Pacific Marines Stories

Charles W. Beadling, left, director of the Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine, greets Dante Lantin, (center) assistant secretary of the Philippine Department of Transportation and Communications, and Vincente F. Tomazar, director of Region 4A, Office of Civil Defense, during the Philippine Multi-sectoral Pandemic Disaster Exercise held in Makati, Philippines, Sept. 10. As with other bilateral exchanges, this event reinforces the mutual commitment shared between the Philippines and the U.S. to enhancing the effective response capabilities to regional threats. - Charles W. Beadling, left, director of the Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine, greets Dante Lantin, (center) assistant secretary of the Philippine Department of Transportation and Communications, and Vincente F. Tomazar, director of Region 4A, Office of Civil Defense, during the Philippine Multi-sectoral Pandemic Disaster Exercise held in Makati, Philippines, Sept. 10. As with other bilateral exchanges, this event reinforces the mutual commitment shared between the Philippines and the U.S. to enhancing the effective response capabilities to regional threats.

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

A Puerto Princesa Airport Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting team, along with a U.S. Marine ARFF team, put out a training fire on the PPA flight line in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Republic of the Philippines, April 22, 2012. The fire fighters trained together with U.S. Marines in support of Balikatan 2012 Task Force Palawan. BK12, in its 28th iteration, is a bilateral, joint exercise conducted annually between the Republic of the Philippines and U.S. military members. The U.S. Marines are with Aviation Operations Company, Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - A Puerto Princesa Airport Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting team, along with a U.S. Marine ARFF team, put out a training fire on the PPA flight line in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Republic of the Philippines, April 22, 2012. The fire fighters trained together with U.S. Marines in support of Balikatan 2012 Task Force Palawan. BK12, in its 28th iteration, is a bilateral, joint exercise conducted annually between the Republic of the Philippines and U.S. military members. The U.S. Marines are with Aviation Operations Company, Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Members of the official party stand shoulder-to-shoulder to illustrate the partnership that exists between the U.S. and Philippines during Exercise Balikatan 2012 at Camp Aguinaldo April 16. Balikatan, a Filipino word meaning “shoulder-to-shoulder,” is an annual bilateral exercise on its 28th iteration and the third humanitarian assistance/disaster relief focused exercise between the two nations. - Members of the official party stand shoulder-to-shoulder to illustrate the partnership that exists between the U.S. and Philippines during Exercise Balikatan 2012 at Camp Aguinaldo April 16. Balikatan, a Filipino word meaning “shoulder-to-shoulder,” is an annual bilateral exercise on its 28th iteration and the third humanitarian assistance/disaster relief focused exercise between the two nations.

Lance Cpl. Cory B. Smith, hygiene equipment operator, Combat Logistics Battalion 3, prepares to pump clean water into an M-149 water tank in Crow Valley, Philippines, for Exercise Balikatan 2012, April 11. He used a Tactical Water Purification System to turn raw river water into potable water for the camp. "It's crucial to have a sustainable amount of water at all times," Smith said. "Before we had to wait for water trucks to come in from the locals to start purifying water, and that wasn't enough to meet our camp's needs." - Lance Cpl. Cory B. Smith, hygiene equipment operator, Combat Logistics Battalion 3, prepares to pump clean water into an M-149 water tank in Crow Valley, Philippines, for Exercise Balikatan 2012, April 11. He used a Tactical Water Purification System to turn raw river water into potable water for the camp. "It's crucial to have a sustainable amount of water at all times," Smith said. "Before we had to wait for water trucks to come in from the locals to start purifying water, and that wasn't enough to meet our camp's needs."

An early morning view shows the progress of Camp Palacio, April 9. Marines and sailors from Combat Logistics Battalion 3 traveled to Crow Valley in the Philippines to provide support to Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, for Exercise Balikatan 2012. - An early morning view shows the progress of Camp Palacio, April 9. Marines and sailors from Combat Logistics Battalion 3 traveled to Crow Valley in the Philippines to provide support to Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, for Exercise Balikatan 2012.

Personnel from the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Experimentation Center train service members from the armed forces of the Philippines’ National Development Support Command on the operation of the Aspen 2000DM water purification system during exercise Balikatan 2011, held from March to April, at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines. - Personnel from the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Experimentation Center train service members from the armed forces of the Philippines’ National Development Support Command on the operation of the Aspen 2000DM water purification system during exercise Balikatan 2011, held from March to April, at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines.