U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 25th Division Artillery, 25th Infantry Division, load a M119A3 Light Towed Howitzer 105mm during a combined arms live-fire exercise during Balikatan 2022 on Colonel Ernesto Rabina Air Base, Tarlac province, Philippines, March 31, 2022. Balikatan is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. Military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. Balikatan 22 is the 37th and largest-ever iteration of the exercise and coincides with the 75th anniversary of the U.S.-Philippine security cooperation and a shared commitment to advancing peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
U.S. Army photo by Spc. Darbi Colson/28th Public Affairs Detachment.
MANILA, Philippines — The largest ever military exercises between the Philippines and the United States came out with a "favorable outcome" despite COVID-19 limitations, an Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) official said.
The AFP and the US military concluded the annual Balikatan exercises on Friday. Approximately 40 personnel from the Australian Defense Force also participated in the exercises this year.
"The experience gained from exercise Balikatan complemented our security cooperation endeavors and helped enhance existing mutual security efforts," AFP exercise director Maj. Gen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan said.
"This year’s Balikatan is a testament to the resiliency of the Philippines-United States alliance as we remain strong partners even after the various challenges we have encountered in the past two years," AFP chief Gen. Andres Centino said.
Philippine and U.S. government and military representatives participate in the closing ceremony to conclude Balikatan 22 at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, April 8, 2022. Balikatan is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades shared experiences. Balikatan, Tagalog for ‘shoulder-to-shoulder,’ is a longstanding bilateral exercise between the Philippines and the United States highlighting the deep-rooted partnership between both countries. Balikatan 22 is the 37th iteration of the exercise and coincides with the 75th anniversary of the U.S.-Philippine security cooperation.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ujian Gosun
Nearly 9,000 Filipino and American soldiers participated in the military drills across Luzon for the past two weeks.
The exercises focused on maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban operations, aviation operations, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
US Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Heather Variava. said the recently concluded military drills was a testament to the strength of the longtime allies.
“After two years of a global pandemic, U.S. and Philippine forces have come together to complete one of the largest Balikatan exercises ever held," Variava said, as quoted in a US Embassy release.
US Marine Corps Forces Pacific Deputy Commander Brig. Gen. Joseph Clearfield added that the completion of another Balikatan is an example of the alies' shared commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region."
"As a result of our mutual efforts, our militaries have grown together in friendship, and we are better prepared to respond as one cohesive team to any crisis or challenge," Clearfield said.
U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to 13th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Wing conduct pre-flight checks prior to a bilateral air defense training mission during exercise Balikatan 22 at Basa Air Base, Philippines, April 1, 2022. Balikatan is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. Balikatan 22 is the 37th iteration of the exercise and coincides with the 75th anniversary of U.S.-Philippine security cooperation.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Steve Cushman
U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to 13th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Wing conduct pre-flight checks prior to a bilateral air defense training mission during exercise Balikatan 22 at Basa Air Base, Philippines, April 1, 2022. Balikatan is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. Balikatan 22 is the 37th iteration of the exercise and coincides with the 75th anniversary of U.S.-Philippine security cooperation.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Steve Cushman
U.S. and Philippine Marines and sailors conduct a bilateral amphibious landing at Claveria, Cagayan.
US-PH Balikatan/Release
U.S. Marines with Assault Amphibious Company, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, and Philippine Marines with Assault Armor Battalion, 74th Marine Company, arrive on land in Assault Amphibious Vehicles during Exercise Balikatan at Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui, San Antonio, Zambales, Philippines, April 3, 2019. Balikatan, in its 35th iteration, is an annual U.S.-Philippine military training exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism, and other combined military operations.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Trystan Jordan
U.S. Army and Marine Corps High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems assigned to 1st Battalion, 94th Field Artillery Regiment, and 3d Battalion, 12th Marines, 3d Marine Division conduct the combined arms live-fire exercise during Balikatan 22 at Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base, Tarlac, Philippines, March 31, 2022. Balikatan is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades shared experiences. Balikatan, Tagalog for ‘shoulder-to-shoulder,’ is a long-standing bilateral exercise between the Philippines and the United States highlighting the deep-rooted partnership between both countries. BK22 is the 37th iteration of the exercise and coincides with the 75th anniversary of U.S.-Philippine security cooperation.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jonathan Willcox
During the two-week exercise, the AFP and US troops deployed more than 50 aircraft, four ships, 10 amphibious craft, four High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launchers, and four Patriot missile systems.
Among the highlights of the annual bilateral exercise were the combined live fire exercise in Tarlac and the amphibious exercise in Cagayan.
The Filipino, American and Australian exercise forces also participated in multiple humanitarian and civic assistance projects, health engagements and community relations events.
While this year's Balikatan had concluded, the US Embassy said the AFP and US forces will continue to train and together through other exercises throughout 2022. — Patricia Lourdes Viray