The first phase of the Philippines-Australia Army to Army Exercise ended and its second bout commenced in a joint ceremony held here on Monday, June 5, 2023.

The Philippines-Australia bilateral military exercise dubbed as “Kasangga” 2023-02 aims to elevate the skill level of both armies in jungle and urban operations, breaching operations, tactical casualty care, jungle survival training, as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations, and improve the interoperability of 2ID and Australia Defense Force (ADF) troops. It also includes sharing of actual operational experiences of both forces in countering and defeating terrorist groups.

In his remarks, Lt. Gen. Brawner highlighted the importance of Exercise "Kasangga" in bolstering the interoperability of Filipino and Australian troops, noting that it is the realization of their shared belief in the importance of training, readiness, and interoperability with partners, particularly in the context of the current international security environment.

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Capulong said that the joint exercise has been successful as the course objectives have been met, adding that the learnings from the two-week event will serve as the foundation for even greater cooperation in the future. 

”Kasangga" has been a platform for us to enhance our capabilities, exchange knowledge, and refine our techniques. It has provided us with an opportunity to learn from one another, to understand different perspectives, and to strengthen our interoperability," Capulong said.

Aside from the said activity, Lt. Gen. Brawner Jr. also graced the inauguration of the newly renovated 2ID Conference Room and 2ID Pistol Range and the newly constructed A-House. (2ID)