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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Artillerymen as lifesavers: Balikatan opens combat casualty care drill in Tacloban

Artillerymen as lifesavers: Balikatan opens combat casualty care drill in Tacloban

Published Apr 22, 2026 10:55 am  |  Updated Apr 22, 2026 02:01 pm
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and United States Armed Forces personnel actively treat simulated casualties and execute critical care interventions during the Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) training on April 20, 2026 at Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City, Leyte as part of Exercise Balikatan. (Photo: AFP)
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and United States Armed Forces personnel actively treat simulated casualties and execute critical care interventions during the Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) training on April 20, 2026 at Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City, Leyte as part of Exercise Balikatan. (Photo: AFP)
Artillery troops trained to fire weapons are now being taught how to save lives on the battlefield as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and United States Armed Forces conducted a Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) training at Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City, Leyte.
The three-day activity, which concluded on Wednesday, April 22, was part of the 41st iteration of Exercise Balikatan, the annual joint military exercise between the AFP and US military, that has expanded in recent years to include humanitarian and lifesaving components alongside combat drills.
The AFP said the training brought together personnel from the Artillery Regiment of the Philippine Army and their counterparts from the United States Army, where soldiers more known for operating heavy weapons shifted focus to emergency care under fire.
The training “focused on enhancing lifesaving skills in combat environments, equipping troops with critical competencies to respond effectively to battlefield medical emergencies,” said Major Al Anthony Pueblas, chief of Balikatan’s combined joint information bureau (CJIB).
“The activity underscores a shared priority to ensure the protection and preservation of human life in all aspects of military operations,” he added.
A United States Armed Forces instructor engages Philippine counterparts in a casualty assessment discussion during the Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) training on April 20, 2026 at Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City, Leyte as part of Exercise Balikatan. (Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines)
A United States Armed Forces instructor engages Philippine counterparts in a casualty assessment discussion during the Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) training on April 20, 2026 at Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City, Leyte as part of Exercise Balikatan. (Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines)
A United States Armed Forces personnel leads an interactive casualty assessment session during the Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) training on April 20, 2026 at Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City, Leyte under Exercise Balikatan. (Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines)
A United States Armed Forces personnel leads an interactive casualty assessment session during the Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) training on April 20, 2026 at Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City, Leyte under Exercise Balikatan. (Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines)
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and United States Armed Forces personnel actively treat simulated casualties and execute critical care interventions during the Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) training on April 20, 2026 at Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City, Leyte as part of Exercise Balikatan. (Photo: AFP)
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and United States Armed Forces personnel actively treat simulated casualties and execute critical care interventions during the Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) training on April 20, 2026 at Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City, Leyte as part of Exercise Balikatan. (Photo: AFP)
Balikatan, which means “shoulder-to-shoulder,” has long centered on improving interoperability between Filipino and American forces.
In recent iterations, both sides have widened the scope to include disaster response and battlefield medicine as the Philippines faces both security threats and frequent natural disasters.
The TCCC drills simulated real combat scenarios where immediate care can mean the difference between life and death. Soldiers were trained to control bleeding, manage trauma, and evacuate wounded personnel under pressure.
“Through initiatives such as the TCCC training under Exercise Balikatan 41-26, the AFP and US Armed Forces reaffirm their commitment to developing more capable, adaptive, and people-centered military forces,” Pueblas said.
The AFP has been pushing to modernize not only its equipment but also its training systems and Pueblas said joint exercises like Balikatan serve as a platform for skills transfer and operational coordination with allies.

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Armed Forces of the Philippines United States Balikatan tactical combat casualty care Tacloban
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