Salaknib 2026: Task Force Saber Conducts Joint Air Assault on Calayan Island

Video by Sgt. Olivia Cowart

Download

25th Combat Aviation Brigade

June 14, 2026 | 1:11

U.S. Army Capt. Justin Mettling, an AH-64 Apache aviation and assistant operations officer assigned to Task Force Saber, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, talks about the air assault mission, a part of Operational Maneuver. U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Mobile Brigade, alongside Philippine Army 54th Infantry Battalion, 5th Infantry Division, and Royal Australian Regiment 5th/7th Battalions, conducted this joint mission as part of Exercise Salaknib 2026 at Cagayan North International Airport, Lal-lo, and Calayan Island, Philippines, on June 15, 2026. Exercise Salaknib highlights the enduring U.S.-Philippine alliance, enhancing interoperability and readiness through combined arms operations, multi-domain integration, and humanitarian assistance efforts for regional stability. (U.S. Army video by Sgt. Olivia Cowart) (Envato production music via Defense Media Activity, U.S. Army Pacific music license)

Up Next

Now Playing

Salaknib 2026: Task Force Saber Conducts Joint Air Assault on Calayan Island

Community Celebration Marks Completion of Engineering and Medical Engagements at Igam Barracks During Tamiok Strike 26
July 30, 2026 — LAE, Papua New Guinea – A closing ceremony at Igam Barracks Primary School marked the completion of the Engineer Civic Action Project (ENCAP) and health engagement, highlighting both tangible improvements and the strengthened relationship between U.S. Army Soldiers, the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF), and the local community during Exercise Tamiok Strike 26... MORE

Sgt. David Burgess, assigned to the 844th Engineer Battalion, poses with students from Igam Barracks Primary School during the closing ceremony for the ENCAP and health engagement at Igam Barracks in Lae, Papua New Guinea, July 22, 2026.

Seeing Further, Striking Deeper: Unpacking the Army’s Launched Effects Portfolio
July 28, 2026 — FORT IRWIN, Calif.— To secure a decisive warfighting advantage, Army Aviation must project power beyond the enemy's threat ring. By penetrating and defeating an adversary's Integrated Air Defense Systems (IADS) from a standoff distance, Army Aviation opens critical corridors that allow the subsequent infiltration of joint systems, precision fires, and other manned and unmanned assets... MORE

U.S. Army UH-64 Blackhawk helicopter fires off a LEDGR/UVC during Project Convergence-Capstone 6 (PCC6) at Fort Irwin, California, July 20, 2026.

Operation Pathways Planners Synchronize Future Campaign Across the Indo-Pacific
July 28, 2026 — FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii — More than 200 military planners from over 70 commands, joint organizations, allied nations, and State Partnership Program participants gathered for U.S. Army Pacific's Summer Pathways Planning and Coordination Conference (P2C2), July 20–24, 2026, to synchronize future operations across the Indo-Pacific... MORE

More than 200 military planners from over 70 commands, joint organizations, allied nations, and State Partnership Program participants gathered for U.S. Army Pacific's Summer Pathways Planning and Coordination Conference (P2C2), July 20–24, 2026, to synchronize future operations across the Indo-Pacific.

Tropic Lightning, Rainbow Warriors Forge Teamwork on Schofield Barracks
July 27, 2026 — SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii – Soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division and student-athletes from the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warrior football team came together on July 24, 2026, for a day of shared challenges designed to build teamwork and strengthen community bonds. The event, hosted at Schofield Barracks, saw players and Soldiers tackling military obstacle courses and leadership challenges side by side... MORE

Soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division and players from the University of Hawaii football team pose for a group photo at Weyand Field on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, July 24, 2026.

11th Airborne Squad Claims "Best Squad" Title
July 26, 2026 — JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. — The 11th Airborne Division has claimed the title of having U.S. Army Pacific’s (USARPAC) Best Squad after an intense five-day competition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., held July 20-24... MORE

The squad representing the 11th Airborne Division stands in front of I Corps headquarters after winning the U.S. Army Pacific Best Squad Competition, July 24, 2026, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Kylee Marshall)

Pacific Friendship 2026 concludes in Vietnam, strengthening US-Vietnam humanitarian partnership
July 23, 2026 — QUANG TRI, Vietnam — U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) and Quang Tri Province concluded Pacific Friendship (PF26) on July 6, following more than two weeks of combined medical, disaster management, engineering, and community outreach engagements conducted alongside the U.S. Navy-led Pacific Partnership 2026 (PP26)... MORE

Pacific Friendship 2026 (PF26) and Pacific Partnership 2026 (PP26) leadership and medical personnel, members of the Vietnam People’s Armed Forces, Vietnamese civilian medical professionals, and representatives from the Canadian Armed Forces and German Armed Forces pose for a group photo following a PF26-led mass casualty (MASCAL) drill aboard U.S. Army Runnymede-class landing craft utility ship USAV Paulus Hook (LCU 2033) at Hon La Port in Quang Tri, Vietnam, July 2, 2026.

Tags

Up Next

2ID/RUCD Soldiers Conduct First Attack Drone Liv...

Land Forces Dialogue Strengthens Indo-Pacific Pa...

Chief Warrant Officer Spearheads Army-Industry C...

Strategic Engagement in Timor-Leste: USARPAC Str...