From left, Armed Forces of the Philippines Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, commander, Southern Luzon Command, and Philippine Exercise Co-Director; Undersecretary Cardozo M. Luna, Undersecretary of the Department of National Defense; Sung Y. Kim, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines; Armed Forces of the Philippines Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, Jr., AFP Chief of Staff; and U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Christopher A. McPhillips, commanding general, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade stand shoulder-to-shoulder at Tejeros Hall, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Manila, Philippines, April 1, 2019. The ceremony represented the official commencement of Balikatan 2019 and the continued partnership between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines. Balikatan 19, in its 35th iteration, is an annual U.S.-Philippine military training focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism, and other combined military operations held from April 1 to April 12. - From left, Armed Forces of the Philippines Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, commander, Southern Luzon Command, and Philippine Exercise Co-Director; Undersecretary Cardozo M. Luna, Undersecretary of the Department of National Defense; Sung Y. Kim, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines; Armed Forces of the Philippines Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, Jr., AFP Chief of Staff; and U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Christopher A. McPhillips, commanding general, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade stand shoulder-to-shoulder at Tejeros Hall, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Manila, Philippines, April 1, 2019. The ceremony represented the official commencement of Balikatan 2019 and the continued partnership between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines. Balikatan 19, in its 35th iteration, is an annual U.S.-Philippine military training focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism, and other combined military operations held from April 1 to April 12.

Philippine Soldiers and U.S. service members hosted a disaster preparedness symposium during Balikatan 2017 in Ormoc City, Leyte, May 2, 2017. The Armed Forces of the Philippines along with representatives from Japan Self-Defense Force, Australian Defense Force, and U.S. military worked with a local barangay to improve health conditions and disaster preparedness. Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine bilateral military exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism, and other combined military operations. - Philippine Soldiers and U.S. service members hosted a disaster preparedness symposium during Balikatan 2017 in Ormoc City, Leyte, May 2, 2017. The Armed Forces of the Philippines along with representatives from Japan Self-Defense Force, Australian Defense Force, and U.S. military worked with a local barangay to improve health conditions and disaster preparedness. Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine bilateral military exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism, and other combined military operations.

Philippine and U.S. service members detonate explosives during an underwater construction demolition dive in support of Balikatan 2017 at Ipil Port in Ormoc City, Leyte, May 10, 2017. The demolition training prepares the U.S. military and Armed Forces of the Philippines to clear debris in ports and open up supply lines for victims of natural disasters and crises. Underwater demolition can help Philippine and U.S. forces provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations from the sea to remote areas of the Philippines. - Philippine and U.S. service members detonate explosives during an underwater construction demolition dive in support of Balikatan 2017 at Ipil Port in Ormoc City, Leyte, May 10, 2017. The demolition training prepares the U.S. military and Armed Forces of the Philippines to clear debris in ports and open up supply lines for victims of natural disasters and crises. Underwater demolition can help Philippine and U.S. forces provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations from the sea to remote areas of the Philippines.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Lt. Gen. Oscar T. Lactao, left, The Honorable Ambassador Sung Y. Kim, Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, Under Secretary Ariel Y. Abadilla, AFP Gen. Edruardo M. Año, and U.S. Marine Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson stand “shoulder-to-shoulder” and shake hands during the opening ceremony for Balikatan 2017 at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, May 8, 2017. Lactao is the Philippine exercise director for Balikatan. Kim is the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines. Lorenzana is the Philippine Secretary of National Defense. Abadilla is the Philippine Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns. Año is the Chief of Staff of the AFP. Nicholson is the commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force. Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine bilateral military exercise focused on a variety of missions including humanitarian and disaster relief, counterterrorism, and other combined military operations. - Armed Forces of the Philippines Lt. Gen. Oscar T. Lactao, left, The Honorable Ambassador Sung Y. Kim, Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, Under Secretary Ariel Y. Abadilla, AFP Gen. Edruardo M. Año, and U.S. Marine Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson stand “shoulder-to-shoulder” and shake hands during the opening ceremony for Balikatan 2017 at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, May 8, 2017. Lactao is the Philippine exercise director for Balikatan. Kim is the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines. Lorenzana is the Philippine Secretary of National Defense. Abadilla is the Philippine Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns. Año is the Chief of Staff of the AFP. Nicholson is the commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force. Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine bilateral military exercise focused on a variety of missions including humanitarian and disaster relief, counterterrorism, and other combined military operations.

