450 US Marines arrive in Subic for war games

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Some 450 US Marines arrived here yesterday, two days before the opening of this year’s annual RP-US training exercises.

Marines from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force from Okinawa, Japan disembarked at Subic as part of the advance element of the US forces that will participate in the upcoming Talon Vision and Amphibious Landing Exercise (Phiblex). The trip took them 30 hours at sea on the Westpac Express, which is considered as one of fastest vessels in the US military.

The arriving American troops were later deployed to different points in Clark Field in Pampanga, Ternate in Cavite and Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.

Some 5,700 US servicemen will join 13,000 Filipino troops this month in the joint exercise, which will include live-fire exercises, amphibious landings and ship interdictions.

Unlike recent training in Mindanao, the new joint exercises will not be aimed primarily at battling terrorism but will focus on routine drills to enhance both forces’ capabilities to operate together.

The ground, air and sea maneuvers, which will be held from Oct. 16 to 31, form part of the long-term Security Assistance Program between the US and the Philippines.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority administrator Armand Arreza welcomed the arrival of the Phiblex participants and assured them of safe and fruitful stay at Subic.

"We welcome them here as our guests and we look forward to the success of the exercise. Rest assured that their safety and wellness will be our utmost priority while they are here," Arreza said.

Arreza said the presence of a strong military force like the US will greatly help in the training of personnel in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

US Marine spokesman Capt. Burrel Palmer said the joint exercise is aimed at improving maritime and ground-based skills of the AFP as well as strengthening the bond between US and Filipino soldiers.

"These routine exercises are designed to improve interoperability, readiness and continue to strengthen the forged bonds between the US and Philippine Armed Forces," he said.

More US troops are scheduled to arrive in the next few days from the Essex Expeditionary Group and Task Force 76 based in Sasebo, Japan.