NEWS

Shoulder-to-shoulder, Philippines and United States conclude largest Balikatan exercise

News Blog 29 April 2023

CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – The Armed Forces of the Philippines hosted the closing ceremony of Exercise Balikatan 2023 here today, marking the successful conclusion of the largest combined-joint military exercise between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America.

Over the last three weeks, more than 17,600 total combined troops from the AFP and the U.S. military, joined by approximately 100 members of the Australian Defence Force, trained shoulder-to-shoulder at locations throughout the Philippines in order to increase proficiency in maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban operations, aviation operations, counterterrorism operations, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Balikatan Exercise 38-23 Turnover Community Project in Baler, Aurora

News Blog 28 April 2023

Camp Aquino, Tarlac City, April 27, 2023 - Combined troops of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States Armed Forces constructed and completed a community health care facility in Barangay Suklayin, Baler Aurora, as part of the Engineering Civic Action Project (ENCAP) of Balikatan 38–23.

After twenty-five days of construction, with the cooperation and team work of the construction team from the 355th Aviation Engineer Wing, Philippine Air Force, and the 9th Engineer Support Battalion of the US Marines, the Community Health Center of barangay Suklayin, Baler Aurora, was formally turned over to the residents in a dedication ceremony held on the project site on April 26, 2023.

INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER PROGRAM

News Blog 27 April 2023

LtGen Charlton Sean Gaerlan, The Deputy Chief of Staff of the AFP, meets with the foreign military officers participating in the PH-US Balikatan's international observer program on April 27 at the AFP General Headquarters.

The participants, coming from nine countries namely the United Kingdom, Canada, France, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia were given a warm welcome as they were also urged by the TDCSAFP to join the AFP's other international military cooperation activities.

"We look forward to more engagements. Balikatan is just one portion of our efforts to boost international military cooperation and we hope that you will continue to be a part of this, "LtGen Gaerlan said./// (Photo by TSg Obinque/PAO, AFP)

U.S.-Philippine Forces Sink Target Ship for First Time in Balikatan Exercise

News Blog 26 April 2023

Naval Education Training Doctrine Command, San Antonio, Zambales province, Philippines, April 25, 2023— A combined force of U.S. and Philippine servicemembers participated in a combined joint littoral live-fire exercise today, the culminating field training event for Balikatan 2023.

Approximately 1,400 Marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen and Coast Guardsmen from both countries took part in the training, which involved detecting, identifying, targeting and engaging a target ship using a variety of ground and air-based weapons systems.

Chiefs of Defense Meeting

News Blog 26 April 2023

LtGen Arthur Cordura, the AFP Vice Chief of Staff, participates in the video teleconference meeting of top military officials on April 26 ahead of the formal Chiefs of Defense scheduled in August this year.

Admiral John Aquilino USN, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, led the discussions that solicited inputs on prevailing challenges and other suggestions to the agenda in the ChoD meeting.