ShareThisCLARK, Pampanga -The annual bilateral exercise of the Philippine and U.S. militaries Amphibious Landing Exercises (PHIBLEX)will begin with a joint ceremony on October 14 at 10 a.m. at the Grand Ballroom, Holiday Inn, Clark Pampanga.
US Marines and their Philippine counterparts inspect a hill during joint military training exercises in Cavite, south of Manila on October 11, 2010. US ambassador to Manila Harry Thomas has said on October 4 his government would continue to send troops to the Philippines for joint anti-terror trainings until the Al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf was wiped out as part of its security engagement with Manila.
The two-week long training will be held simultaneously in various locations in Luzon covering the areas of Cavite , Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Zambales and Pampanga.
The bilateral exercises are designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness, and continue professional relationships between the Philippine and United States armed forces.
The Philippine Marine Corps and Air Force will join U.S. Marines from the Japan-based 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force and U.S. sailors from the Essex Expeditionary Strike Group in both ground-air and naval integration training.
In addition to these exercises, the Philippine Marines together with other AFP units will join U.S. military personnel in joint community relations activities such as medical and dental missions, school construction, classroom repairs and painting, and community beautification projects in selected local communities.
The events listed in the attached document are all open to the media for coverage. Media interested in covering these events should contact the 1stLt. Lucas Burke at 09158176895 or via email at lucas.burke @usmc.mil or 2ndLt. Cherryl Tindog of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Information Office at 0922 8274478.
The annual RP-U.S. naval training exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) opened October 13 with a ceremony at the Golden Dragon Restaurant on Canal Road, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Olongapo City. The exercise ends October 22.
Philippine Navy Flag Officer-in Command Rear Admiral Danilo M. Cortez; Commodore Edgar Abogado, Commander, Naval Forces Northern Luzon; Vice Admiral Scott R. Van Buskirk. Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet; and Captain David A. Welch, Deputy Commodore, Destroyer Squadron 31 participated in the opening ceremony.
CARAT is the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet annual exercise with the Philippine Navy designed to develop interoperability between the two navies. The training includes amphibious landings, humanitarian civic action, subject matter expert exchanges, naval operations symposia, community service projects, and diving and salvage operations.
U.S. Navy ships participating in CARAT 2010 include the guided missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97), guided missile frigate USS Crommelin (FFG 37) and dive and salvage ship USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50). In addition, several units are conducting training ashore, including Expeditionary Maritime Security Squadron Seven, and Riverine Squadron 1, marking the first time U.S. and Philippine riverine forces will participate in the long-running exercise series.
As part of CARAT’s community service projects, a joint RP-U.S. team will be repairing and painting classrooms at the San Miguel National High School and San Nicolas Elementary Schools in San Antonio, Zambales on Friday, Oct. 15 beginning at 9 a.m.
In addition to civic action projects and community service projects, the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet Band Orient Express will perform with the Philippine Navy Band at 6 p.m. on the following dates and locations: Saturday, Oct. 16 at SM City Clark Entertainment Center; Sunday, Oct. 17 at the Marquee Mall Open Park in Angeles City; and Monday, Oct. 18 at SM City Pampanga New Wing (Building 4).
The Orient Express will also perform at 6 p.m. at St. Joseph’s College Open Basketball Courts in Olongapo City on Tuesday, Oct. 19 following a 1:30 p.m. Master Class at the college’s Social Hall.