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Joint and Combined Philippine MEDCAP During Talon Vision/PHIBLEX 06

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS051026-05
Release Date: 10/26/2005 12:40:00 PM

From Task Force 76 Public Affairs

SUBIC BAY, Republic of the Philippines (NNS) -- U.S. Navy, Marine, and Armed Forces of the Philipines (AFP) medical personnel, currently conducting Talon Vision and Amphibious Landing Exercise(PHIBLEX) 06, provided medical care to more than 800 local residents of Gawad Kalinga Village, Barangay Santa Juliana, Capas, Tarlac, Oct. 23.

The Medical Civil Action Project (MEDCAP) is part of the continuing Republic of Philippines and U.S. humanitarian assistance to the Philippines at the invitation of that government. The humanitarian effort is a joint effort between the AFP and U.S. servicemen not only to train and work together, but also to benefit the local community.

Lt. j.g. Sherri Garrett, a chaplain assigned to Marine Service Support Group (MSSG) 31, felt the combined effort benefited everyone, especially the children that were brought for medical checkups.

“This is such outstanding work. The people are very receptive and the children are wonderful,” said Garrett, a native of Racine, Wis. “It is such a blessing to be able to serve so many people.”

The combined effort and teamwork of medical personnel from the U.S. Navy, Marine and AFP provided basic health checkups and medicine to children, expectant mothers, elderly and those with illness. Medical care provided to the local residents included medical screening, dental care, minor surgery and medicine.

Maj. Melquiades Ordiales, civil military operations planner for the Philippine Marines, said the joint and combined effort between the Philippine and U.S. military during this MEDCAP provided much-needed medical care.

“We saw about 900 people today, and our medical staff of 50 Philippine Marine, Philippine Air Force, U.S. military doctors and civilian dentists provided basic medical and dental care. (This) goes a long way in helping the local community where medical care like this is very rare,” said Ordiales.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Joel Clemente, attached to III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) Special Operations Training Group (SOTG) and a Philippines native, said the MEDCAP had very special meaning to him. He had come with his medical group to help in the project not knowing that the local people of this community also spoke his native dialect of Kapangpangan.

“At first the people were stunned that I spoke their dialect, that someone in this (military) uniform could understand and speak their language,” said Clemente. “They were so appreciative with big thank you’s and smiles on their faces like it was Christmas. It’s all about helping people and we’re doing that here today.”

Amphibious Squadron 11 and Forward Deployed Amphibious Ready Group with embarked Okinawa-based 31st MEU, are currently on their Fall deployment conducting bilateral exercises, Talon Vision and PHIBLEX 06, with the AFP.

The three-ship Amphibious Ready Group consists of USS Essex (LHD 2), USS Juneau and USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43). Approximately 5,000 U.S. and Philippine military personnel will participate in the exercises.

Task Force 76 is the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force and is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.