Pacific Marines Stories

Explosive ordnance technicians with the Philippine Air Force utilize pieces of equipment from the Marine Corps hook and line system to lift an ammunition can from the ground at Clark Field, Philippines, April 10. Filipino and U.S. Marine Corps EOD technicians trained together during exercise Balikatan 2013, an annual bilateral exercise in its 29th iteration that is aimed at ensuring interoperability of the Philippine and U.S. militaries during planning, contingency and humanitarian assistance operations. - Explosive ordnance technicians with the Philippine Air Force utilize pieces of equipment from the Marine Corps hook and line system to lift an ammunition can from the ground at Clark Field, Philippines, April 10. Filipino and U.S. Marine Corps EOD technicians trained together during exercise Balikatan 2013, an annual bilateral exercise in its 29th iteration that is aimed at ensuring interoperability of the Philippine and U.S. militaries during planning, contingency and humanitarian assistance operations.

From left to right: Philippine Marine Cpl. Milky Espere and Cpl. Raymond Almonte, with the Philippine Transportation and Maintenance, observe U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Adrian Sandoval, with Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, as he demonstrates how to disassemble a M240 machine gun April 5 during a bilateral subject matter expert exchange at a field training exercise in support of Balikatan 2013 at Camp O'Donnell, Philippines. BK13 is an annual bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. forces to enhance interoperability, improve military-to-military relations, and refine combined and joint-force planning in response to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. - From left to right: Philippine Marine Cpl. Milky Espere and Cpl. Raymond Almonte, with the Philippine Transportation and Maintenance, observe U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Adrian Sandoval, with Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, as he demonstrates how to disassemble a M240 machine gun April 5 during a bilateral subject matter expert exchange at a field training exercise in support of Balikatan 2013 at Camp O'Donnell, Philippines. BK13 is an annual bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. forces to enhance interoperability, improve military-to-military relations, and refine combined and joint-force planning in response to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

Master Sgt. Antoine Robinson hugs Mary, a 9-year old Shepherd of the Hills Children’s Foundation resident, during a community relations project. Robinson was among 40 other volunteers participating in the project coordinated by the Combined Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force chaplain. The children’s home was founded in 1976 after a typhoon displaced the foundation’s first 20 children. The foundation is dedicated to providing a caring home for abandoned, neglected, abused or underprivileged children. The event was one of several scheduled by CJCMOTF units in support of Exercise Balikatan 2013. Balikatan is an annual Republic of the Philippines – U.S. military bilateral training exercise and humanitarian assistance engagement. - Master Sgt. Antoine Robinson hugs Mary, a 9-year old Shepherd of the Hills Children’s Foundation resident, during a community relations project. Robinson was among 40 other volunteers participating in the project coordinated by the Combined Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force chaplain. The children’s home was founded in 1976 after a typhoon displaced the foundation’s first 20 children. The foundation is dedicated to providing a caring home for abandoned, neglected, abused or underprivileged children. The event was one of several scheduled by CJCMOTF units in support of Exercise Balikatan 2013. Balikatan is an annual Republic of the Philippines – U.S. military bilateral training exercise and humanitarian assistance engagement.