Born in the Philippines, now a U.S. Navy Officer

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Clowney | US Navy Lt. Cmdr. Alejandro Taag Jr. Health Services Officer for Balikatan 2009. Born in the Philipines and now a U.S. Navy Officer, Lt Cmdr. Taag describes what Balikatan means to him. Balikatan 2009 is a bilateral annual exercise between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States. Humanitarian assistance and training activities enable our soldiers to get to know each other, train together, and provide assistance in communities where the need is the greatest. they improve their ability to operate as one team in joint projects.  

04.21.2009

Courtesy Story

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

By Petty Officer Second Class Robert Clowney

QUEZON CITY, Philippines - As a child in the in mountainous region of Baguio, Philippines in the 1970's, U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Alex Taag, forever remembers the kindness of American health workers who provided much needed medical and dental services at the time.

More than three decades later, Taag has returned to his native homeland to participate in Balikatan 2009, an annual bilateral activity between the Armed Forces of the Philippines, U.S. Armed Forces and subject matter experts from Philippine civil defense agencies.

As one of the Filipino Americans participating in BK '09, the Baguio City native feels that coming back to his birth country makes him proud of what both the government of the Philippines and the U.S. are doing here. He recalled the American doctors and nurses who visited local dispensaries and health clinics in his hometown to provide immunizations, dental services and much more.

For BK '09, Taag serves as the Health Services Officer and is responsible for all medical matters throughout the bilateral training evolution. In addition, Taag is also responsible for the medical evacuation airlift and casualty evacuation airlift programs during the exercise. In the planning stages of BK '09, Taag was responsible for identifying and coordinating with various Philippine hospitals that could facilitate emergency patients.

Although this is Taag's first time participating in Balikatan, he has worked with the AFP side by side during Talon Vision/Amphibious Landing Exercise 2008, a joint bilateral exercise that takes place annually in the Philippines around October.

"It was a rewarding experience because I learned a lot about how they operate, plan, and execute their mission," Taag said. "It gave me a different perspective on how things can be done in simpler terms and more efficient."

After obtaining a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Baguio Colleges Foundation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy at Subic Bay, Philippines, in 1986 as an enlisted medical corpsman. Always looking to advance, Tagg went on to become an Advanced Lab Technician. While attending off-duty education, he obtained a Bachelors of Arts degree in Liberal Arts from New York State University in 1994. After advancing to the rank of Petty Officer First Class, he attended Webster University, earning his Master's degree in Healthcare Administration in May 1999. He later applied and was selected for the Medical Service Corps Out Service Procurement Program. After spending 12 years in the enlisted ranks Taag was commissioned as a U.S. Navy Officer in 1999 and has spent a total of 22 years in the Navy.

Taag decided to join the Navy due to the economic situation at the time in the Philippines and due to a high number of college-educated professionals unemployed.

"I realized that going overseas to seek a greener pasture was the only key to earn a decent living and be able to help my family," Taag said.

Currently assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Force, in Okinawa, Japan, Taag serves in the Medical Service Corp as Medical Planner, and as the operations and medical intelligence officer. Taag has received much joy participating in BK'09. He has seen the gratitude in the faces of the Filipino people receiving the medical and dental care during the exercise.

"The most rewarding part of Balikatan for me has been being able to help the Filipino people, seeing them being really grateful, and remembering being where they are, as I was when growing up in my hometown," Taag said. "Additionally, I feel that by training side by side with our AFP counterparts, and providing them expertise that they need in improving their armed services is a necessary exercise. In the end, it will benefit both countries."

Balikatan 2009 is a joint exercise that promotes unity and readiness between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States. The nations' governments are working bilaterally to ensure humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts are efficient and effective. Balikatan is a Tagalog word that means "shoulder-to-shoulder" and characterizes the philosophy and intent behind the activity.

• Date Taken: 04.21.2009
• Date Posted: 04.21.2009 05:03
• Story ID: 32638