Pacific Marines Stories

Lance Cpl. Jed A. Delos-Reyes (right), motor transportation operator, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, eats balut, a Filipino delicacy akin to a hard-boiled egg, at a local vendor's shop outside the camp at Crow Valley, during Exercise Balikatan 2012, April 15. Delos-Reyes was born and raised in the Philippines, but moved to Seaside, Calif., when he was a teenager. For the exercise, he provides security at Camp Palacio, Crow Valley, and helps break down language barriers between Philippine and U.S. service members. - Lance Cpl. Jed A. Delos-Reyes (right), motor transportation operator, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, eats balut, a Filipino delicacy akin to a hard-boiled egg, at a local vendor's shop outside the camp at Crow Valley, during Exercise Balikatan 2012, April 15. Delos-Reyes was born and raised in the Philippines, but moved to Seaside, Calif., when he was a teenager. For the exercise, he provides security at Camp Palacio, Crow Valley, and helps break down language barriers between Philippine and U.S. service members.

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

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."