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

Nathaniel T. Rodriguez asks U.S. air operation Marines questions about their air traffic control equipment on Antonio Bautista Air Base on Puerto Princesa April 17, 2012. The career counterparts are jointly conducting air traffic control for the duration of Balikatan 2012 (BK12) Task Force Palawan. BK12 is a bilateral, joint exercise conducted annually between the U.S. and the Republic of the Philippines. This year marks the 28th iteration of the nations' exercise. - Nathaniel T. Rodriguez asks U.S. air operation Marines questions about their air traffic control equipment on Antonio Bautista Air Base on Puerto Princesa April 17, 2012. The career counterparts are jointly conducting air traffic control for the duration of Balikatan 2012 (BK12) Task Force Palawan. BK12 is a bilateral, joint exercise conducted annually between the U.S. and the Republic of the Philippines. This year marks the 28th iteration of the nations' exercise.

Philippine Airmen from 5717 Communication Squadron and U.S. sailors from Marine Wing Support Group 17 run together during Exercise Balikatan 2012 (BK12) April 17, 2012 at the Antonio Bautista Air Base in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Republic of the Philippines. BK12, in its 28th iteration, is an annual bilateral training exercise between the Republic of the Philippines and U.S. military members designed to build joint planning, contingency, humanitarian and disaster relief capabilities. The 5717 Communication Squadron is part of the Philippine Air Force. MWSG-17 is part of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Philippine Airmen from 5717 Communication Squadron and U.S. sailors from Marine Wing Support Group 17 run together during Exercise Balikatan 2012 (BK12) April 17, 2012 at the Antonio Bautista Air Base in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Republic of the Philippines. BK12, in its 28th iteration, is an annual bilateral training exercise between the Republic of the Philippines and U.S. military members designed to build joint planning, contingency, humanitarian and disaster relief capabilities. The 5717 Communication Squadron is part of the Philippine Air Force. MWSG-17 is part of 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.

Standing from left, Airman 1st Class Roman P. Dial, Airman 1st Class Tom Israel N. Navor, Airman 1st Class Anthony J. Jamolin, Tech. Sgt. Federico C. Samson, Airman 1st Class Pater J. V. Senorin, and 1st Lt. Aminkadra B. Abdula point at and discuss a mock convoy route during a convoy operations class on Antonio Bautista Air Base in Puerto Princesa, April 16, 2012 for Exercise Balikatan 2012. The class was instructed by U.S. Marine Capt. Max Foti and U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Jorge Gonzalezmancha from Marine Wing Support Squadron 172. BK12, in its 28th iteration, is a bilateral, joint exercise conducted annually between the U.S. and the Republic of the Philippines. MWSS-172 is with Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Standing from left, Airman 1st Class Roman P. Dial, Airman 1st Class Tom Israel N. Navor, Airman 1st Class Anthony J. Jamolin, Tech. Sgt. Federico C. Samson, Airman 1st Class Pater J. V. Senorin, and 1st Lt. Aminkadra B. Abdula point at and discuss a mock convoy route during a convoy operations class on Antonio Bautista Air Base in Puerto Princesa, April 16, 2012 for Exercise Balikatan 2012. The class was instructed by U.S. Marine Capt. Max Foti and U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Jorge Gonzalezmancha from Marine Wing Support Squadron 172. BK12, in its 28th iteration, is a bilateral, joint exercise conducted annually between the U.S. and the Republic of the Philippines. MWSS-172 is with Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Air Force Staff Sgt. Michle P. Balberan, a member of 5711 Security Force Squadron, and U.S. Marine Sgt. Paul Mead, a member of Marine Wing Support Squadron 172's Quick Reaction Force, look at a fake improvised explosive device during a training evolution as part of Exercise Balikatan 2012 (BK12) on April 13, 2012 at the AFP's Western Command Base in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Republic of the Philippines. BK12, in its 28th iteration, is an annual bilateral training exercise between the Republic of the Philippines and U.S. military members designed to build joint planning, contingency, humanitarian and disaster relief capabilities. MWSS-172 is part of Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. BK12 officially begins April 16, 2012. (Photo illustration by Staff Sgt. Lyndel Johnson) - Armed Forces of the Philippines Air Force Staff Sgt. Michle P. Balberan, a member of 5711 Security Force Squadron, and U.S. Marine Sgt. Paul Mead, a member of Marine Wing Support Squadron 172's Quick Reaction Force, look at a fake improvised explosive device during a training evolution as part of Exercise Balikatan 2012 (BK12) on April 13, 2012 at the AFP's Western Command Base in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Republic of the Philippines. BK12, in its 28th iteration, is an annual bilateral training exercise between the Republic of the Philippines and U.S. military members designed to build joint planning, contingency, humanitarian and disaster relief capabilities. MWSS-172 is part of Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. BK12 officially begins April 16, 2012. (Photo illustration by Staff Sgt. Lyndel Johnson)

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.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Navy Seaman 1st Class Myra T. Sordilla, a painter with the 401st Philippine Navy Reserve, and Lance Cpl. Melinda L. Carbajal, native of Fairfax, Va., currently assigned as a combat engineer to the Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, and the only female Marine serving in her platoon, work together to paint a comfort room April 9, for Santa Cruz Elementary School in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Republic of the Philippines, during Exercise Balikatan 2012. The school is one of five engineering civic assistance projects the island of Palawan will receive during the exercise. - Armed Forces of the Philippines Navy Seaman 1st Class Myra T. Sordilla, a painter with the 401st Philippine Navy Reserve, and Lance Cpl. Melinda L. Carbajal, native of Fairfax, Va., currently assigned as a combat engineer to the Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, and the only female Marine serving in her platoon, work together to paint a comfort room April 9, for Santa Cruz Elementary School in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Republic of the Philippines, during Exercise Balikatan 2012. The school is one of five engineering civic assistance projects the island of Palawan will receive during the exercise.