(18 Dec 2017) The first stage of the Military Operation on Urbanized Terrain (MOUT) program between the Philippine Marine Corps and Australian Defence Force, taking place in Cavite province, drew to a close on Monday.
The MOUT is part of an on-going effort to train Filipino troops in urban warfare following a disastrous siege by pro-Islamic State group militants on Marawi city in the southern Philippines this year.
Philippine troops accustomed to battling insurgents in jungle terrain struggled for five months to fight the hundreds of militants and snipers who took cover in buildings, mosques and houses in Marawi.
As part of the closing ceremony, the Filipino Marines demonstrated various military warfare operations that they have learned including close combat target engagement, sniping and counter-sniping, improvised explosive device encounters, and urban breaching, clearing and search.
Australian Ambassador Amanda Gorely mentioned in her speech at the MOUT closing ceremonies that she is happy that Australia continues to provide support to regional allies, as terrorism is not only a threat to the region but to the world. She also said that more training programs between the two countries will commence once again early next year.
As part of Filipino military tradition, the ceremonies ended with a lunch feast, locally called a 'boodle fight', in which everyone eats by hand.
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