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Balikatan 2006 Commences, Continues Despite New Operational Commitment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060222-12
Release Date: 2/22/2006 6:03:00 PM

By Marine Lance Cpl. Erin F. McKnight, Combined Information Bureau Balikitan

MANILA, Philippines (NNS) -- Exercise Balikatan 2006, a Philippine and U.S. bilateral combined exercise, commenced Feb. 20 at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo.

Although the Feb. 17 mudslide in Leyte, Philippines, caused more than 1,500 U.S. troops to divert in support of the relief efforts, more than 3,500 U.S. service members are still working to ensure Balikatan is successful during its 22nd evolution, according to U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Mastin M. Robeson, commander, Joint Task Force Balikatan 2006 and deputy commander, combined task force.

“The emphasis of Balikatan 2006 now is in Jolo,” said Robeson. “We’re here to support and facilitate the training of our two great armed forces.”

One of the original training evolutions was designed to simulate a natural disaster. This training, however, became a real-world event after the mudslide in Leyte.

“It’s really ironic, because one scenario we were planning to exercise in Cebu was a natural disaster,” said Pacific Command’s U.S. Army Maj. George Shishido, operations supervisor for Balikatan 2006. “Then the mudslide happened. Part of the training would have been running Balikatan while providing relief at the same time.”

U.S. Embassy Charge d’Affaires Paul Jones said the events surrounding Balikatan 2006 make it a “uniquely significant and uniquely relevant” exercise.

“This tragic incident has changed the picture a lot, but it’s the true meaning of Balikatan – shoulder to shoulder,” said Philippine Army Brig. Gen. Daniel R. Casabar, commander, joint task force, and co-director of Balikatan 2006. “(The Filipinos) get to learn that the U.S. isn’t only here for the exercise, but also to help out in the operation. Balikatan wasn’t cancelled. It wasn’t even disrupted – it was strengthened.”

Jones expressed his condolences to the Filipinos during their time of suffering, and also said the two countries’ willingness to work with each other indicates the positive relationship between the United States and the Philippines.

“Nothing is going to be taken away from Balikatan,” Jones said. “We can do both. We can do both together.”