52 PH, US 'free fallers' join Balikatan 2023 friendship jump

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 13, 2023): 52 PH, US 'free fallers' join Balikatan 2023 friendship jump (By Priam Nepomuceno)

(Photo courtesy of AFP Special Operations Command)

MANILA – A total of 52 "free fallers" (parachute specialists) from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)'s Special Operations Command and the United States Special Operations Command Pacific took part in the "Bilateral Military Freefall Friendship Jump".

This took place on Tuesday, shortly after the opening rites of the annual military drills.

"Using two Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey aircraft of the US Air Force, the freefall and airborne qualified soldiers jumped at an altitude of 9,000 feet above ground level and parachuted towards the Drop Zone Royce, Barangay Liwayway, Sta Rosa, Nueva Ecija," AFP public affairs office chief Col. Jorry Baclor said in a statement Wednesday night.

The activity was also highlighted by "wing exchange" and meaningful sharing of experiences, he added. "It (activity) aims to enhance interoperability and jointness between the Philippines and US Special Operations Forces," Baclor said.

He added that another free fall and static airborne event is scheduled on April 17 to 18 in the same drop zone.

Filipino, American troops conduct platoon live-fire exercise

Also on Tuesday, Philippine Army (PA) and US Army Pacific soldiers held a platoon live-fire exercise at Range 5, Camp Ernesto Rabina Air Base, Capas, Tarlac.

"Soldiers from the PA’s 99th Infantry Battalion, 7th Infantry Division and 51st Engineer Brigade together with three platoons from the US Army conducted various operations during the live-fire exercise which include artillery preparatory fires, helicopter air assault, aerial gunnery, obstacle breaching, knockout bunker, and room clearing," Army spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad said Thursday,

The live-fire exercise is part of the ongoing 38th iteration of "Balikatan" which involves more than 17,000 Filipino and US soldiers training side-by-side in a spectrum of military operations.

"Balikatan" is a testament to the longstanding and enduring friendship between the Philippines and the United States and their shared commitment to regional stability and security in the Indo-Pacific.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199291