Australian Army Spr. Joshua Park, left, and Cpl. Steven Mlinaric pose for a photo during Balikatan 2017 in Ormoc City, Leyte, April 29, 2017. Australian Soldiers, U.S. service members, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines worked together to build new classrooms at Margen Elementary School in Ormoc City. Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine bilateral military exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism and other combined military operations. - Australian Army Spr. Joshua Park, left, and Cpl. Steven Mlinaric pose for a photo during Balikatan 2017 in Ormoc City, Leyte, April 29, 2017. Australian Soldiers, U.S. service members, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines worked together to build new classrooms at Margen Elementary School in Ormoc City. Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine bilateral military exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism and other combined military operations.

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. - 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.

U.S. Soldiers guide a UH-60 Black Hawk off USNS Fisher (T-AKR 301) during port operations in support of Balikatan 2017 at Subic Bay, Zambales, May 1, 2017. Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine bilateral military exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism, and other combined military operations. - U.S. Soldiers guide a UH-60 Black Hawk off USNS Fisher (T-AKR 301) during port operations in support of Balikatan 2017 at Subic Bay, Zambales, May 1, 2017. Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine bilateral military exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism, and other combined military operations.

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Alexander Davis adjusts a satellite communication antenna during Balikatan 2017 at Camp Lapulapu, Cebu, April 25, 2017. Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine military bilateral exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and counterterrorism. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Corey Pettis) - U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Alexander Davis adjusts a satellite communication antenna during Balikatan 2017 at Camp Lapulapu, Cebu, April 25, 2017. Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine military bilateral exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and counterterrorism. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Corey Pettis)

U.S. Marines from 3D Marine Expeditionary Brigade, III Marine Expeditionary Force, offloaded a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle pier-side from the USNS 1st Lt. Jack Lummus, March 21, during annual exercise Freedom Banner 2013 Maritime Prepositioning Force offload in Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines. More than 270 Marine Corps tactical vehicles and amphibious assault vehicles were offloaded in support of FB13 and Balikatan 2013, an annual bilateral exercise that takes place in the Philippines. The MPF program supports global positioning of Marine Air-Ground Task Force and naval equipment and supplies in response to a range of military operations from the quick and rapid buildup of combat power to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. - U.S. Marines from 3D Marine Expeditionary Brigade, III Marine Expeditionary Force, offloaded a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle pier-side from the USNS 1st Lt. Jack Lummus, March 21, during annual exercise Freedom Banner 2013 Maritime Prepositioning Force offload in Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines. More than 270 Marine Corps tactical vehicles and amphibious assault vehicles were offloaded in support of FB13 and Balikatan 2013, an annual bilateral exercise that takes place in the Philippines. The MPF program supports global positioning of Marine Air-Ground Task Force and naval equipment and supplies in response to a range of military operations from the quick and rapid buildup of combat power to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Jacob Laurel, 9, swings on a tire recently hung by Armed Forces of the Philippines and U. S. service members in his village of Santa Juliana, April 23. Together with villagers and Armed Forces of the Philippines service members, Marines repaired two water pumps, hung tire swings in common areas, renovated the schoolhouse and donated books and school supplies to children in need during Exercise Balikatan 2012. Balikatan, which means "shoulder to shoulder" in Filipino, is an annual training event aimed at improving combined planning, combat readiness, humanitarian assistance and interoperability between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and United States - Jacob Laurel, 9, swings on a tire recently hung by Armed Forces of the Philippines and U. S. service members in his village of Santa Juliana, April 23. Together with villagers and Armed Forces of the Philippines service members, Marines repaired two water pumps, hung tire swings in common areas, renovated the schoolhouse and donated books and school supplies to children in need during Exercise Balikatan 2012. Balikatan, which means "shoulder to shoulder" in Filipino, is an annual training event aimed at improving combined planning, combat readiness, humanitarian assistance and interoperability between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and United States