Photo By Lance Cpl. Garry Welch | A U.S. Marine partners with an Armed Forces of the Philippines Marine during a mock...... read more read more
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NAVAL TRAINING FACILITY SAN MIGUEL, Philippines - The white water breaking against the front of the amphibious assault vehicles was the only visible clue they were approaching.
As they neared the shore, the AAVs spewed clouds of smoke to cover their final approach. Once they hit the beach, both U.S. and Philippine Marines poured out the back to secure the beachhead.
The Marines and sailors with Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducted a bilateral, mock mechanized amphibious assault with their Filipino counterparts Oct. 23 at the Naval Training Facility in San Miguel, Philippines.
The assault was part of Amphibious Landing Exercise 2012, an annual, bilateral exercise focused on improving interoperability and readiness of U.S. and Philippine forces.
During this year’s exercise, more than 2,000 members of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and their Filipino counterparts are participating in a variety of training evolutions, including live-fire maneuvers and amphibious operations.
“Our objectives were to secure a beachhead and push inland utilizing support by fire positions, assaulting the enemy and securing the area,” said 1st Lt. Garret Shaw, a platoon commander with BLT 2nd Bn., 7th Marines.
After establishing a beachhead, the Marines of both nations boarded their AAVs and broke into three elements.
The first element set up blocking positions, providing security along the flanks of the beachhead. The second moved into position to provide support by fire as the third element pushed forward toward the final objective.
All three elements consisted of fully integrated squads of Philippine and U.S. Marines. The combined nations’ service members overcame the language barrier quickly to accomplish the mission.
As Philippine and U.S. Marines moved forward and reacted to enemy fire, they communicated through hand signals.
“They were very professional,” said Lance Cpl. Kyle L. Thompson, a radio operator with BLT 2nd Bn., 7th Marines. “We listened well to each other and learned from each other.”
Working together in integrated squads to accomplish the mission was beneficial for both sides in many ways, according to Col. Andrew MacMannis, 31st MEU’s commanding officer.
“One of the advantages we have when we come here is we get with the other services and other country’s militaries and get the experience of learning what they know, as well as our partners learning what we know,” said MacMannis. “The truth is, they have as much to teach us as we have to teach them.”
With the objective and the mission complete, the Marines of the 31st MEU talked with the Philippine Marines about the mission.
“This training was good to refresh our Marines’ skills with our U.S. counterparts,” said Philippine Maj. Nilo Japzon, a spokesman for the Philippine Marines. “This was a good experience for both sides, and I’m looking forward to training with the U.S. Marines again.”
As the Marines trained together, they greatly improved their interoperability between U.S. and Philippine forces, said MacMannis.
“Anytime you get together for training, it helps improve relations,” said MacMannis. “The biggest part of these exercises is just getting with your counterparts and getting to know them and seeing what you can learn from them, and what you can teach each other.”
The amphibious training was just one part of PHIBLEX 2012, an annual training opportunity vital to maintaining the readiness and interoperability of the U.S. and the Republic of the Philippines military forces, he said.
| Date Taken: | 10.27.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 10.27.2011 01:48 |
| Story ID: | 79068 |
| Location: | NAVAL TRAINING FACILITY SAN MIGUEL, PH |
| Web Views: | 381 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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