brgy. Punta Baja, Rizal, Palawan.

The said exercise, which started on April 12, 2023, was aimed at improving the interoperability between the US, Australian and Philippine Special Operations Forces by imparting and sharing various techniques, tactics and procedures centered in the conduct of Unconventional Warfare (UW) that is suitable in WESCOM’s joint operational environment.

Meanwhile, WESCOM’s Joint Task Force Malampaya, with its commander, Captain Brendo Casaclang PN(GSC), also culminated the BK 38-23 field training exercises on the same date that BK 38-23 was formally closed at the AFP General Headquarters in Quezon City. The exercises in JTF Malampaya involved the Gas to Oil Platform (GOPLAT) Takedown and Recovery, and the Over The Beach (OTB) operations. WESCOM troops from the JTF Malampaya and Naval Special Operations Units (NAVSOU), together with the US and Aussie troops, attended the simple culmination and closing ceremony at the JTF’s social hall in El Nido, Palawan.

During his remarks Captain Casaclang expressed his utmost gratitude to the USAF and ADF counterparts for their immense contribution in enhancing the Filipino troops’ skills, level of responsiveness and readiness, interoperability and the partnership which are essential in securing national interests such as the Malampaya Natural Gas-To-Power Project (MNGPP).

This year’s iteration of BALIKATAN was packed with different practical exercises in Combat Marksmanship, Medical and Casualty Evacuation, Small Unit Tactics, Maritime Operations, and Resupply Missions particularly in a denied environment. A 3-day Culmination Exercise (CULEX) from April 24 to April 26 was also conducted to assess the skills of the participants in several realistic scenarios focused on UW. BK 38-23 training events in the WESCOM JOA have been successful with the continued support of the local government and the general populace of the province of Palawan, partner agencies and other stakeholders.