RP, US Marines Finish Month-Long Markmanship Training In Basilan Island

Philippine Marines pose with their American counterparts in Tabiawan,village in Isabela City in Basilan province during the closing ceremony of a month-long Joint Expertise Exchange Training. Also in the photo are Lt. Charlie Loya (right), team leader of the U.S. marine contingent and Col. Ramiro Alivio, commander of the 1st Marine Brigade. (Photo contributed by Dave Malcampo, PIA Western Mindanao)

BASILAN ISLAND (Mindanao Examiner / 02 Jun) – Philippine and American Marines finished a month-long joint weapons and counter terrorism training in the southern island of Basilan.

The Philippine Information Agency said the recent training, which focused on weapons, marksmanship, tactics and counter terrorism strategies, were conducted by the Philippines’ 1st Marine Brigade and the U.S. Marine Special Operations Company “A” (MARSOC).

The training team was composed of Lt. Col. Maximo Balisteros, Operations Officer of the 1st Marine Brigade; Maj. Gregorio Hernandez, Operations & Training Officer of the 6th Marine Battalion; and Lt. Charlie Loya, 2nd Platoon Commander of the Alpha Company, Marine Special Operative Command, it said.

“An officer and 79 enlisted personnel from the Philippine Marines joined the training. From the US Marines, 1 officer and 24 enlisted personnel participated,” PIA said.

The exercise was dubbed Joint Expertise Exchange Training.

Colonel Ramiro Alivio, commander of the 1st Marine Brigade, said the training provided enhanced capabilities of both Filipino and American soldiers in anti-terrorism warfare. (Mindanao Examiner News Service)