Asia Pacific Defense Forum Winter 2001

U.S. Army Special Forces soldier assists a Philippine Special Forces soldier prepare to use the Special Patrol Insertion and Extraction System.

Philippine and U.S. Army Special Forces exercise participants join for a group photo

Philippine Special Forces Cpl. Carlo Argumosa assists U.S. Special Forces CWO Annosha Phoophakdee into harness for the Special Patrol Insertion and Extraction System.

Philippine and U.S. Marines participating in the training made up the Combined Marine Forces with a Battalion Landing Team and Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force. They cross-trained on the techniques and procedures of joint combined amphibious and helicopter operations, planning and execution, Marine infantry weapons familiarization and tactics, and other related activities.

PN Air Group pilots also cross-trained on helicopter operations and medical evacuation aboard the USS Frederick.

BALIKATAN 2001 would not be complete without the civic action and humanitarian missions the combined forces undertake each year. The civic action programs consisting of medical, dental and veterinary services started as early as 30 April at the Barangay Dapdap resettlement area in Tarlac.

Philippine service members from the 1303rd General Headquarters Dental Dispensary in Tarlac and Fort Bonifacio Army General Hospital were among the participants. Their U.S. counterparts came from the 374th Dental Squadron, Yokota Air Force Base, Japan, and Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii.

Over 10,000 rural people in several communities in Tarlac and Pampanga received free health care services from the RP-U.S. military civic action mission that ran 10 days. The mission provided an opportunity for U.S. troops to support humanitarian projects that the AFP has undertaken over many years. At the same time, it served as training for the two countries' forces in civic action operations for the exercises.

Field clinics - surgery, pediatric, adult, pharmacy and dental units - were set up in at least five classrooms at the Bamban High School. The 60-strong medical team of surgeons, doctors, nurses, dentists, veterinarians and medical technicians were on-site and attended to residents seeking medical care. In the adult unit, most patients were treated for respiratory, cardiovascular and skin diseases. On-site pediatricians noted most of the children suffered from minor skin infections such as scabs, boils and blisters. Malnutrition was also common among the children, so the team gave out a lot of vitamins. All children from 3 to 14 years old were de-wormed, according to Maj. Robert Juan, a PA pediatrician.

U.S. Army Capt. Patrick Hickey and his pediatrician counterparts saved the life of a 9-month-old boy suffering from pneumonia caused by measles, at the Dapdap medical site. Everything was going fine inside the pediatric unit housed inside a classroom at Bamban High School when suddenly a mother carrying the almost lifeless body of her infant son cried for help. Capt. Patrick Hickey, one of the six pediatricians on-site, immediately knew what was wrong. Nine-month-old Jericho was in shock due to secondary infections, such as pneumonia, caused by measles. He was given fluid resuscitation. Capt. Hickey administered antibiotics and put the child on intravenous fluid for dehydration. He then gave Vitamin A for support since antibiotics do not cure measles. He also gave Salbutamol, a breathing medicine to help open the child's airways as he was suffering from "strider," a condition in which air had a hard time passing through his throat.