The Philippine Army and the U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) wrapped up the eighth iteration Exercise Salaknib in a closing ceremony at the 7th Infantry Division (7ID) Parade Grounds in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija on April 4, 2023.
5th Infantry Division (5ID) Commander Maj. Gen. Audrey L. Pasia and Col. Michael A. Van Welie, Deputy Commander for Interoperability of the U.S. Army Pacific's 25th Infantry Division (25ID) served as the closing ceremony's guests of honor and speakers. The two senior leaders commended the 3,000 soldiers from the Philippine Army’s 5ID, 7ID, 1st Brigade Combat Team, and other enabler units; and USARPAC's 25ID who trained side by side in a spectrum of military operations in Salaknib's first phase.
"To our U.S. friends and counterparts, congratulations and thank you for sharing your time and skills with us during the almost three weeks of our combined training here at Fort Magsaysay. To the members of the Philippine Army who participated in Salaknib, congratulations also as we have also shared with our counterparts our skills in our own kind of operational environment," 5ID Commander Maj. Gen. Pasia said in his speech. "With the performance you’ve shown, I am confident that with the combat skills and knowledge we have acquired through this military exercise, we will be able to face the challenges that we may encounter in the future," 7ID Commander Maj. Gen. Andrew D. Costelo meanwhile said in his welcome remarks.
This year’s iteration of Salakib featured the live firing of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and the AT4 84 mm anti-tank weapon which provided an opportunity for Philippine Army soldiers to receive professional development and training on the use of these advanced weapons systems. The two ground forces will conduct Salaknib’s second phase on the second quarter of the year.
Salaknib—which means shield in Ilocano—is an annual Army-to-Army exercise geared at strengthening the interoperability of Filipino and American soldiers in various military operations. The combined exercise also reinforces the Philippine Army's pivot from internal security operations to territorial defense operations.
Photos by Corporal Josel P. Sucayan PA/ OACPA