OKINAWA, JAPAN - A Boston native is participating in a large-scale multilateral exercise in the Republic of the Philippines.
Lance Cpl. Andre Allen, a data systems specialist and Milton High School graduate, is deployed to Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base in support of Exercise Balikatan 2018. He currently serves in Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa Japan.
"At Balikatan, I am part of a quartering party here to support the camp set-up and make sure that the entire operation runs smooth," said Allen.
As a Marine in the Pacific, he takes every opportunity to highlight the Marine Corps as a force for good.
"It is important that we are out here because we need to know how to operate with other units, branches and countries," he added.
Allen's mission is to oversee all aspects of computer networking administration which allows Marines to communicate in a tactical environment.
Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine military training event focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism, and other combined military operations. BK 34-2018 will take place in the Philippines May 7 to 18