Several field exercises among highlights of 'Balikatan 2014'

From the Philippine News Agency (May 6): Several field exercises among highlights of 'Balikatan 2014'

Several field exercises, designed to increase the interoperability of both Filipino and American forces, are among the highlights of the schedule for this year's "Balikatan" military exercises.

Lt. (SG) Annaleah Cazcarro, Combined Joint Information Bureau co-director, said these include:

* Maritime Surveillance Systems Demonstration at the Naval Education and Training Command in Zambales.

* Demonstration on Air Movement, Live Fire, Counter Improvised Explosives Devices and Mass Casualty Response at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.

* Combined Cooperative Healthcare Engagement in Tacloban, Leyte.

* Showcase of Philippine Air Force and U.S. Air Power at Clark Field, Pampanga.

* Urban Search and Rescue field training exercises at Camp Lapu-Lapu, Cebu City.

And lastly, a Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise will be held at Crow Valley Range in Tarlac.

All of these activities are expected to take place within the May 5 to 16 duration of "Balikatan 2014."

Meanwhile, Filipino and U.S. forces began conducting community infrastructure projects in Legazpi City, Albay last week

Cazcarro said this is part of the maneuvers' Humanitarian Civic Assistance that will focus on revitalizing the interoperability of the Philippines and U.S. militaries through the conduct of disaster rehabilitation and rural development projects.

These will materialize through the Engineering Civic-Action Programs, Cooperative Health Engagements, Symposiums, and Community Relation activities.

Exercise "Balikatan" is an annual bilateral combined exercise initiated by the governments of the Republic of the Philippines and the United States.

It is structured to further develop the Armed Forces of the Philippines in crisis-action planning, enhancing its ability to effectively conduct counterterrorism operations, and promote interoperability between participating countries. It will also demonstrate cooperation and interoperability between the Philippines and the U.S., consistent with the Mutual Defense Treaty and Visiting Forces Agreement, as both countries continue to uphold a commitment to train, share information and provide support to each other.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=640840