PH, Australia armies kick off 'Exercise Carabaroo 2024'

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 16, 2024): PH, Australia armies kick off 'Exercise Carabaroo 2024' (By Priam Nepomuceno)

'EXERCISE CARABAROO'. ⁨The 125-member Philippine Army delegation and their Australian Army counterparts join the opening ceremony of the Philippine-Australia Exercise Carabaroo 2024 in Darwin, Australia on Monday (July 15, 2024). The Philippine Army on Tuesday (July 16) said the drills would test the concept of deployment of a Light Littoral Brigade on Australia's northern coast. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Army)

MANILA – The Philippine Army (PA) and its Australian Army counterparts on Monday formally kicked off the month-long Exercise Carabaroo 2024 in the latter's northern city of Darwin.

In a statement Tuesday, PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said the Australian Army's 1st Brigade hosted this year's edition of the drills.

"It forms part of the broader architecture of Exercise Predator’s Run 2024 which is dubbed the Australian Army's most significant littoral training activity of the year," he added.

The PA deployed a 125-member contingent for the event.

Meanwhile, Army and Marines contingents from the United States, United Kingdom, and Timor Leste are also participating in the exercise which tests the concept of deployment of a Light Littoral Brigade on Australia's northern coast.

Littoral refers to areas near shores or a coastal region.

The PA delegation — led by Governance and Strategy Management Office (GSMO), 5th Infantry Division (GSMO, 5ID) Chief Col. Jesus C. Pagala — is comprised of selected General Staff and personnel of the 5th Infantry Division, Training and Doctrine Command, Army Artillery Regiment, Army Signal Regiment, Army Support Command, Special Forces Regiment (Airborne), First Scout Ranger Regiment, and Combat Engineer Regiment.

The Philippine and Australian governments signed the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) in May 2007 as the basis for defense cooperation between the two nations.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1229043