JAMINDAN, Philippines – Philippine Army soldiers, and U.S. Army soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment walk back to the helicopter landing zone, after completing a combined-joint operation Handa Koa for Balikatan, April 14th, 2016. This year marked the 32nd iteration of the annual exercise Balikatan, which is an annual Philippine-U.S. military bilateral training exercise that is a signature element of the Philippine-U.S. alliance focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance, maritime law enforcement, and environmental protection. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jerome D. Johnson)
At the break of dawn, a Philippine Army platoon and one U.S. Army platoon from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment geared up on Antique airfield to conduct the final mission of operation Handa Koa. The team of soldiers boarded two CH-47 Chinook and four UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters to launch an air assault. They trekked through the jungle "shoulder-to-shoulder" to reach their main objective code named "Rhino".
"We started off with a combined-joint amphibious assault on the island itself, and then a Marine air assault onto Antique airfield. The combined Marines then took control of the airfield expand the lodgment, and conducted a defense," said Capt. James Hodges, 25th Infantry Division, assistant G3. "We then conducted an air landing with U.S. Army Forces and Philippine Army Forces via C-130 to occupy the airfield, and then conducted air assaults from the airfield to a northern objective on Panay itself. Simultaneously, we had Philippine Special Forces conduct reconnaissance missions on the same two objectives to the north."
The first phase of the operation began on the island of Luzon, which included numerous days of planning and synchronization at Camp Emilio Aguinaldo. A combined-joint U.S. and AFP team then worked together to project assets from Luzon to conduct a large scale operation on the island of Panay.
"As we transitioned out of the initial projection phase down to our initial staging base, it gave us the opportunity to do final rehearsals here on the airfield and then understand a little more about the operational environment that we were going to go into specifically to the island of Panay, and then conduct the air assault today on the objective," said Lt. Col. Jared Bordwell, Task Force Patriot, commander.
Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment had the opportunity to work closely with their Philippine Army counterparts at Fort Magsaysay before executing their mission on Panay. The soldiers conducted jungle survival training, close quarters training, and counter improvised explosive device training.
"The initial phase back at Magsaysay is when we started to understand each other and gain that appreciation for capabilities as well as form that comradery between the two forces," Bordwell said. "An infantryman is an infantryman. So the AFP and their capabilities and our capabilities, as we understood each other a little bit more they meshed very well with actions on the objective. It was just like having two U.S. platoons or having two AFP platoons out there. Both company commanders did an incredible job of planning, synchronizing, and really enabling that communication during the actions on to facilitate the execution of the mission."
By training together, the U.S. and the AFP soldiers developed tactics, techniques, procedures, and built partnerships.
"I think Balikatan was a great opportunity, for my soldiers and myself to learn a lot about the Philippines, understand our partner here, and understand some of the unique challenges of the operational environment, " Bordwell said. "I think it’s also a great teaching tool as we continue our partnership in the pacific in the future, and more likely than not soldiers will be back here doing Balikatan or other operations. It’s a great partnership and a great ability for us to learn from our partners as well hopefully teach them some capabilities, and refine some of their overall abilities."
This year marked the 32nd iteration of the annual exercise Balikatan. The U.S. and the Philippines have a continued interest in strengthening their longstanding security alliance, which has provided a platform for security and stability in the region throughout the decades.
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/195998/us-executes-combined-joint-operation-with-afp-counterparts#.VxzdyrT2b3h
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