Photo By Sgt. Daniel Valle | U.S. and Filipino Marines carry the colors of both nations, while their national...... read more read more
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FORT BONIFACIO, Philippines - U.S. and Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel celebrated the conclusion of Amphibious Landing Exercise 2012 during a closing ceremony Oct. 28.
The ceremony culminated the 12-day exercise where Marines and sailors from 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and service members from the Armed Forces of the Philippines trained bilaterally to improve interoperability, increase combat readiness and continue to build professional relationships between the two countries.
Throughout the exercise, AFP and U.S. personnel conducted different training evolutions including an amphibious raid, boat raid, jungle warfare training and a variety of air training missions.
In addition, exercise participants completed a series of civil-military operations, including engineering, dental and medical civic action projects.
“We conducted two engineering civil action projects, three medical civil action projects, where we treated a total of 4,260 patients, and three dental civil action projects, where we treated 852 patients,” said Capt. Alistair E. Howard, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade civil affairs team leader overseeing the projects.
Other civil action projects included community relations projects where U.S. service members and their counterparts spent time with local children and interacting with the community throughout Luzon.
According to Howard, the U.S. service members distributed over 1,500 notebooks, 1,000 pens and pencils, and 100 sports balls to various elementary schools during these events.
“We accomplished some great things, and it wasn’t just about the military exercise itself,” said Brig. Gen. Craig Q. Timberlake, the commanding general of 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. “Yes, we increased interoperability and yes, we decreased our response time to certain scenarios, but perhaps more importantly, we were also able to conduct some medical and dental projects, and serve over 5,000 patients.”
“I am delighted to join you for the closing of yet another successful PHIBLEX exercise, marking the 28th time our two countries have come together for this purpose,” said Harry K. Thomas Jr., the U.S. ambassador to the Philippines.
The keynote speaker, Maj. Gen. Rustico O. Guerrero, the commandant for the Philippine Marine Corps said he is extremely impressed by the performance of both his Marines and U.S. service members.
“I want to share my warmest appreciation for you all,” he said. “I look forward to beautiful meetings and training opportunities in the future.”
| Date Taken: | 10.28.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 10.29.2011 01:17 |
| Story ID: | 79235 |
| Location: | FORT BONIFACIO, PH |
| Web Views: | 272 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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