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| Photo Credit: Marine Corps Forces Pacific |
Manila, August 6, 2014 -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC) are conducting a Non-Lethal Weapons Executive Seminar (NOLES) 2014, in Manila, August 4-16.
NOLES is an annual field-training exercise and leadership seminar sponsored by MARFORPAC, and hosted by various nations throughout the Asia-Pacific. Now in its 13th iteration, this is the first time the Philippines has hosted NOLES, which promotes the effective use of non-lethal weapons as a tool to maintain order in low-intensity conflicts or civil unrest.
Non-lethal weapons are designed to incapacitate personnel and their equipment while minimizing fatalities, injuries, and undesired collateral damage to property. These capabilities, such as pressure point manipulation, Tasers, pepper spray, and firearms with rubber ammunition, can be used during rescue missions, civil disturbances, checkpoint or convoy operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, or in situations where civilians are used to mask a military attack.
In addition to participation from the Philippines and the United States, AFP has invited military leaders from 17 nations to join in the seminar.
The field training exercise (FTX) will consist of bilateral non-lethal weapons (NLW) training between U.S. Marines and Philippine armed forces. The FTX is a subject-matter expert exchange based on the U.S. Department of Defense’s Inter-service Non-lethal Individual Weapon Instructor Course curriculum, and host nation non-lethal training. It will culminate with a bilateral NLW capabilities demonstration for seminar attendees August 14.
After the NLW demonstration, attendees will complete the seminar portion of NOLES 2014, scheduled August 14-16. They will be exposed to numerous briefs from subject matter experts on the use of NLWs, laws of armed conflict and international human rights, and strategies for engaging media. - manila.usembassy
