600 US marines arrive for MIX

SUBIC BAY, Zambales — About 600 US marines based in Okinawa, Japan, arrived here yesterday for joint exercises with their Philippine counterparts, the second for the year, the military announced.

The exercises — to be held at Clark, a former US air force base in Pampanga, and in Ternate, Cavite — will begin tomorrow and will run up to Feb. 23.

Philippine Marine Corps commander Maj. Gen. Librado Ladia said the war games is part of the Philippines’ defense treaty with the United States.

Dubbed Marine Interoperability Exercise (MIX), the exercises aim to improve "bilateral planning, combat readiness and interoperability" between the two sides, he said.

Both forces will train on how to fight "external aggression and state-sponsored terrorism."

The manuevers will include exercises for rifle companies, scout snipers and reconnaissance units. Troops will also undergo training on how to engage "unconventional forces" in the jungle.

"US forces will certainly benefit from this exercise by way of gaining experience in terrain operations and cultural interaction with Filipino troops. Filipino troops, on the other hand, will have an opportunity to learn from their counterparts new tactical doctrines and field engagement techniques," Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes said.

The exercises will involve the use of six CH-53 helicopters, parachuting and ground attack operations, US marines spokeswoman 1Lt. Amy Malugani said.

The US marines will soon be deployed to other Philippine bases to help their Filipino counterparts train in integrated ground and air operations, she added.

Malugani stressed that the deployment of US marines here had nothing to do with possible US military action against Iraq or with counter-terrorism training against Muslim militants in the region.

Security for the 600 US marines will be tight with the Americans barred from leaving the guarded areas, she said.

Asked what the US troops would do in case of attack, Malugani said they have "sufficient authority to defend themselves if put in harmful risk." However, she did not elaborate.

The marine exercises will overlap with two other joint manuevers between Philippine and US forces — one currently being held at Clark and another in Zamboanga City.

At Clark, US and Philippine soldiers are holding paratroop operations, while US military advisers in Zamboanga will train Filipino forces on counter-terrorism tactics.

The training in Zamboanga is part of a security assistance training program that the US Pacific Command has prepared for the Philippine military and is similar to the six-month-long joint exercises held last year, also in Zamboanga City and on nearby Basilan.

A total of 17 military exercises are scheduled to be held this year, including three multilateral exercises that may include participants or observers from still unidentified third counties.

From April 28 to May 9, the second "Balikatan" exercise will be held, following the successful Balikatan 02-1 exercise last year.

The small-scale Makani Pahili and Palah 03-2 exercises are expected to follow the Balikatan exercise on June 3.

From Oct. 7 to Nov. 22 will be another Balance Piston exercise, overlapping with Flash Piston 03-3. — With Jaime Laude