Philippine and U.S. Army combat engineers discuss the improvements to the infrastructure at the Riverside Elementary School as part of exercise Balikatan 2014 in Barangay Soledad, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, May 5, 2014. The exercise is an annual bilateral training exercise between the Philippines and U.S. designed to foster cooperation and interoperability between the two nations’ armed forces through training as well as humanitarian aid and disaster relief projects. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Shaltiel Dominguez)
FORT RAMON MAGSAYSAY, PHILIPPINES – U.S. Army combat engineers with 4th Battalion, 11th Engineer Regiment, attached to 25th Infantry Division, helped improve the infrastructure at the Riverside Elementary School in Barangay Soledad, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, as part of Balikatan 2014, a bilateral training exercise between soldiers of the 25th ID and their Philippine counterpart here May 5.
The combat engineers constructed cement security fences around the school in the remote district, helping to secure school property and improving safety for the students. In addition, the soldiers provided books and learning aids to the students to improve educational standards and foster a better relationship between the Philippine and U.S. militaries and the civilians in the region.
Balikatan is a bilateral training exercise between the Philippines and U.S. designed to improve cooperation and interoperability between the two nations’ armed forces through training as well as humanitarian aid and disaster relief projects, and to increase stability and security within the region.
Prior to beginning work on the fence, the engineers conducted a site survey and interviewed local staff on what needed to be done. Construction took place for several days, with both Philippine and U.S. combat engineers working together on the facility.
“It’s really important [to do this kind of work] because we know what happened with Typhoon Haiyan,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jeremiah Diaz, combat engineer with 4th Battalion, 11th Engineer Regiment, attached to 25th ID and native of Guam. “Us knowing that our counterparts here in the Philippines are (going through difficult times) really makes us want to come out here help with building the schools and give back to the community.”
For the combat engineers, the work is voluntary and is a labor of love, many of them having close ties to the Philippines, having relatives and friends in the country.
“We’re working alongside the Philippine Army engineers, building the fence with their help,” said Diaz. “We’ve had a lot of volunteers that have wanted to do this project because there are a lot of Filipinos in Guam and a lot of our families are here in the Philippines.”
“The assistance given to us by [exercise] Balikatan is very important in the light of the school and the community itself,” said Celia Morales, school principal of Riverside Elementary School. “We don’t have to burden the parents with having to provide funds to improve the security of the school.
Civil-military operations similar to the Riverside Elementary School project are conducted annually and allow service members to engage the community face-to-face, building rapport with them.
“The Americans always ensure help and assistance especially in the safety and education of our pupils,” said Morales. “We’re looking forward to other projects, because we need them and we can’t provide all the facilities [for our students] because of the poor economic status of our community.”
Ultimately, the project was important in bringing together not only U.S. and Philippine forces, but the teachers, pupils and locals who came by to contribute and help with the project as well.
“In the end, we can’t do it ourselves,” said Diaz. “We can’t complete the project without their help. It’s really a group effort.”
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/129264/philippine-and-us-combat-engineers-develop-school-and-friendships-philippines#.U23Zs8ZOWAI
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