Armed Forces of the Philippines Maj. Gen. Marvin L Licudine, Philippines Exercise Director, and Lt. Gen. Michael S. Cederholm, U.S. Exercise Director representative and Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force, furl the exercise flag during the closing ceremony to conclude Exercise Balikatan 24 at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, May 10, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Pedro Tenorio) - Armed Forces of the Philippines Maj. Gen. Marvin L Licudine, Philippines Exercise Director, and Lt. Gen. Michael S. Cederholm, U.S. Exercise Director representative and Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force, furl the exercise flag during the closing ceremony to conclude Exercise Balikatan 24 at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, May 10, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Pedro Tenorio)

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 3rd Platoon, Alpha Battery, 1st Long Range Fires Battalion, 1st Multi-Domain Task Force fire an M142 High Mobility Rocket System during Exercise Balikatan 24 at Rizal, Philippines, May 2, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kyle Chan) - U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 3rd Platoon, Alpha Battery, 1st Long Range Fires Battalion, 1st Multi-Domain Task Force fire an M142 High Mobility Rocket System during Exercise Balikatan 24 at Rizal, Philippines, May 2, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kyle Chan)

U.S. Navy Ensign Brianna Curley, a public affairs officer with Expeditionary Strike Group 3, demonstrates a recently contructed bridge to cadets of the Philippine Army during a tour of Camp Agnew, Casigueran, Philippines in preparation for Balikatan 23 on April 3, 2023. Balikatan is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by SSgt. Danny Gonzalez) - U.S. Navy Ensign Brianna Curley, a public affairs officer with Expeditionary Strike Group 3, demonstrates a recently contructed bridge to cadets of the Philippine Army during a tour of Camp Agnew, Casigueran, Philippines in preparation for Balikatan 23 on April 3, 2023. Balikatan is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by SSgt. Danny Gonzalez)

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.