Aside from boosting their ability to operate with one
another, elements of the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) working hand-in-hand
with their United States counterparts got a first-hand glimpse of the modern
amphibious assault vehicles (AAVs) during the Balikatan exercise which was held
at the North Beach training area in Naval Education and Training Command, Naval
Station Leovigildo Gantioqui here Tuesday morning.
Twenty-one AAVs took part in the amphibious assault portion
of Balikatan 2015.
Around 600 Marine troopers -- 400 Americans and 200
Filipinos -- took part in the exercise which began at 10 a.m.
The AAVs came from the USS Green Bay (LPD-20), one of the
four American ships participating in this year's Balikatan exercise.
Each AAV carries 20 soldiers and their equipment.
Tuesday's scenario involved American and Filipino troopers
"beating off" a fictional enemy, the "Calabanians" who
"invaded Philippine territory" after a "falling out" with
the country.
In the hour-long exercise, joint US and Filipino troopers,
supported by "Huey" combat utility helicopters and "Cobra"
gunships, "defeated the enemy" after a series of engagements.
Three AAV waves, each consisting of seven vehicles,
participated in the activity which was terminated at around 11 a.m.
“Amphibious assaults are considered to be among the Marines’
primary capabilities and this exercise will be a good test of how our own
amphibious units could team up with their U.S.
counterparts in staging a crucial vessel-to-shore operation,” Armed Forces of
the Philippines
Present during Tuesday's amphibious assault exercise were
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Visiting Forces Agreement Commission
Executive Director Eduardo Oban, AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang
Jr, and major services commanders.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=754790
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