US, Philippine Marines storm beach

Photo By Cpl. Brianna Christensen | Philippine Marines and U.S. Marines from Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, currently in support of 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, carry a combat rubber reconnaissance craft during a boat raid here Oct. 27. The boat raid was conducted as part of Amphibious Landing Exercise 2012, a bilateral training exercise between the U.S. Marine Corps and Philippine Marines. The bilateral training is designed to build interoperability between the U.S. Marine Corps and Philippine Marines.  

PALAWAN, PHILIPPINES

10.27.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Brianna Christensen 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

PALAWAN, Philippines - The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, currently in support of 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, worked with the Philippine Marines to conduct a boat raid Oct. 27 as a part of Amphibious Landing Exercise 2012.

PHIBLEX is an annual bilateral training evolution meant to keep the relationship between U.S. and Filipino Marines strong.

“We have been doing PHIBLEX for 28 years, and the importance of the exercise is that we build interoperability with our Filipino counterparts,” said Brig. Gen. Craig Timberlake, the commanding general of 3rd MEB.

During this training event, U.S. and Filipino scout swimmers swam ashore to clear the immediate area of any threats and set up security. Once they were given the all clear, a wave of Marines rushed to raid the beach using their Combat Rubber Reconnaissance Crafts.

“We do this training in order to be prepared for whatever task or mission that may come our way,” said Brig. Gen. Eugenio N. Clement, AFP deputy commandant, Philippine Marines. “We like to do this over and over to keep up proficiency in our operations. We have 7,107 islands in our country, so it is important to know the tactics of retaking an island.”

According to members of the MEU, this training is beneficial to the U.S. Marines as well as their Filipino counterparts because it keeps them prepared at all times.

“The nature of all Marines, whether Filipino or American, is to be amphibious,” said Clement. “That is why conducting this training is so important.”

The training not only prepares both forces for future missions but it helps them become more comfortable working together.

“There is something special about training with the Philippine Marines,” said Timberlake. “They operate very much like U.S. Marines.”

“We have worked with them for a long time – they do what we do – and they train like we train,” he said.

According to Timberlake, the U.S. has trained with the Armed Forces of the Philippines many times in the past and will continue to train with them in the future.

“We definitely value our partnership with the Philippines and the Marine Corps will continue to train with the Philippines any time we are asked to,” he said.

• Date Taken: 10.27.2011
• Date Posted: 11.02.2011 23:55
• Story ID: 79477
• Location: PALAWAN, PH