Balikatan 33-2017 Underway in Philippines
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| U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific | April 24, 2017
Balikatan engineers build classrooms for Ormoc City
Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military engineers build a classroom during Balikatan 2017 in Ormoc City, Leyte, April 24, 2017. AFP and U.S. military engineers worked together to build a new classroom at Don Carlos Elementary School in Ormoc City. Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine military bilateral exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and counterterrorism.
Balikatan benefits Ormoc City children, community
Filipino children wave U.S. and Philippine flags during a groundbreaking ceremony for Balikatan 2017 in Ormoc City, Leyte, April 25, 2017. Leaders from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, U.S. military, and Ormoc City gathered to commemorate the beginning of engineering projects for new classrooms at Margen Elementary School in Ormoc City. Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine military bilateral exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and counterterrorism.
Balikatan benefits Ormoc City children, community
U.S. Air Force Maj. Scott Kelly speaks to local residents during a groundbreaking ceremony for Balikatan 2017 in Ormoc City, Leyte, April 25, 2017. Leaders from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, U.S. military, and Ormoc City gathered to commemorate the beginning of engineering projects for new classrooms at Margen Elementary School in Ormoc City. Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine military bilateral exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and counterterrorism.
Building a strong foundation through education at Don Carlos Elementary School during Balikatan 2017
U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Brook Klahn with 9th Engineer Support Battalion poses for a group photo with the local kids during Balikatan 2017 in Ormoc City, Leyte, April 24, 2017. Armed Forces of the Philippines along with U.S. military engineers worked together to build a new classroom at Don Carlos Elementary School in Ormoc City. Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine military bilateral exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and counterterrorism. The increased interoperability will enhance readiness of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities.
MANILA, Philippines -- Philippine and U.S. forces will kick off Exercise Balikatan 33-2017 through community engagement activities in Panay, Leyte, and Samar. U.S. and Filipino service members will work together to renovate five schools and conduct community medical engagements with local residents in the opening days of the 12-day military training exercise. Preliminary work on community infrastructure projects began mid-April.
Balikatan 33-2017 incorporates high value training events designed to enhance the capabilities of both AFP and U.S. armed forces. The training focuses on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in order to improve response effectiveness and speed in the event of natural disasters and other crises that endanger public health and safety.
This year’s exercise will have AFP and U.S. forces partnering to improve their counterterrorism capabilities in order to build safer communities and work towards the eradication of global terror networks. During Balikatan, U.S. and Philippine forces will conduct operational and counterterrorism training exercises in diverse areas of expertise, including live fire advanced marksmanship, counter improvised explosive devices (IED), maritime interdiction, and amphibious raids.
In this year’s Balikatan, the Philippines and the United States will continue to collaborate with regional partner nations: forces from Australia and Japan will participate in all major training events, and the AFP has invited military forces from several other nations to be part of the International Observers Program.