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Foreword

Northeast Asia Engagement ::

People's Republic of China and U.S. Forces Enhancing Maritime Safety Throughout the Asia-Pacific Region

Proliferation Security Initiative Activities Attract International Interest

Cooperative Understanding ::

Cambodia-U.S. Navies Conduct Historic Exchange

Regional Response Forces ::

Indian, Canadian and U.S. Forces Partner for a Safer Asia-Pacific Region

RIMPAC 2006:
Fostering Regional Peace and Security

Philippine-U.S. Forces Building Interoperability and Goodwill

Happenings ::

Happenings

Jungle Survival
Philippine Army Special Forces instructors conducted jungle survival training at Fort Ramon Magsaysay for U.S. Marines and sailors. “We were given the task of teaching the Marines and sailors how to survive if lost in the jungle,” said Philippine Army MSgt. Jaime Agonoy. “We supervise them and give them the instructions they will need to survive.”

The U.S. service members learned how to build, set and identify traps in the jungle; how to identify edible plants and animals; and what dangerous animals to avoid. The instructors also showed the U.S. service members how to catch, kill and eat the poisonous Philippine cobras.

“One of the biggest benefits of the training was getting the opportunity to overcome our fear of the jungle,” said U.S. Marine LCpl. Bruce Liddy, who captured a cobra and held it while the instructors showed the other Marines and sailors how to kill it and drain its blood for consumption. “This training could save my life one day, even after I leave the Marine Corps,” he added. “It was a great new experience for all the Marines and sailors out here.”

Throughout the two-day course, the Marines and sailors had no provisions while in the jungle. “We don’t want them to bring any Meals Ready to Eat, water or sleeping bags,” said MSgt. Agonoy. “Anything they need, we will show them how to obtain it from the jungle.”

Visit, Board, Search and Seizure Events
Aboard the USS Harpers Ferry, Philippine and U.S. sailors honed their skills in visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) techniques. Working with Philippine Navy corvette Artemio Ricarte (PS-37) and gunboat Fredericko Martir (PG 385), the sailors conducted compliant and non-compliant boarding events.

“Since one of the key methods for weapons smuggling has been via seaborne transfer, the close working relationship our Navy enjoys with our Philippine counterparts is critical to stability in this theater,” said U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Meyers.

During the two-day training period, VBSS teams from the Philippine Navy conducted boardings of the USS Harpers Ferry as well as a landing craft utility. The Harpers Ferry crew also conducted different boarding scenarios.

In the final scenario with Fredericko Martir, a boarding officer from Harpers Ferry led the Philippine non-compliant teams in a takedown of the Harpers Ferry’s bridge in a coordinated team approach. “The team’s tactical maneuvers were precise and calculated,” said Lt. Cmdr. Meyers.

Following the boardings, the VBSS teams debriefed each other and discussed options to improve for future scenarios. “This is exactly why we have these joint exercises – to learn from each other and better coordinate our resources,” said Lt. Cmdr. Myers. “Our teams improve their skills [by] boarding craft they are not familiar with. And both the Harpers Ferry teams, as well as our friends, gained a mutual trust and respect for each other’s capabilities.”

PHILBEX 2007
Aboard the USS Juneau, 132 Philippine Marines and six Philippine naval officers worked closely with U.S. Marines during the amphibious landing exercise. The embarked AFP personnel also did many of the jobs U.S. sailors do, including helping fill vending machines or scrubbing deck edges. All enjoyed the experience aboard Juneau.

“We are confident that this training and the bonds gained from this training will be lasting,” said U.S. Navy Capt. John D. Alexander, commanding officer of the USS Juneau. “It is important that we continue to build relationships with our Philippine partners to increase security and prosperity in this region of the world.”

Philippine Navy Lt. j.g. Hechanova noted that even with five years of military experience, he has learned a great deal about amphibious operations. “There’s more to learn than just amphibious operations,” he said. “Flight operations occur frequently and by just being aboard, we can learn various routines and evolutions.”

Civil-Military Engineering
and Humanitarian Projects

Constructing a Community Building
Philippine Navy and U.S. Marine engineers along with local laborers constructed a multi-purpose building in the town of San Antonio, Zambales province. The new building was used in the town’s All Saints’ Day celebration on 1 November 2006. “The Marines are very familiar with this type of work,” said U.S. Marine 2nd Lt. Emma K. Frowine. “We did similar projects in Cambodia and Thailand last year.”

