Philippine Army and U.S. Army Pacific Civil-Military Operations (CMO) professionals shared knowledge and expertise in Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs) held at the 7th CMO Battalion’s headquarters in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija and the 5th Infantry Division’s headquarters in Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Upi, Gamu, Isabela on March 27, 2023.
The simultaneous CMO SMEEs are part of the ongoing Exercise Salaknib which is geared at deepening interoperability between the two land forces in a spectrum of military operations. The CMO SMEEs focus on enhancing the capabilities of the Philippine Army and the US Army Pacific in the conduct of Public Affairs, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations in external defense, with the intent of learning from each others’ techniques, tactics, and procedures.
The CMO SMEEs also intend to upgrade and sustain the Philippine Army’s CMO and community-organizing capabilities through bilateral training exercise with armies of allied countries such as the United States.
Salaknib (shield in Ilocano) is an annual Army-to-Army exercise geared at strengthening the interoperability of Filipino and American soldiers in a spectrum of military operations.
Photos from 7th Infantry Division and 5th Infantry Division, Philippine Army