U.S. Marine Corps Col. Sean Dynan, commanding officer of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, receives a gift from Philippine Marines assigned to 3rd Marine Brigade during a key leader engagement during Exercise Balikatan 24 at Philippine Marine Base Rodolfo, Puerto Princesa, Philippines April 23, 2024. Balikatan is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. Military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Peyton Kahle)
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Jessa Bucsit, a food service specialist assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 15, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a Filipino native, describes her experience in the Marine Corps and the significance of returning to the Philippines to participate in Exercise Balikatan 2024 aboard the amphibious transport dock USS Somerset (LPD 25) during a port visit to Subic Bay, Philippines, April 20, 2024. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral capabilities, interoperability, trust, and cooperation. Somerset and embarked elements of the 15th MEU are conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations....
Puerto Princesa, PHILIPPINES – Marines and Sailors assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, embarked on the amphibious transport dock USS Somerset (LPD 25) and amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), consolidated in the province of Palawan to participate in Exercise Balikatan 2024 on April 22.
Over 1,000 Marines and Sailors embarked on the Somerset and Harpers Ferry integrated for the first time on their routinely scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific region for the exercise. Training alongside the Philippine Marine Corps, the 15th MEU’s participation in Balikatan helps maintain a high level of military readiness to enhance bilateral response capabilities in the Philippines and improve mutual defense...