Photo By Cpl. Brianna Christensen | Philippine Army 2nd Lt. Rani V. Birog debriefs U.S. Marines and Philippine Army after...... read more read more
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CAMP O’DONNELL, Republic of the Philippines — Marines from 3rd Maintenance Battalion participated in several convoys with members of the Philippine Army and Philippine Marine Corps in support of Philippine-U.S. Bilateral Amphibious Landing Exercise 2013.
The participants received classes on convoy operations, the M11-51 A1 and the MK23 A1 before conducting convoys around Camp O’Donnell and Crow Valley.
“The classes were very helpful,” said Philippine Army 2nd Lt. Rani V. Birog, the platoon commander for 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army. “This is our first time on any of the U.S. vehicles, so it helped us familiarize ourselves with the trucks and what weapons are mounted to them.”
The classes also gave the Armed Forces of the Philippines a chance to look into new vehicles of their own, according to 1st Lt. Robert Meintzer, the field training exercise officer-in-charge during PHIBLEX 13.
“Giving them a class on our gun trucks and seven tons gives them insight if they want to get their own in the future,” said Meintzer. “They now have the experience of hearing a motor transport operator explain how these vehicles work and what they provide our Marines in the fight.”
Members of the Philippine Army and Marine Corps rode with members of the U.S. military while they led a convoy and members of the U.S. Marine Corps rode along convoys led by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“This exercise gives my Marines experience and knowledge they did not have before,” said Philippine Marine Corps Maj. Florencio C. Pinera, the operations officer for Motor Transport Maintenance Battalion. “They have the chance to train in Crow Valley and learn new convoy tactics and techniques.”
During the convoys the service members experienced simulated IEDs and ambushes.
“Showing them the methods the Marine Corps uses will help them protect their convoys in the future,” said Meintzer.
The convoy training also provided the U.S. Marines with a chance to see how other services react to situations.
“It is good for the U.S. Marines to see how the Armed Forces of the Philippines react,” said Meintzer. “There are even differences between the Philippine Army and Philippine Marine Corps’ reactions to ambushes. It is good for the Marines to experience something different.”
The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. Forces never know when a situation will arise that will call for them to work together, according to Birog. It is important that if that time comes the services know each other’s tactics and strategies in order to operate together.
“PHIBLEX as a whole is very important because the Philippines have been a friend for years upon years and it is important that we support them,” said Meintzer.
| Date Taken: | 10.09.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 10.14.2012 23:09 |
| Story ID: | 96163 |
| Location: | CROW VALLEY, PH |
| Web Views: | 583 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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