A Philippine Air Force AW-109 helicopter from the 15th Strike Wing launches a 2.75 inch rocket at a target on the ground during exercise Balikatan 22 at Colonel Ernesto Rabina Air Base, Philippines, April 6, 2022. Balikatan is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. Balikatan 22 is the 37th iteration of the exercise and coincides with the 75th anniversary of U.S.-Philippine security cooperation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Anna Nolte)
Philippine and U.S. armed forces participate in Balikatan 22 in the Philippines, March 28 to April 8, 2022. Balikatan is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades shared experiences. Balikatan, Tagalog for ‘shoulder-to-shoulder,’ is a longstanding bilateral exercise between the Philippines and the United States highlighting the deep-rooted partnership between both countries. Balikatan 22 is the 37th iteration of the exercise and coincides with the 75th anniversary of the U.S.-Philippine security cooperation. (U.S. Marine Corps video edited by Sgt. Josue Marquez and Cpl. Hassanen Attabi)
SUBIC BAY, Philippines - U.S. Airmen with the 353rd Special Operations Wing (353rd SOW), 492nd Special Operations Wing (492nd SOW) and the 1st Special Operations Wing (1st SOW) deployed to the Philippines for Balikatan 22, March 28 - April 8, 2022. The Airmen assigned to three Air Force Special Operations Wings worked with members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and U.S. armed forces counterparts for the two-week exercise to strengthen relationships and operate in an austere environment.
“One of the reasons we are out here is to engage with our partner force,” said Maj. Matthew Roese, the 353rd SOW Mission Commander. “We came out here to Balikatan to do a tactics, techniques, and procedures exchange with the...