Bilateral Amphibious Landing Exercise Set to begin in Philippines

Approximately 3,500 Marines and Sailors based out of Okinawa, Japan will partner with approximately 1,200 of their AFP counterparts to conduct PHIBLEX 15. The exercise will include a command post exercise; multiple field-training exercises, including various live-fire events; and humanitarian and civic assistance projects. PHIBLEX 15 will take place from Sept. 29 to Oct. 10.

PHIBLEX 15 is a bilateral training exercise conducted in the Philippines with 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (3d MEB), to include forces from III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF), the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU), a Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF), Commander, Task Force 76 (CTF-76) and Philippine Sailors and Marines from NAVFORWEST and 3d Marine Brigade PMC.

This 31st iteration of PHIBLEX will continue to enhance the interoperability between U.S. Navy and Marine Corps forces and their Philippine counterparts with a focus on improving our bilateral response to regional issues and maritime security crises. Additionally, PHIBLEX focuses on the enhancement of the amphibious capabilities of the Philippine Navy and Marine Corps.

This year’s opening ceremony will take place on 29 September at Naval Forces West, Palawan from 10 a.m. to noon.

Media interested in attending the opening ceremony for PHIBLEX 2015 should email Capt. Cassandra Gesecki at PhiblexPAO.media@gmail.com before noon, Sept. 27. Please include in the email, the full name, position, agency, citizenship, a digital passport-size photo, mailing address, email address and cell phone number of each media member interested in attending.

Additionally, Media interested in covering PHIBLEX 15 will have the opportunity to attend the following training events during the exercise. Times will be announced in subsequent media advisories:

• 29 September (Subic Bay Freeport, Luzon) – Media Day/ Ship Tour aboard the USS Peleliu.
• 2 October (Clark Air Base, Luzon) – Embassy Reinforcement and Non-Combatant Evacuation Exercise.
• 5 October (Naval Station San Miguel, Zambales) – Mechanized Assaults
• 6 October (Clark Air Base, Luzon) – Bilateral Para-ops training.
• 7 October (Crow Valley, Luzon) – Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise.
• 8 October (Palawan) – Moayon Elementary School Engineering Civic Action Program Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.
• 9 October (Zambales) – Beddieng Elementary School Engineering Civic Action Program Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.
• 10 October (Fort Bonifacio, Makati City) – Closing Ceremony.