PHL units to get first-hand look on Balikatan exercises 'distributed operations'

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 5): PHL units to get first-hand look on Balikatan exercises 'distributed operations'

Aside from the humanitarian and inter-operability aspects, the ongoing "Balikatan" exercises will give Filipino military units a first-hand look on the so-called "distributed operations".

This was confirmed by US "Balikatan" exercise director Lt. Gen. John Toolan during Monday's opening ceremonies.

"Of course the Philippines is a very unique country particularly with all those islands, so one of the things that we're trying to work on is what we call 'distributed operation', its being able to put small teams throughout for example the archipelago here in the Philippines and give them a capability, the command-and-control, communicate (when) necessarily," he added.

Also, since American units have not done this for a long time, "Balikatan" will give US forces a chance to test it.

"We're (going to experiment) with some new equipment, I mentioned the rockets (HIMARS) but there are other things, we’re (going to) look at how we can establish expeditionary sites, in other words sites that you can put up, or put down down quickly, not necessarily fixed sites so its (going to) be pretty challenging to be quite honest for us," Toolan stressed.

HIMARS which is short for the "M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System".

It is a US light multiple rocket launcher mounted on a standard Army medium tactical vehicle truck frame.

Two HIMARS units will be participating in the "Balikatan" exercises.

Each HIMARS platform is worth over USD5 million and can carry six rockets or one MGM-140 ATACMS missile on the US Army's new family of medium tactical vehicles five-ton truck, and can launch the entire multiple launch rocket system family of munitions.

It is interchangeable with the MLRS M270A1, carrying half the rocket load. The launcher is C-130 transportable.

Toolan earlier said the Philippine and American alliance is strong as attested by the constant conduct of "Balikatan" exercises.

"Our alliance is strong. The United States is committed to this relationship and these are not empty words. These are in (the) Ameican expression, putting our money where our mouth is. We have over 5,000 US Marines, sailors, soldiers and airmen here which represent this substantial commitment of the Pacific Command," he added.

"We have a bond, we have a special bond forged in Cabanatuan, Corrigedor or Leyte and we should never forget that. As the present commander of US Marine Forces Pacific, I have been blessed of being able to cultivate relationships with many of the senior officers, and representaives of the Philippine Armed Forces," Toolan pointed out.

He added that peace in Southeast Asia depends on cooperation.

"And as we think about the Philippines and its security landscape, analyzing its history, patterns and dynamics of how our militaries engage with one another, we can identify one area that's missing and what we can do better to help our two nations achieve their respective aspirations for defense and security," Toolan disclosed.

"My staff and I have engaged many people about the challenges past, present, and future associated with the security environment in the Philippines, and the Philippines' ability to achieve its security goal. what i feel , both American and Filipino professionally and personally is the overriding foundation of desire to achieve and end-state of a sovereign, independent, self sufficient, self relying Philippines fully capable of effectively addressing its own course security requirements," he added.

Toolan said their view of Philippines self-sufficiency and self-reliance is real and US forces in "Balikatan" are here to showcase that.

"We have made significant progress. And as President Obama said recently in the Philippines, our commitment to defend the Philippines is ironclad. The United States will keep that commitment because allies never stand alone. This view of helping the AFP achieve self sufficiency and self-reliance is about enhancing the alliance and transforming it from an alliance borne out of necessity to an alliance based principally on shared values and the belief that our nations share real and (immutable) bond of friendship," he concluded.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=873230