Pacific Marines Stories

Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Corps Capt. Maria Blessila Bentos, left, Naval Forces West command surgeon, provides feedback during a mass casualty exercise after action report alongside U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Gary Held, center, 374th Medical Operations Squadron medical technician and Cooperative Health Engagement instructor, and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Bryan Garret, right, Alpha Company, Civil Affairs Battalion medic and CHE instructor, during exercise Balikatan’s first responder training course in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines, April 22. U.S. military and AFP instructors worked shoulder-to-shoulder to train 179 health workers and other members of other local agencies to learn skills and techniques to better respond to a mass casualty. This year marks the 31st iteration of the exercise, which is an annual Philippine-U.S. bilateral military training exercise and humanitarian civic assistance engagement. - Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Corps Capt. Maria Blessila Bentos, left, Naval Forces West command surgeon, provides feedback during a mass casualty exercise after action report alongside U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Gary Held, center, 374th Medical Operations Squadron medical technician and Cooperative Health Engagement instructor, and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Bryan Garret, right, Alpha Company, Civil Affairs Battalion medic and CHE instructor, during exercise Balikatan’s first responder training course in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines, April 22. U.S. military and AFP instructors worked shoulder-to-shoulder to train 179 health workers and other members of other local agencies to learn skills and techniques to better respond to a mass casualty. This year marks the 31st iteration of the exercise, which is an annual Philippine-U.S. bilateral military training exercise and humanitarian civic assistance engagement.

Exercise Director Vice Adm. Alexander Lopez, Armed Forces of the Philippines; Secretary of National Defense Voltaire Gazmin; Acting Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Evan Garcia; U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg; Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., AFP; and US Assistant Exercise Director Brig. Gen. Christopher Mahoney, USMC, stand "shoulder-to-shoulder" at the opening ceremony of Exercise Balikatan 2015 at Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, Philippines, to characterize the partnership between the two countries. - Exercise Director Vice Adm. Alexander Lopez, Armed Forces of the Philippines; Secretary of National Defense Voltaire Gazmin; Acting Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Evan Garcia; U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg; Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., AFP; and US Assistant Exercise Director Brig. Gen. Christopher Mahoney, USMC, stand "shoulder-to-shoulder" at the opening ceremony of Exercise Balikatan 2015 at Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, Philippines, to characterize the partnership between the two countries.

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Andrew Sprouse, left, a combat engineer with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, introduces himself to Philippine Navy Seaman Apprentices Raymond Baclason, center, and Arturo Arandela, both Seabees with the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ 2nd Naval Mobile Construction Battalion, at the site of a new classroom they are helping build at San Rafael Elementary School in San Rafael, on the island of Palawan, Philippines, April 16. The three are part of a larger group of service members from the AFP and U.S. militaries, constructing five new buildings across the island of Palawan as part of humanitarian civic assistance projects taking place during exercise Balikatan 2015. Balikatan, a Filipino word meaning "shoulder-to-shoulder," is an annual bilateral exercise with the AFP and U.S. militaries, which helps increase combined military-to-military training and build relationships in order to support future engagements. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Cristina Porras) - U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Andrew Sprouse, left, a combat engineer with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, introduces himself to Philippine Navy Seaman Apprentices Raymond Baclason, center, and Arturo Arandela, both Seabees with the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ 2nd Naval Mobile Construction Battalion, at the site of a new classroom they are helping build at San Rafael Elementary School in San Rafael, on the island of Palawan, Philippines, April 16. The three are part of a larger group of service members from the AFP and U.S. militaries, constructing five new buildings across the island of Palawan as part of humanitarian civic assistance projects taking place during exercise Balikatan 2015. Balikatan, a Filipino word meaning "shoulder-to-shoulder," is an annual bilateral exercise with the AFP and U.S. militaries, which helps increase combined military-to-military training and build relationships in order to support future engagements. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Cristina Porras)

Lance Corporal John Porter has his gear inspected upon arrival April 14 to Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, Darwin, Australia, to begin Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 2015. Approximately 20 percent of Marines’ gear was inspected by the biosecurity officers with the Australian Department of Agriculture for any foreign soil, plants or seeds. MRF-D is the deployment of U.S. Marines to Darwin and the Northern Territory, for approximately six months at a time, where they will conduct exercises and training on a rotational basis with the Australian Defence Force. Porter, a Chicago, Illinois, native, is a rifleman with Company B, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin. - Lance Corporal John Porter has his gear inspected upon arrival April 14 to Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, Darwin, Australia, to begin Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 2015. Approximately 20 percent of Marines’ gear was inspected by the biosecurity officers with the Australian Department of Agriculture for any foreign soil, plants or seeds. MRF-D is the deployment of U.S. Marines to Darwin and the Northern Territory, for approximately six months at a time, where they will conduct exercises and training on a rotational basis with the Australian Defence Force. Porter, a Chicago, Illinois, native, is a rifleman with Company B, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin.

Staff Sgt. Jordan Kelly, a fire power control team chief with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, points out a target on a video scout during close air support training in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, April 13, 2015. The video from the F/A-18 Hornet’s sensors allows the Marines to confirm enemy target locations with the pilot. - Staff Sgt. Jordan Kelly, a fire power control team chief with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, points out a target on a video scout during close air support training in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, April 13, 2015. The video from the F/A-18 Hornet’s sensors allows the Marines to confirm enemy target locations with the pilot.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Army Soldiers and civilians from the Capiz Emergency Response Team attend to a casualty at a simulated mass casualty exercise in Jamindan, Philippines, during Balikatan 2015, April 9. The exercise was part of a cooperative health engagement, train-the-trainer first responder course at the headquarters of the AFP’s 3rd Infantry Division. Balikatan, which means “shoulder to shoulder” in Filipino, is an annual bilateral training exercise aimed at improving the ability of Philippine and U.S. military forces to work together during planning, contingency, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. - Armed Forces of the Philippines Army Soldiers and civilians from the Capiz Emergency Response Team attend to a casualty at a simulated mass casualty exercise in Jamindan, Philippines, during Balikatan 2015, April 9. The exercise was part of a cooperative health engagement, train-the-trainer first responder course at the headquarters of the AFP’s 3rd Infantry Division. Balikatan, which means “shoulder to shoulder” in Filipino, is an annual bilateral training exercise aimed at improving the ability of Philippine and U.S. military forces to work together during planning, contingency, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

Lance Cpl. Ivan Trujillo, a scout with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, hikes up Ulupau Crater aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, April 8, 2015, before conducting high angle firing with his platoon. The Marines trained with high angle shooting, which is anything 30 degrees or greater between them and their target. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sarah Dietz) - Lance Cpl. Ivan Trujillo, a scout with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, hikes up Ulupau Crater aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, April 8, 2015, before conducting high angle firing with his platoon. The Marines trained with high angle shooting, which is anything 30 degrees or greater between them and their target. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sarah Dietz)

U.S. Marines and airmen perform a site assessment at Osan Air Base in the Republic of Korea March 19. Site assessment was one of the response scenarios during a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear joint training exercise with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1 CBRN and 51st Civil Engineer Squadron CBRN. The week-long bilateral training event enabled Marines and airmen to learn different tactics, techniques and procedures. - U.S. Marines and airmen perform a site assessment at Osan Air Base in the Republic of Korea March 19. Site assessment was one of the response scenarios during a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear joint training exercise with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1 CBRN and 51st Civil Engineer Squadron CBRN. The week-long bilateral training event enabled Marines and airmen to learn different tactics, techniques and procedures.