Friday, May 18, 2018

Exercise Balikatan ‘18 Closes Today


Exercise Balikatan ‘18 Closes Today


CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – The 34th Philippines – United States Exercise Balikatan (BK) officially ends Friday, May 18, in a closing ceremony attended by high-ranking defense and military officials from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and United States Armed Forces at the AFP Commissioned Officers Club, here.

Mr. Michael S. Klecheski, the U.S. Charge d’ Affaires is the Guest of Honor and Speaker for the closing ceremony of BK 2018. He will be joined by General Carlito Galvez, AFP Chief of Staff; National Defense Undersecretary Cardozo Luna; LtGen Emmanuel Salamat, PH-BK Exercise Diretor; and BGen Thomas Weidley of the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Officer Conducting Exercise Balikatan.

“We close this year’s Balikatan Exercises with both Philippine and US Forces gained maximum benefits from the various training exchanges and cooperation. It provided venue for lot of more learning opportunities but also extended significant community assistance that gained popular support of less fortunate people in selected area in Northern Luzon. The BK 2018 manifests our commitment and responsibility to pursue cooperation and interoperability of both our forces,” MGen Salamat said.

Around 5,000 Filipino and 3,000 American soldiers participated in this year’s BK activities that started mid-April, prior to the opening ceremony last May 9. They took part in a series of planning and simulation exercises, operational training events, and civic activities held in the northern part of the Philippines. Troops from the Australian Defense Force and Japan Self-Defense Force also joined some of the exercises. Their participation was under the ambit of the U.S. alliance system.

"Our militaries have grown together in friendship, provided a benefit to countless people, and are better prepared to respond as one cohesive team to any crisis or challenge that may threaten the peace and stability that our alliance has helped to secure," BGen Weidley said.

The planning and simulation exercises were held at the Headquarters, North Luzon Command in Camp Aquino, Tarlac. The trainings focused on the themes of mutual defense, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response during scenarios of calamity, internal conflict, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attack.

Among the operational training events successfully conducted were the Amphibious Landing Exercise in San Antonio, Zambales, and Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise in Tarlac. These events were aimed at enhancing interoperability of troops in sea to land operations, as well as actions on ground and in air. Other field trainings were held in military camps and facilities in Northern Luzon.

A total of five new school buildings were built by Filipino, U.S., Japanese, and Australian service members under BK’s civic activities. These one-story, two-classroom buildings were dedicated to elementary schools in Santa Teresita, Cagayan; Alibagu, Ilagan City, Isabela; San Antonio, Ilagan Isabela; Calangitan, Capas, Tarlac; and Cabu, Cabanatuan City. Troops also installed drainage systems, sidewalks, and water catchment systems within the selected schools. Medical engagements and spiritual enhancement activities were also conducted in these areas.

The AFP and U.S. Armed Forces continue to enjoy a healthy, dynamic, and beneficial partnership through Exercise Balikatan. This highlights the steadfast commitment of both militaries towards a more secure Asia-Pacific region.



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