The Marine Corps announced on the 9th that it participated in the multinational joint exercise, KAMANDAG 2025, held in the Philippines from the 26th of last month to the 6th of this month.
KAMANDAG is a multinational joint exercise conducted since 2017 by the United States and Philippine Marine Corps to enhance counterterrorism capabilities and cultivate coastal defense and combat skills through cooperation among allied countries.
The Korean Marine Corps joined in 2022 upon the proposal of the United States and Philippine Marine Corps in 2021, and since then, a company-sized unit has participated in the exercise annually.
The Korean Marine Corps focused on improving its combined operation capabilities throughout the exercise by forming a joint command post with the U.S. and Philippine Marine Corps and conducting staff exercises.
This year, it participated by organizing into a rifle company and recon team. The rifle company conducted chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) training and urban area combat training with major participating countries, while the recon team concentrated on exchanging combat skills through jungle and maritime reconnaissance.
Additionally, training was conducted to improve the operation and maintenance capabilities of the Korean-style amphibious assault vehicles introduced and operated by the Philippine military, which procured eight units in 2016.
Major Bong Sun-yong, the head of the Korean Marine Corps Training Regiment, said, “We will continue to do our best to become a Marine Corps capable of carrying out missions in any environment, regardless of domestic or international regions.”