An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | May 7, 2018

Exercise Balikatan to Begin with Opening Ceremony

By Petty Officer 1st Class Nardel Gervacio

CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City, Philippines -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and U.S. military forces held the opening ceremony officially kicking off Exercise Balikatan 2018 (BK18), at Tejeros Hall, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City, May 7, 2018.

Balikatan, a Filipino term meaning “shoulder-to-shoulder” or “sharing the load together” characterizes the spirit of the exercise, focusing on the U.S. – Philippine partnership and commitment to the mutual defense treaty.

This marks the 34th year for the annual exercise and will focus on a variety of missions, including mutual defense, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Lt Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force, delivered his opening remarks, thanking those in attendance and spoke about the significance of the exercise and the strong bond forged by years of working shoulder-to- shoulder as partner nations.

“Each year, through Balikatan, we reaffirm our commitment to each other under the mutual defense treaty and conduct an array of multilateral training opportunities to help us develop as allies,” said Nicholson. “We as military are charged with being ready when our nations need us most.

This year, the Philippines and the United States will work alongside the Australian Defense Force and the Japan Self-Defense Force. The AFP and U.S. military have a longstanding relationship going back to World War II.

“Our alliance remains a key source of strength and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. It is paramount to recognize that Balikatan is a training opportunity that will test and enhance our readiness while strengthening the bond between our nations.”

Armed forces of the Philippines (AFP) Lt. Gen. Emmanuel B. Salamat, exercise director for BK18 said, “I’m greatly honored to stand side-by-side with our U.S. military counterpart to share our mutual responsibility and commitment in making this Phil-US bilateral exercise a success. We extend this commitment to strengthen our alliance and learn from both forces to improve our interoperability.”

By training together, the U.S. military and AFP build upon shared tactics, techniques and procedures that will enhance readiness and response capabilities during real-world challenges.

“By the end of Balikatan, we expect our respective troops, both from the AFP and U.S. armed forces to learn from each other, not only from the training itself but also from the hard-earned experience of both our forces,” said Salamat. “May this exercise add value not only in the spirit our US-Phil Mutual Defense Treaty engagement and friendship of our armed forces, but also in our commitment to better perform our mandate in protecting our people and state.”
CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                      

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
7th EAS kicks off Bamboo Eagle 25-1
A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 62d Airlift Wing takes off at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, Feb. 5, 2025, in preparation for Bamboo Eagle 25-1. This exercise demonstrates the squadron's capability to rapidly deploy personnel and equipment in a contested environment. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman 1st Class Megan Geiger)
Feb. 12, 2025 - Airmen from the 7th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron launched operations in support of Bamboo Eagle 25-1, Feb. 5, 2025. The exercise demonstrates the critical role of rapid global mobility in the deployment and sustainment of...

Backbone University 2025
Service members from all branches of the U.S. and Republic of Korea complete the culminating event of Backbone University 2025 at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Feb. 7, 2025. Enlisted leaders from the Republic of Korea and United States joined together to train, validate and elevate the combined lethality and capability of the ROK-US alliance by providing participants with an understanding of joint operations and their function in a joint environment. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Kelsey Kollar)
Feb. 12, 2025 - A joint force of 89 Republic of Korea and U.S. senior Noncommissioned Officers came together from across the Korean Peninsula to attend the 2025 iteration of Backbone University, February 3-7, on Camp Humphreys...

ROK JCS and U.S. Joint Staff conduct Opening Gambit TTX
Feb. 12, 2025 - The Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Forces Korea, and other partners hosted the "Opening Gambit" training exercise (TTX) at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, from February 3-7, 2025...

KS25: USAF, JSDF conduct C-17 static loading test
A Japan Ground Self-Defense Force CH-47JA Chinook helicopter assigned to the 1st Helicopter Brigade sits on the flightline before loading onto a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III in support of Keen Sword 25 at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Feb. 4, 2025. U.S. Air Force Airmen and JGSDF soldiers conducted a static loading of a JGSDF CH-47JA into a  C-17 assigned to the 535th AS. Keen Sword is a biennial field training exercise involving members of the U.S. military and Japan Self-Defense Forces. It is designed to increase readiness and interoperability while strengthening the ironclad U.S.-Japan alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe)
Feb. 12, 2025 - Approximately 60 members from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force and U.S. Air Force conducted a C-17 Globemaster III static loading test at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan Feb. 3-4...

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Japan Joint Staff host Joint Senior Leaders Seminar
Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, front center, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, joins Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida, front second from left, Chief of Staff of the Japan Joint Staff, for a group photo during the Joint Senior Leaders Seminar at USINDOPACOM headquarters on Camp H.M. Smith in Hawaii, Feb. 11, 2025. The JSLS aims to continue strengthening bilateral commitments between the two nations and throughout the region. USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, fighting to win. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Angel Heraldez)
Feb. 12, 2025 - Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, front center, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, joins Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida, front second from left, Chief of Staff of the Japan Joint Staff, for a group photo during the Joint Senior Leaders...