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FORT MAGSASAY, Philippines– Operation Balikatan - the annual joint military exercises between the United States and the Philippines – has landed front page coverage on newspapers across the world with images of amphibious landings and air assault missions. Nearly 1,000 U.S. Army personnel, mostly from the 25th Infantry Division’s 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, arrived on the base to conduct joint training focusing on disaster response and combat operations.
The training exercises with the Philippine military is important for both U.S. and Philippine interests. Balikatan means “shoulder to shoulder” in Tagalog, the most common language spoken on the island of Luzon. A key requirement for maintaining close partnerships is ensuring that the civilian population of the host nation is supportive of the operation. Like our own military, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is civilian controlled. It is likewise important to ensure that the civilian population is informed of its military’s activities, in order to continue its support.
Many of the units best trained to engage the civilian population come from the Army Reserve, who were called upon to support the three-week exercise. They are trained with unique skills to engage the Philippine population. And while the amphibious assaults and air assaults received most of the attention, many of the most vital, (and interesting) transactions, however, occurred far from the limelight by these support personnel.
Members of the 405th Civil Affairs Battalion out of Pleasant Grove, Utah spent their time at Balikatan engaged in several service events within the surrounding community.
A project at a local school installed running water to three classrooms, fixed dangerous power lines, and repaired a wall to provide security. Another Civil Affairs project was a clean-up project of the shrine at Cabanatuan that was once a Japanese POW camp where over 2,600 Americans died after the Bataan Death March, and was later the site of “The Great Raid.”
The Civil Affairs units also organized MEDCAP (medical capabilities) clinics using 2SBCT medical personnel to provide more than 900 civilians with medical or dental screenings and treatment, and distribute 200 pairs of glasses donated by the Lyons club.
“I think the diversity and flexibility from our civilian skill sets helped us to get the job completed and have a positive effect on the local populace,” said Sgt. Kelly Anderson, a Signal Non-Commissioned Officer on the Civil Affairs team. “It was fantastic building relationships and friendships while leaving a lasting impact.”
The Army Reserve has placed an emphasis on filling its technical fields with experts in the private sector with a program called the Private Public Partnership Initiative, or P3i. P3i is intended to bring the best from the civilian and military communities to provide unique professional and trade career development. One of these unique development opportunities often includes working with foreign militaries.
“Working shoulder to shoulder with our AFP counterparts was the only way we could accomplish our mission. We trained them in conducting assessments, and they trained us on cultural and societal norms to help us accomplish our jobs,” said Sgt. Alex Laumb, who is serving in his third Balikatan exercise.
Laumb also expressed that for their group, the interactions with the local population was one of the highlights of the trip.
“While in a small town, a group of small children were baffled by how pale I am, and kept trying to rub my arms and face,” Laumb said. “We were also surprised by an impromptu chorus of children singing “Let It Go.”
While Civil Affairs interactions help build relationships of trust within the surrounding community, Public Affairs helped spread the message far beyond the area of influence.
Members of the 367th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment and the 372nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment partnered with the Public Affairs of 2SBCT, and working with their AFP counterparts conducted two live television interviews, two radio interviews, gave media tours of training and equipment, prepared subject matter experts for interviews, wrote news articles and took photos for publication. One of the main goals of Public Affairs is to ensure transparency by allowing media maximum access the training events and subject matter experts.
Sgt. Marty Borton, a broadcast and print journalist from the 367th Public Affairs Detachment in Columbus, Ohio, covered a wide range of events during the exercises.
“We were able to go out and see so many of the training and special events that most Soldiers are unable to,” Borton said. “My only regret during the exercises is that I wish I was able to try cobra blood at the jungle school, though.”
The commander of the 2SBCT, Col. David Womack was very impressed with the impact the Reserve units played in setting the conditions for a successful partnership.
“I think the Reserve component being part of Balikatan does a couple of things,” Womack said. “First, it highlights the Army operating concept being put to use in the Pacific, and then two, it enables us to do more to maximize our capacity. And we really couldn’t have done it without the total force.”
| Date Taken: | 05.01.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.19.2015 19:58 |
| Story ID: | 163874 |
| Location: | FORT MAGSAYSAY, PH |
| Web Views: | 93 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Reserve units play a key role at Balikatan, by CPT Michael Merrill, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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