Sharing skills in the Philippines

A series of training activities are under way in the Philippines, aiming to strengthen interoperability between the Australian Defence Force and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

CAPTION: Australian Army soldier Corporal Connor McLeod explains to members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines how to attach a detonator to a breaching charge in the Philippines. Story by Captain Joanne Leca. Photo by Corporal Julia Whitwell.

Under the Joint Australian Training Team-Philippines (JATT-P), soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment and 20th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, have formed the Land Mobile Training Team 4 (LMTT 4).

The LMTT spent two months learning and teaching over 200 AFP soldiers from the First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR) close combat shooting, urban operations, tactics, techniques and procedures, tactical care of combat causality and urban explosive breaching.

The officer in charge for urban demolitions LMTT-4, Lieutenant Paul Argaet, said the aim of these training serials was to sharpen the training audience and enable the AFP to conduct further training.

“The training audience has primarily been officers, senior non-commissioned officers and team leaders, these representatives are able to train and then deliver the training and further increase their military’s capability,” Lieutenant Argaet said.

He said even with a slight language barrier the training audience were receptive and eager to participate in the serials.

CAPTION: Australian Army soldiers oversee an urban clearance training serial, including a door breach. Photo by Corporal Julia Whitwell.

“We have tailored our training to involve less theory and technical terms with a more practical approach, which has been well received,” Lieutenant Argaet said.

“Our experiences with the AFP, particularly with the FSRR, have been really positive, they’re always very friendly and receptive of the training we’re conducting.”

JATT-P is a program of training teams supported across ADF services, delivering tailored training serials under the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Program – Philippines.

Officer Commanding LMTT-4 Major Sam Brumley said the interaction between the two nations throughout the program was exemplary.

“We’ve been working with the FSRR for the last two months. Throughout this period the relationship with them has been outstanding,” Major Brumley said.

“The AFP have been very welcoming to us – I believe the relationship we’ve established here is long-lasting.

“For me, a personal highlight has been the close interoperability between our soldiers.”

CAPTION: Australian Army soldiers mentor members of the AFP in door breaches and demolitions. Photo by Corporal Julia Whitwell.

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