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Blue-Green Team Embarks Philippine Marines

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS051101-05
Release Date: 11/1/2005 9:26:00 AM

By Journalist Seaman Adam R. Cole, Task Force 76 Public Affairs

USS ESSEX, Republic of the Philippines (NNS) -- Ships of the Forward Deployed Amphibious Ready Group performed amphibious backload operations Oct. 27 as part of Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) 06, bringing back some special embarks along with the Marines of 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).

USS Essex (LDH 2), USS Juneau (LPD 10), and USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) embarked two companies of Philippine Marines, approximately 100 in all during the backload operations.

“We’ve taught them everything from vehicle maintenance techniques to crisis action planning, and in turn, we have learned jungle warfare and survival skills from the Philippine marines, who are among the best in the world at that style of fighting,” said Marine Capt. Daniel S. Price, assistant operations officer and Philippine liaison.

PHIBLEX is an annual bilateral Republic of the Philippines and United States exercise designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness and continue professional relationships between the United States and Philippine Armed Forces (AFP).

“Having the Philippine Marines here strengthens the Blue-Green team and our ability to conduct operations safely and efficiently,” said Capt. Mark E. Donahue, commodore, Amphibious Squadron 11, the operational commander of the Forward Deployed Amphibious Ready Group based out of Sasebo, Japan. “The powerful teamwork that we have estabished during this training increases our operational potential in supporting and maintaining the peace and stability of the Asian-Pacific region.”

The bilateral training component has been an important piece for both sides, according to 31st MEU and AFP Marines. Both have taught each other important lessons and built camaraderie that will last a lifetime.

“This is very helpful,” said Marine 1st Lt. Clifford Bosco, commanding officer of the AFP’s 2nd Marine battalion. “Best of all, we like the camaraderie of being with other Marines. We greatly appreciated the training and enjoyed it very much.”

The 31st Marines had similarly good comments about the AFP personnel and training.

“They came out with a lot of energy and gave us insight into wilderness operations that we didn’t have a lot of experience with,” said Marine Staff Sgt. Robert Foreman, a 3rd platoon sergeant from Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine of the 31st MEU.

Now, the Marines of both countries will work together, using the three-ship Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) to conduct amphibious landing operations, which is a coordinated ship to shore movement of personnel, equipment and supplies using a variety of aircraft and amphibious landing crafts.

The Philippine marines are ready and excited about the combined amphibious landing operation with their U.S. counterparts.

“We have learned a lot from the U.S. Marines,” said Philippine Marine Sgt. Rogellio M. Capilitan Jr. “We have to always be ready, no matter what the challenge.”

Essex, Juneau and Fort McHenry are based out of Sasebo, Japan, and part of the Navy’s only Forward Deployed Amphibious Ready Group.