MANILA, Philippines -- During Maritime Training Activity (MTA) Sama Sama 2017 last week in Zambales, Philippines, U.S. Marines from 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, 3d Marine Division helped Philippine Marines to improve their basic urban warfare techniques based on feedback from Philippine military forces in Marawi.

These techniques included how to clear rooms, hallways, and multi-level buildings. The bilateral maritime exercise between U.S. and Philippine naval forces is designed to strengthen cooperation and interoperability between the nations’ armed forces.