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| Two U.S. Marine CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters receive fuel from a KC-130 Hercules aircraft off the coast of the Republic of the Philippines during Exercise TALON VISION. |
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A CH-53D helicopter takes off as Philippine and U.S. Marines here and opposite secure the landing zone during the exercise.
Photos by Cpl. Daniel W. Yarnall, USMC |
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The CH-53 helicopters then transported Philippine and U.S. reconnaissance Marines to insertion points in the ocean along Luzon’s coast, where the two forces boarded Zodiac boats and conducted simulated amphibious landing raids on the beaches.
U.S. Marine Capt. Don White, a CH-53 pilot, said “We took off and conducted low-altitude flying, [met] with the KC-130 for aerial refueling, inserted the [Philippine and U.S.] Marines into the ocean, and then refueled again before landing. It was a great opportunity.”
Live-Fire Training in Mount Baka
While Philippine forces provided knowledge and experience from the front line, their U.S. Marine counterparts provided advanced knowledge on the gun-line during live-fire training in Mount Baka. “Most Philippine Marines here are combat veterans who fought terrorists in Mindanao,” said U.S. Marine Sgt. Jeff P. Richardson. “We are learning as much from their experience as they are learning from our technical skills.”
According to U.S. Marine Gy. Sgt. Forrest A. Marsh, the 81-mm mortars used in the training provide support behind the infantry troops, because the mortars’ range extends past the forward edge of the battle line. “We are showing them our procedures and they are showing us theirs,” said Gy. Sgt. Marsh. He noted that the knowledge the Philippine Marines brought to the training would also improve U.S. Marines’ skills.
The goal of this two-pronged training evolution was to improve and maintain combat readiness and interoperability with the current weapons systems used by both forces. In addition to mortar training, the U.S. Marines maintained a defensive posture and performed patrolling tactics, a skill many Philippine Marines are familiar with from their own war on terrorism. “The Philippine Marines taught us a lot on patrolling,” said U.S. Marine LCpl. Richard D. Bouvier.
Filipinos residing near Capas, Tarlac, received medical and dental assistance from Philippine and U.S. forces’ medical and dental personnel as part of Exercise TALON VISION 2004. The two countries’ medical personnel set up clinics with assistance from the Capas Department of Health.
