Philippine and US Marine Corps to Collaborate in ‘Kamandag’ Exercises

LUZON, PHILIPPINES — Military interoperability between Philippine and United States Marine Corps is set to be strengthened as approximately 2,600 personnel from both nations participate in the “Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma ng Dagat” (Kamandag) exercises slated for November 9-17.

According to Philippines News Agency, Brig. Gen. Jimmy Larida, deputy commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps and exercise director of “Kamandag,” the bilateral drills will involve 1,732 members of the Filipino Marine Corps and 902 of their US counterparts. The exercises will also see participation from international forces, with 57 personnel from the Republic of Korea Marine Corps and 50 from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. In the previous year, Korean and Japanese forces had limited their roles to observation. This year’s “Kamandag” will also mark the inaugural observational involvement of eight personnel from the United Kingdom.

Larida emphasized that “Kamandag” seeks to reinforce emerging military tactics and strengthen relationships, focusing on developing interoperability across the forces of the Philippines, the United States, and allies from Japan, Korea, and the UK. The exercises are distributed across various strategic locations in Luzon and Mindanao, aiming to bolster cooperative capabilities and tactical operation conduct among the forces. Furthermore, the drills are designed to improve proficiency in special operations, coastal defense, humanitarian assistance, disaster response, CBRN defense, and to enhance the skills of public affairs and information operations specialists.