By Maj. Mark E. Alexander, USA
Photos by Maj. C. F. Teramae, USA

A U.S. Army nurse assigned to JTF 510 examines a young Filipino child in Bunguiao Barangay of Zamboanga City during one of Operation SMILES’ 20 Medical Civic Action Projects (MEDCAPs) that provided medical help to the people in the Mindanao and Basilan Island areas.

In January 2002, members of Special Operations Command, Pacific (SOCPAC), headed by Brig. Gen. Donny Wurster, deployed as Joint Task Force 510 (JTF 510) to support Operation ENDURING FREEDOM – Philippines.

More than 1,200 members of SOCPAC and its components joined their counterparts from the Southern Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), then commanded by Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu. The mission was to advise and assist the AFP to help combat terrorism in the country. Much of the mission took place on the island of Basilan in the southern Philippines. Basilan was a stronghold of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf. This group had terrorized the citizens of this beautiful island and wreaked havoc with its economy.

The eight-month mission was a success in many ways. Through their combined efforts, the AFP and JTF 510 created a more stable and secure Basilan by greatly diminishing the number of Abu Sayyaf that are under arms due to Abu Sayyaf defeats and surrenders. Additionally, their senior leadership is being eliminated and the AFP have improved their training and tactics. By the end of the mission, the two forces had built 81 kilometers of road, improved an airfield and port facility, and dug fresh water wells.

One of the most important elements of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM – Philippines was the extensive medical care given local civilians in OPERATION SMILES. Twenty U.S.-Philippine teams that included medical personnel from the Philippine Government, the AFP, JTF 510, and non-governmental organizations provided medical assistance to more than 18,000 citizens. Today, the legacy continues with a long-term U.S. security assistance program that combines AFP and U.S. military training and continued humanitarian assistance. JTF 510 has transitioned to a smaller task force that works closely with the AFP in ongoing humanitarian assistance projects on Basilan, to include the upgrading of 14 schools, seven clinics, three hospitals, and 25 fresh-water wells.