US forces modify counterterror training

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The US Special Forces now training Filipino soldiers here have modified their program to include counterterrorism strategies to help trainees enhance their capabilities and skills, an American military official said yesterday.

About 102 Filipino soldiers from Central Mindanao are joining the team-level live-fire maneuvers now being conducted to develop trust in their fellow soldiers while conducting an attack or offensive operation.

The Filipino soldiers are part of the first batch of the six companies that will be trained under the Light Infantry Company (LIC).

Maj. William Medina, training director from the US 1st Special Forces Battalion, said the program modification was based on the actual needs of the troops in actual operations.

Medina, however, said that compared to the previous training conducted during the Bayanihan counterterrorism exercises, the changes were slight.

"The type of training is very applicable to any type of mission assigned to the light infantry company," Medina said when asked how the troops would cope with evolving terrorist threats.

Training for the first batch will last six weeks before another batch comes in. The program is expected to be completed before yearend, Medina said.

At least 40 members of the 1st Special Forces Battalion are conducting the training in Zamboanga City while 28 others who belong to the same unit are jointly conducting war exercises with Filipino troops in Carmen, Maguindanao.

During the live-fire training at the firing range in San Roque village here, US Special Forces trainers and Filipino trainees drenched by rain attacked a simulated target under cover-fire.

The troops went on a team level live-fire maneuver movement where an attacking team of soldiers was given cover-fire while advancing on an open field toward the simulated target.

"It was quite scary because we are using live ammunition. However, it boosted our confidence and trust in our fellow soldiers giving us the cover-fire that would keep enemies from hitting us while moving closer," a Filipino soldier said.

Medina said that training in the coming days will focus on night operations, specifically on the use of night vision goggles and company-size training.

New Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Generoso Senga said the training is very important to the military considering the evolving terrorist threats.

"We cannot afford to go on operation without improving the level of skills of our soldiers," Senga said.