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(L to R) Nineteen-year-old U.S. Navy SN Bobby Washington, 23-year-old Philippine Navy SA Julius A.M. Regudo, 56-year-old U.S. Navy Sr. CPO Samuel S. Schouten, and 56-year-old Philippine Navy Cmdr. Juanito P. Cruz cut the birthday ball cake to celebrate the youngest and oldest sailors during the 62nd birthday of the U.S. Navy Seabees.
Photo by LCpl. Ryan Walker, USMC |
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AFP Brig. Gen. Rafael S. Romero, Assistant Chief of Staff for Education and Training, and U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Kenneth J. Glueck Jr., Commanding General, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, the exercise co-directors, emphasized the continued commitment by both nations. “Our mission has been accomplished,” said Brig. Gen. Glueck.
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Cousins from two countries and two services, Philippine Army TSgt. Emerson A. Saavedra and U.S. Navy PO2 Edgar Y. Saavedra, meet in Fort Magsaysay during BALIKATAN 2004. “I’m proud to see him,” said TSgt. Emerson Saavedra. “We wear military uniforms from different countries, but I’m still very proud of him.”
Photo by LCpl. Ryan Walker, USMC |
“I know this because at every site we’ve seen firsthand how our nearly 5,000 U.S. and Filipino soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines have worked shoulder to shoulder at seven different locations throughout the Philippines from the northernmost Basco to Puerto Princesa here in Palawan. We have learned from each other and formed bonds of friendship with our extremely talented Philippine counterparts. The most important aspects of this exercise for me are the operations conducted here in the community for Palawan. These efforts will positively affect the lives of the Filipino people.”
Brig. Gen. Romero summed it up best when he said, “Exercise BALIKATAN has given the Armed Forces of the Philippines and our U.S. friends an opportunity to learn from each other.”
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