8,900 US and PH troops join forces for Balikatan

By: John Eric Mendoza - Reporter / @JEMendozaINQ

INQUIRER.net / 08:08 PM March 22, 2022

U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Ospreys assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363
(VMM-363), 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, arrive at Subic Bay International Airport ahead of
Balikatan 22 in the Philippines. PHOTOS FROM US EMBASSY

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 8,900 members of the Philippine and American military
will join forces for the upcoming Balikatan exercises this year, the Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) said on Tuesday.

The largest military exercises of the two longtime allies will take place over Luzon from
March 28 to April 8, the AFP said in a statement.

AFP said some 3,800 military personnel and 5,100 U.S. military forces will train to “to
expand and advance shared tactics, techniques, and procedures that strengthen our
response capabilities and readiness for real-world challenges,” according to Major
General Jay Bargeron, 3rd Marine Division Commanding General.
This year’s Balikatan is much bigger than 2021, which only saw some 1,000 Filipino and
American troops.

The US forces will maintain social distancing and wearing of face masks during exercises
“as operationally feasible,” according to AFP.

Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. Air Force 18th Civil Engineer
Group, 18th Wing, work together on construction efforts ahead of Balikatan 22 at Masi
Elementary School, Rizal, Cagayan.

For his part, US Major General Charlton Sean Gaerlan, AFP Exercise Director said the
Balikatan is a testament to the strength of the security relationship of two countries,
adding that the alliance “remains a key source of strength and stability” in the Indo-Pacific
region.

“The experience gained in the exercise complements our security cooperation endeavors
and will help to enhance existing mutual security efforts,” Gaerlan said.
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Case Questions:
1. What is the main point of the article?
8,900 US and PH troops join forces for Balikatan.

2. Problems/issues/events presented in the article.

Covid 19 is a big obstacle for this Balikatan because both troops from US and PH will
have to adjust on some things to maintain the safety and avoid the virus.

3. What is the impact of the issues/events in your personal life and the society in
general?
This event is a good news for both of the countries because this will make their alliance
to be tighter and stronger and for them to exchange or learn new things from each
countries.

4. Solutions/Comments to the problems/issues/events that were implemented.

Balikatan is a good solution for the PH and US to secure and strengthen the alliance of
the two countries. Implementing the safety protocols will be a big help too for them to
avoid any Covid virus attacks.

5. Word Study. List new terms/unfamiliar words from the article. Be able to research the
corresponding meaning.
Tactics - an action or strategy carefully planned to achieve a specific end.
Endeavor - try hard to do or achieve something.
Squadron - an operational unit in an air force consisting of two or more flights of aircraft
and the personnel required to fly them.

Reaction:
8,900 US and PH troops join forces for Balikatan, this operation will benefit both US and
PH troops because the two are a longtime allies this can be a good chance for them to
refresh or renew their alliance.
In my own perspective, the operation Balikatan will relieved Filipino and American
citizens because they will know that US and PH still has an alliance and this will prevent
discrimination from both sides as they accept the fact that PH has a relationship with the
US.

Based on my observation, this will improve our country’s troops/forces as the US will
share some advance shared tactics, techniques, and procedures that will help us to
improve and to assure the Philippines’ citizens that our country’s forces/troops are not
weak.
Because of this article, some Filipino citizens including me became more inspired to
pursue our dreams to become part of the Philippine Army to serve and protect our
country with those shared tactics, techniques, and procedures for us to be ready for any
upcoming real-world challenges. This will help us to have more information about what
we were going to do and to execute it properly. This will bring us closer, stabilize and
strengthen our relationship to them.
This alliance will be a big help for the Philippines because if another World War will
happen Philippines will be feared and will not be an easy target because other countries
know that we have an alliance with the US which is one of the largest countries in the
world and once they targeted the Philippines the forces/troops will let them know that
Philippines is not the country they want to mess with.