RP-US joint military exercise kicks off

CEBU, Philippines – The Balikatan exercise between the Philippine Navy and the United States Navy formally opened yesterday at the USS Harpers Ferry docked at the Cebu International Port.

A short program held atop the USS Harpers Ferry was attended by the US Navy officials and personnel and their Filipino counterparts.

USS Harpers Ferry is a 24-knot ship with 21 officers, 24 chief petty officers and 338 enlisted and 504 Marines. Its homeport is in Sasebo, Japan.

Rear Admiral Nora Tyson said the joint exercise is aimed to enhance and improve relationship between the United States and the Philippines.

According to Tyson, the training, dubbed the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT), is an important annual exercise that presents the opportunity to enhance bilateral interoperability which is paramount for real world responses.

Today, the 8th Battalion of Philippine Marine will host a U.S. Marine Company at the military’s Central Command.

Included in the military exercise are the combat martial arts program, weapons markmanship and counter-insurgency training.

Real Admiral Geronimo Defensor of the Philippine Navy stressed that the annual joint training exercise is important to the Philippine Navy, saying that it greatly improved the knowledge of their personnel.

A medical and dental care services are just two of several civic programs during CARAT ‘09 which will be conducted in Poblacion, Argao on May 22; barangay Nangka, Balamban on 24 May; barangay Ibo, Lapu-Lapu City on May 26; and in barangay Bangbang, Cordova on May 27.

Prior to the start of the medical and dental mission series, Philippine Navy and the US Navy medical and dental personnel will undergo a first-aid training and expertise exchange on medical techniques.

Medical and dental services include general dentistry, vital signs check-up and consultations, de-worming, diabetes screening and circumcision. 

The US Navy will also be providing prescription lenses for those who have ophthalmic deficiencies and will be giving away free vitamins and medicine to the patients.

Aside from the medical-dental missions, community-related events and programs (COMREL) will also be launched in barangay Bangbang, Cordova and in barangay Looc, Lapu-Lapu City.

As part of the COMREL activities, the navy personnel will conduct a tree-planting program, book donations, free haircut service and painting of Looc National High School. The 7th Fleet Band of the US Navy will also perform. — Jose P. Sollano with PR/LPM (THE FREEMAN)