Exercise BALIKATAN 2004 brought Philippine and U.S. forces together for a series of exercises that strengthen interoperability between the two forces. Here, Philippine and U.S. Marines and sailors assault Dingalan Bay beach during the amphibious phase of the exercise. Photo by SSgt. Nathan L. Hanks, Jr., USMC

(L to R) Gen. Narciso Abaya, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff; U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Joseph Mussomeli; and U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Kenneth J. Glueck Jr., Commanding General, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, answer questions from the press about the exercise. Photo by LCpl. Thomas D. Hudzinski, USMC

Philippine and U.S. Marines recover a simulated wounded U.S. Marine pilot during the exercise. Photo by LCpl. Cory Yenter, USMC

Philippine Marine Cpl. Percival V. Suco checks U.S. Marine PFC Justin Haycock’s harness before a rappel training exercise at Clark Field. Photo by LCpl. Cory Yenter, USMC

U.S. Marine GySgt. Wesley A. Schaffer freefalls during the “Friendship Jump.” Photo by LCpl. Ryan Walker, USMC

Philippine Army Maj. Marlon M. Yadao packs his parachute after his jump from a CH-53 helicopter. Photo by LCpl. Ryan Walker, USMC

A U.S. Marine C-130 transport aircraft drops a heavy load parachute during drop-zone training. Photo by U.S. Marine LCpl. Cory Yenter, USMC

More than 300,000 plant varieties exist on Earth, but only 120,000 are edible, explains Philippine Army MSgt. Romeo S. Alfonso to U.S. Seabees during the jungle survival portion of the exercise. Photo by LCpl. Ryan Walker, USMC

Philippine Army MSgt. George Anog carries bamboo to be used as spikes for a trap that Philippine soldiers built during Exercise BALIKATAN 2004. Photo by LCpl. Ryan Walker, USMC

Philippine Marine Sgt. Primo C. Villanueva throws a punch deflected by U.S. Marine PFC Christian Mohr during martial arts training conducted by U.S. Marines. Photo by Cpl. Trevor M. Carlee, USMC

Philippine Air Force and U.S. Navy medical personnel discuss the Mass Casualty exercise. Photo by LCpl. Cory Yenter, USMC

Philippine soldiers, Sgt. Roger A. Bernabe and Lt. Col. Macairog S. Alberto, teach Filipino stick fighting to U.S. Marines and sailors during the exercise. Photo by LCpl. Ryan Walker, USMC

U.S. Marine Brig. Gen Kenneth J. Glueck Jr. encourages a young Filipino girlreceiving medical treatment during Exercise BALIKATAN 2004. Photo by PH2 Felix Garza Jr., USN

U.S. Army Capt. (Dr.) Adam Huillet examines a child. Photo by PH2 Felix Garza Jr., USN

AFP Capt. (Dr.) Raul F. Nunfuar and U.S. Army Capt. (Dr.) Adam L. Huillet interview patients during the MEDCAP. Photo by PH2 Felix Garza Jr., USN

AFP Cpl. Ezer Lenon and U.S. Seabees, UT1 John Brillowski and UT1 Robert Horneij, cut pipes for a deepwater well at the Bacungan Elementary School. Photo by PH2 Felix Garza Jr., USN

Children at the Angeles Bahay Bata Center look at pictures of themselves on a digital camera held by U.S. Marine Cpl. Angela Cherry. Photo By LCpl. Thomas Hudzinski, USN

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

U.S. Marines unload an AH-1W Cobra helicopter for use in Exercise BALIKATAN 2004 from the West-Pac Express, a high speed vessel, in Subic Bay, Philippines. Photo by LCpl. Cory Yenter, USMC

U.S. Marine Amphibious Assault Vehicles land on Ternate Beach during an amphibious landing rehearsal as part of the exercise. Photo by JO2 Robert N. Sealover, USN

Exercise co-directors, AFP Brig. Gen. Rafael S. Romero, Assistant Chief of Staff for Education and Training, and U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Glueck Jr., unfurl the Mutual Defense Board Flag during the opening ceremony of Exercise BALIKATAN 2004 Photo by LCpl. Thomas D. Hudzinski, USMC

A U.S. Marine rappels from a CH-46 helicopter as part of the Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel training exercise at Clark Field, Philippines. Photo by LCpl. Cory Yenter, USMC

U.S. Marines secure Dingalan Bay during an assault amphibious landing exercise. Photo by LCpl. Thomas D. Hudzinski, USMC

U.S. Marine Cpl. Kevin J. Theis descends to the drop zone during the “Friendship Jump.” Photo by LCpl. Ryan Walker, USMC

Philippine soldiers show U.S. Navy Seabees how to prepare food from vegetation and wildlife found in the jungle. Photo by LCpl. Ryan Walker, USMC

U.S. soldiers and Seabees conduct squad rushes during a joint convoy exercise with Philippine soldiers. Photo by LCpl. Ryan Walker, USMC

Philippine Army soldiers and U.S. Navy Seabees observe how a jungle trap operates during the Jungle Survival Course. Photo by LCpl. Ryan Walker, USMC

U.S. Marines and AFP personnel listen to instructions during Close-Quarter Tactics training. Photo by PH2 Felix Garza Jr., USN

Philippine Marine PFC Levy Calimlim (right) practices punching with U.S. Marine LCpl. Phil Goffena during martial arts training. Photo by Cpl. Trevor M. Carlee, USMC

U.S. Marines and AFP personnel practice their stance for Close-Quarter Tactics during the exercise. Photo by PH2 Felix Garza Jr., USN

Philippine citizens register for treatment by Philippine and U.S. military medical personnel participating in the Medical Civic Action Program (MEDCAP) during Exercise BALIKATAN 2004. Photo by PH2 Felix Garza Jr., USN

A young Filipino boy receives an eye examination from U.S. Army Maj. Patrisha Allen. Photo by PH2 Felix Garza Jr., USN

AFP Dental Officer Capt. Bienvenido Luchina administers novocaine to a child while Sgt. Rommel Cabalquinto braces her head. Photo by PH2 Felix Garza Jr., USN

U.S. Marine Sgt. Maj. Richard Dorsey plays basketball with children at the Angeles Bahay Bata Center. Photo By LCpl. Thomas Hudzinski, USN

AFP members and U.S. Seabees work on a building at the Manuel Memorial Elementary School during one of many engineering civic action projects. Photo by PH2 Felix Garza Jr., USN

(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