RP-US military exercise resumes at Subic, Clark

Over 400 Filipino and American soldiers are set to embark on an 18-day joint military exercises beginning tomorrow.

A statement from the Philippine Air Force said 203 Filipino soldiers and 200 members of the United States Air Force 353rd Special Operations Group will take part in "Teak Piston 01-2" which will be held from Jan. 18 to Feb. 5 at the Air Force City, Clark Field, Pampanga and Subic Bay, Olongapo City.

The joint training will include lectures and actual scenario on air intercept, airbone operations, fast-rope exhibitions, C-130 operations and helicopter refueling.

A total of four Philippine aircrafts (C-130, two F-5/S211 and one B-205) and five American aircrafts (three MH 53J special operations helicopters and two MC-130P planes) will be used for the event.

Col. Diego Dasallas, overall exercise director, said participants will be stationed at the 600th Air Base Wing in Clark Field for the duration of the event.

Teak Piston 01-2 is part of the small-scale joint RP-US military exercise this year. The large scale Balikatan 2001 has been scheduled for April to May this year wherein thousands of Filipino and American troops would be participating.

Meanwhile, the Russian military’s second highest official is scheduled to make a four-day visit to the country on Jan. 22 to meet with his counterparts.

The scheduled visit of General Colonel Yuriy Baluyevskiy, chief of the Main Operations Directorate and First Deputy General Staff chief, Russian Federation Armed Forces (RFAF) was upon the invitation of Armed Forces chief Gen. Angelo Reyes.