Medical Aid
As part of the U.S. Navy’s Project Handclasp, U.S. sailors and Marines from the Essex Amphibious Ready Group helped the U.S.-based nongovernmental agency, Promotion of Peace and Prosperity in the Philippines (3P) Foundation, transport five of 14 donated ambulances from Subic Bay Freeport to Zamboanga. In coordination with the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines and the U.S. Embassy, the five ambulances arrived in Zamboanga aboard USS Harpers Ferry for distribution in the southern provinces of Zamboanga and Tawi-Tawi and Jolo in Sulu province. “We’re really grateful that we have the opportunity and the lift capabilities to do this for the foundation,” said Cmdr. Marlin Anthony, commanding officer of the USS Harpers Ferry.

The 3P Foundation distributed the remaining nine ambulances to other provinces throughout the country. This charity organization has also built schools and community centers in the Philippines, and has donated books and medical supplies to the people of the Philippines.

AFP and U.S. forces also held a medical/dental clinic in Barangay San Juan, San Antonio, Zambales. The joint Philippine-U.S. team further participated in other civil-military operations and community relations projects in the provinces of Pampanga, Nueva Ecjia, Tarlac and Palawan.

Helping Local Schools
Approximately 60 sailors from the USS Essex painted the San Felipe Elementary School in the province of Zambales and spent time with the students. The sailors also delivered athletic equipment and school supplies that included story books and text books for the children. “Our school was flooded and the library was destroyed, so the new text books and story books will be a great help to us.” said Juliet Borja, the principal of San Felipe. “It will help improve the way we teach the students English, math, science, social studies and art at the school. We are so very grateful to the sailors who donated all the wonderful items,” she added. “Our school looks brand new with the fresh paint, and our nearly 200 students loved spending time and playing with the Essex volunteers who came here.”

Sailors from the USS Harpers Ferry painted classrooms and made repairs to playground equipment at the Pasobolong Elementary School in Zamboanga. They also delivered cookies, candy, juice and a sewing station for the school’s home economics class. While at the school, the sailors spent time with the teachers and played basketball and jump rope with the children. School Principal Luelda Wee Mabalot, who has worked hard to improve the physical condition of the school for nearly 20 years, said “I’m so grateful to the [U.S.] soldiers, Harpers Ferry, and America for their continuous support of this school.”

Nearly 50 USS Essex sailors visited the students of Gordon Heights II Elementary School in Olongapo City to deliver donated items and spend time with the students. Project Handclasp and Girl Scouts of America provided the donations that included sporting goods, school supplies, a sewing machine, and boxes of Girl Scout cookies.

“I feel excited because this is the first activity of this kind that has happened to our school,” said Principal Amalia M. Aeayan. “The sailors entertained and inspired all 965 students in our school, and the donations were welcomed and will be put to good use.”

U.S. Marines and sailors delivered school supplies to the Macapagal Village Elementary School in Pampanga. They also delivered basketballs and a tent for the school’s Boy and Girl Scout Programs. The Marines and sailors showed the children how to prepare Meals Ready to Eat, ate lunch with them, and played basketball, tag and other games with the students. AFP Air Force Capt. Pablito Melchor and U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Scott Morton coordinated the event.

U.S. Marine Maj. Gen. George J. Trautman, the commanding general of 1st Marine Air Wing, presented the school with a cash donation to be used for their annual Christmas party. “It’s a small token of appreciation from the Marines and sailors ... ,” said Maj. Gen. Trautman.

The Philippine Army and U.S. Marines provided much-needed supplies and renovations to the Barangay Maruglo Elementary School in Capas, Tarlac province. These include a printer, school supplies, a new swing set, landscaping items, and a bookshelf for the library. They also provided free medical checkups to the students, installed ceiling fans in the classrooms, provided an electric meter, painted the buildings, and did general landscaping on the school grounds. “We are very happy the Marines and Philippine Army are here,” said Clarissa B. Santos, the officer in charge of the school. “They’ve helped a lot with improving [the school].”

Before lunch, each student was given a backpack to help carry the new school supplies. “This is the first time many of the children will have a backpack,” said Capas Mayor Raynaldo Catacutan. “In 2003, the U.S. Marines came and helped construct [two] buildings for the school. Now, another group of Marines has come to make improvements on it.”

“I believe the work they have done today will benefit the educational development and well-being of the children,” said Julieta Surla, who has three children attending the school. “We really appreciate [both forces] taking the time out of their day to help the school.”

More than 20 similar community visits were conducted by U.S. and Philippine military forces throughout TALON VISION and PHILBEX 2007. “The bilateral projects are helpful to our country and the U.S. Marine Corps,” said Philippine Army Maj. Christopher Tampus. “The two groups have demonstrated very good teamwork, working hand in hand doing the job together.”

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