PH Army Sends Observers to 2019 Int’l Army Games in Russia

Officials of the Higher Military Engineering Command School in Tyumen welcome Major General Reynaldo Aquino (leftmost) at the exercise grounds where various competitions of the International Army Games were held. (Moscow PE photo)

MOSCOW 19 September 2019 — Officials from the Philippine Army observed various competitions staged during the recently-held 2019 International Army Games on 03-25 August 2019.

The Philippine delegation, headed by Vice Commander Major General Reynaldo Aquino, witnessed the competitions on Tank Biathlon and True Friend (Dog Handlers Competition) at the Patriot Park in Kubinka, Emergency Rescue Response at the Joint Regional Training Center in Sergiev Posad, and the Engineering Formula and Safe Route at the Higher Military Engineering Command School in Tyumen.

Major General Aquino was accompanied by Philippine Embassy in Moscow Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Colonel Dennis Pastor and Major Jim Lou Liberato.

More than 200 teams from 25 countries, including Russia, Belarus, China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Iran, participated in various competitions, and around 5,000 servicemen showcased their skills in different “military sports” competitions using over 1,200 military vehicles and equipment.

The Philippine Army team assessed the potential of sending a delegation to participate in the 2020 International Army Games, taking into consideration the vehicles and equipment used, as well as the applicability of the skills needed in the games in the Philippine setting.

Major General Aquino also met with Ambassador to Russia Carlos D. Sorreta to discuss succeeding steps in further enhancing the defense relations between the Philippines and Russia, particularly between the Philippine Army and its counterpart, the Russian Ground Forces.

“The participation of the Philippine Army in the games next year will not only test the combat readiness of the engineering units of the Philippine Army, but will also help promote camaraderie with members of armies of other participant-countries”, Ambassador Sorreta said. END

The Philippine observers to the 2019 International Army Games. From left:  Philippine Army Major Jim Lou Liberato, Major General Aquino, Embassy Interpreter Natalia Krylova, and Philippine Embassy in Moscow Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Colonel Dennis Pastor. (Moscow PE photo)

Major General Aquino (left) meets with Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta (right) to discuss steps in further enhancing the relations between the Philippine Army and the Russian Ground Forces. (Moscow PE photo)

For more information, visit https://www.moscowpe.dfa.gov.ph, or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinRussia/ or https://twitter.com/phlinrussia