Australian Army instructors from Combat Training Centre Jungle Training Wing teamed up with Armed Forces of the Philippines marines to run jungle tactics and survival lessons for troops operating near Oyster Bay, Palawan, during Exercise Balikatan.
Platoons of soldiers from Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and United States learned survival skills such as trapping and jungle cooking, ambush and patrolling tactics.
It was the first time the exercise had included the five-day jungle warfare training package, which culminated in a combat live-fire practice.
It was Gunner Aiden Zohn's first time training in the jungle.
"We've been learning a lot of survival techniques. I really liked the lessons on finding drinkable water," the 8th/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, forward observer said.
"You've got to look for bamboo, coconuts and sugarcane."
Gunner Zohn was part of a combined Australia and New Zealand combat team led by soldiers from 5th/7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment.
They trained with marines from the Armed Forces of the Philippines who specialise in reconnaissance.
"The Filipino force recon marines were excellent. They were knowledgeable and approachable," Gunner Zohn said.
Jungle Training Wing second in command Captain Brett Harmsworth said the Filipino soldiers helped Australian, New Zealand and United States soldiers adapt to the challenging jungle conditions.
"We've leveraged the local knowledge of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and combined it with our jungle survival tactics, anchoring it to the expertise the Filipinos have in this location," Captain Harmsworth said.
Jungle Training Wing has multiple training teams that travel overseas for activities involving partner nations.
Instructors support Rifle Company Butterworth in Malaysia, junior officer combat instructor training in Indonesia, and various joint training team activities in the Philippines, such as Exercise Balikatan - the largest annual warfighting exercise between the Philippines and the United States.
Australia has participated since 2014.
