Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija is currently serving as the venue for the first-ever partner training rotation between the 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade of the United States (US) and the Philippine Army.
Members of the 5th SFAB arrived last March to participate in the partner training rotation, and bilateral events taking place from April to June.
The US Embassy in Manila said that the 5th SFAB and the Philippine Army will conduct subject matter expert exchanges across the spectrum of military operations to include communications, logistics, and unit training management.
"We are very excited to train with our Philippine partners," said Capt. Oleg Sheynfeld, commander of the SFAB team in the Philippines.
"Throughout our rotation we will conduct subject matter expert exchanges to increase interoperability between our forces across the spectrum of military operations," Sheynfeld added.
The US embassy said that the training teams of the 5th SFAB comprise of about 20 highly-skilled, hand-selected soldiers capable of providing advanced training expertise in military specialties like communications, logistics, and medical aid.
The mission said that, at full capacity, the 5th SFAB operates with 820 professional advisors specially selected, trained, and equipped to advise, support, liaise, and assess with conventional partner security forces from the battalion to corps levels to build capacity in support of regional security.
The unit can employ up to 61 advisor teams to integrate with conventional foreign partner security forces when called upon.
The 5th SFAB team will partner with various units of the Philippine Army, including the 1st Brigade Combat Team, the 99th Infantry Battalion, Training and Doctrine Command, Support Command, and the Forward Service Support Unit.
The embassy said that the 5th SFAB team brings with them more than 100 years of military experience.
Col. Ramon Zagala, a spokesperson of the Philippine Army, said that the bilateral training between them and the US Army seeks to enhance the capabilities and interoperability of both forces in conventional, joint and combined operations.
Zagala added that the training promotes solidarity in the global fight against terror in all its forms.
The US embassy, meanwhile, assured that the U.S. Army Pacific and 5th SFAB remains committed to mitigating the spread of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
The mission said that the 5th SFAB team will adhere to the guidelines set by the Philippine government to combat COVID-19.
