Army soldiers train with US troops in Hawaii

MANILA, Philippines — Select soldiers of the Philippine Army are in Hawaii for a month-long series of training exercises with United States military forces.

Army spokesman Col. Xerxes Trinidad said troops of the 91st Brigade Reconnaissance Company (91BRC) of the 1st Brigade Combat Team teamed up with the 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade of the US Army and 2-14 Cavalry Squadron, 25th Infantry Division, US Army for a recon exercise in the jungles of Oahu’s East Range on Monday.

The training is part of the ongoing Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Capability (JPMRC) Exercise 23-01 being conducted by the US Army’s 25th Infantry Division, US joint forces and allied armies across the Hawaiian archipelago.

Trinidad said the month-long training exercise builds upon shared tactics, techniques and procedures that enhance readiness and response capabilities for real-world crisis and contingencies.

He added that JPMRC 23-01 also bolsters the defense relationship between the Philippines and the US, fosters greater Army-to-Army interoperability and increases the defense readiness of participating forces.

Last week, Trinidad announced that 91BRC participated in the final mission briefing that kicked off the JPMRC 23-01 into high gear at the Schofield Barracks in Oahu, Hawaii.

Second Infantry Brigade Combat Team commander Lt. Col. David Forsha of the US Army’s 25th Infantry Division issued the operational order that laid out the unit mission and the commander’s intent to subordinate units and the 91BRC commanding officer 1st Lieutenant Junrey Bordado.

Trinidad said Bordado led the company’s final mission planning that laid the direction for drills scheduled on the East Range and other areas in Oahu.

Philippine Army head of delegation Col. Emmanuel Cabasan and the Exercise Directorate joined the 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade’s Maneuver Advisor Team during the 91BRC mission brief.