US Army soldier demonstrates casualty inspection at Exercise Salaknib 2026

5 articles · Updated · DVIDS · Apr 27

The training took place on 8 April at Fort Magsaysay in the Philippines, involving a soldier from 2nd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division.
The casualty inspection drill was part of foundational training alongside Philippine soldiers, focusing on jungle warfighting techniques and practical battlefield skills.
Salaknib is an annual US-Philippine exercise aimed at improving interoperability, increasing lethality and strengthening military ties between partner nations.

As the U.S. revives jungle training, is it preparing for past wars or the future fight for Indo-Pacific islands?

Can brigade-level drills truly prepare allies for large-scale combat, or is the U.S. military's core training doctrine flawed?

Do joint exercises reassure the Philippines, or do they risk entangling the nation in a potential U.S.-China conflict?