FORT BONIFACIO, Philippines -- Service members from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and U.S. Marines from 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force, began the field training exercise portion of the Non-Lethal Weapons Executive Seminar 2014, Aug. 4.
This year marks the 13th iteration of this event, which is held annually by U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, and consists of a field-training exercise and a leadership seminar with participants from 19 nations. For the first time, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is hosting NOLES, which promotes awareness and effective use of non-lethal weapons to maintain order in low-intensity conflicts or civil unrest.
“The skills we will be teaching over the next two weeks will be valuable tools they will be able to deploy whether it is garrison work or real life situations,” said 1st Lt. Daniel J. Matthews, executive officer of 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III MEF and officer-in-charge of the field training exercise during NOLES 2014.
Service members participating will receive training in pressure point manipulations, proper use of Tasers, oleoresin capsicum spray, and using weapons with rubber ammunition. The tactics and NLW used in the exercise are designed to incapacitate personnel to keep fatalities, injuries and collateral damage to property at a minimum.
This training can be used in instances of civil disturbance, rescue missions, checkpoint or convoy operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations or when civilians are being used to mask a military attack. NLWs and tactics offer forces multiple options while operating in a full spectrum of warfare. “Most importantly this allows you to accomplish the mission, while preserving many things at play,” said Matthews.
Training is scheduled from August 4 though the 14, with the executive seminar taking place from August 14-16.