ZAMBOANGA CITY - Three Marines with 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division were among 10 service members awarded certificates of commendation by top officials with the Philippine National Police in Zamboanga City.
Staff Sgt. Derrick Cordova, Cpl. Adam Toussaint and Cpl. Timothy Anderson, all currently assigned to Joint Special Operation Task Force-Philippines, were recently recognized for their volunteer work with the 9th Regional Special Training Unit, Philippine National Police, said a U.S. military statement.
The Marines helped conduct several subject matter expert exchanges with the unit in recent months.
During the exchanges, the group taught map reading, compass orientation, tactical combat casualty care and combat marksmanship to more than 400 Philippine National Police cadets.
The intent of conducting the exchanges with the police cadets was to familiarize the police force with military tactics similar to what the Armed Forces of the Philippines use, said U.S. Army Capt. Mike E. Cerniauskas, the Philippine National Police Task Force-Zamboanga action officer with JSOTF-P.
"JSOTF-P is here to help the challenges the Philippine government and security forces face," said Cerniauskas, who headed up the exchanges. "The (Philippine National Police) are being directed by an executive order to actively support the (Armed Forces of the Philippines) in counter insurgency. We're trying to help them work better together."
Cerniauskas, an Army National Guard soldier who serves with the 19th Special Forces Group and is a police officer in Seattle, said it is important for the two organizations to work together.
"The (Philippine National Police) doesn't have the arms the military here has, but they are dispersed more around the areas in which they both serve," he said.
Philippine Col. Jose Bayani C. Gucela, the training manager with 9th Regional Special Training Unit, said the academy's course criteria is primarily focused toward police tactics, but their new role in national security makes it important to cross train with military organizations.
"We obviously have our own training, but we realize these exchanges can help us counter insurgency, communicate better with the Philippine and U.S. militaries and ultimately win the war on terror in our country," Gucela said.
Toussaint, with 4th Marines, who serves as a Marine Security Element team leader, said that while his job is tiring, he does not mind using his time off to train with the cadets.
"We will train with these guys as much as we can while we are here in the Philippines," he said. "If it takes us losing sleep, we don't care because we know we are making a difference for them."
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