Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Amalia Olvera | U.S. and Philippine service members pose for a photo with community members during a...... read more read more
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U.S. and Philippine Airmen held a community relations field day as part of Balikatan 2017 at Clark Air Base May 13, 2017.
Community leaders brought in approximately 88 school-age children from Sitio Haduan indigenous village to give them the chance to interact with Philippine and U.S. military personnel at Clark Air Base.
“The event was to bring the local community together with our military folks, Philippine Air Force, so they can interact,” said John Truchon, chief of services readiness, Pacific Air Force. “We are here, we want to be friends, not only military-to-military, but also with the community.”
More than 40 combined military personnel volunteered for this four-hour event, making it possible to run the various stations for games like a water balloon toss, dancing and singing.
“It’s about the kids, for us to get a chance to give back and have a fantastic time with the kids,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Kurt Ward, first sergeant from the 25th Air Support Operations Squadron. “This right here—seeing the kids laughing and playing, seeing them interacting with both the U.S. and the Philippine Air Force—this, by far, has been the best moment of this exercise.”
In addition to lunch, games and music, the children received backpacks with school supplies.
“The children come from less fortunate families. Perhaps for a moment during this event they can realize they are important to other people—not just their family, but also to the military,” said Philippine Air Force Airman 2nd Class Anna Katrina A. Yabut. “We are thankful to be part of this event.”
Service members participated in this community relations event to interact with the local community and understand its needs, as well as provide the opportunity to strengthen bonds outside of the military mission.
“[This] makes Balikatan worthwhile,” Truchon said.
Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine bilateral military exercise focused on a variety of missions including humanitarian and disaster relief, counterterrorism, and other combined military operations.
| Date Taken: | 05.13.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 05.17.2017 21:32 |
| Story ID: | 234206 |
| Location: | ANGELES CITY, PAMPANGA PROVINCE, PH |
| Web Views: | 149 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Balikatan: Chaplains help bring smiles to children near Clark Air Base, by PO1 Amalia Olvera, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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