Kamandag Joint Exercises

U.S Marines with Assault Amphibious Vehicle Platoon, Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, the Philippine Marine Corps, and the Japan Ground Self Defense Force conduct a humanitarian aid amphibious landing during KAMANDAG 2 in Naval Education Training Command, Philippines, Oct. 6, 2018. KAMANDAG helps maintain a high level of readiness and improves bilateral military-to-military relations and capabilities.

An acronym for “Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma ng Dagat” or Cooperation of Warriors of the Sea, the Kamandag exercise is a major joint military drill between the Philippines and the US focused on developing counterterrorism and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities. Assault amphibious vehicles (AAVs) were launched from the US Navy’s USS Ashland and the Philippine Navy’s BRP Davao del Sur during the exercise at the Naval Education and Training Command in San Antonio, Zambales.

The purpose of this Philippines-led exercise is to conduct military exchanges between Philippine, Japanese and U.S. forces. Exercise training will enhance cooperation and interoperability between all three militaries as we continue to share information and provide support to each other through a range of military operations. KAMANDAG 2 will enable military-to-military exchanges focused on enhancing counter terrorism and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities, as well as humanitarian and civic assistance projects. Military service members from all three countries will work together in order to develop improved techniques and procedures, enabling them to learn and grow both tactically and culturally.
(U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Destiny Dempsey)