Honorable Ethel R. Jinon, (front, left), Mayor of Jamindan, Capiz, Brig. Gen. Dinoh A. Dolina, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) assistant division commander, 3rd Infantry Division, Retired 2nd Lt. Charlito F. Firma, AFP, and U.S. Army Reserve Cpt. Kevin K. Tran, 303rd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, operations officer in charge in support of Balikatan 2016 Combined Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force, participates in AFP flag raising ceremony at Camp Peralta, Capiz, Philippines, in memorialization of the historical Bataan Death March of 1942, April 09, 2016. The ceremony was one of many that have brought together the AFP and U.S. military during the Balikatan 2016, “shoulder to shoulder”, exercise. Balikatan is an annual bilateral training exercise that allows for U.S. and Philippine forces to come together and train for potential real world events, better preparing them in supporting the local population. The ability of the AFP and U.S. military to work together, partner in capabilities and plan follow-on operations is essential to the relationship and interoperability of our forces.