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Navy Reservists Support Balikatan 2006, Leyte Relief Effort

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060302-01
Release Date: 3/2/2006 8:29:00 AM

By Journalist 1st Class Scott Comstock, Naval Reserve Fleet Public Affairs Center Northwest

CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines (NNS) -- Navy Reservists with Fleet Logistic Support Wing are playing a crucial role during Exercise Balikatan 2006, a bilateral combined exercise, being held in the Philippines Feb. 20 to March 5.

Balikitan is conducted annually in the Philippines to exercise joint and combined operations in support of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines.

This year's goal is to ensure interoperability of American and Filipino forces for humanitarian and civic assistance on the Philippine islands of Cebu, Luzon and Sulu. However, the plan changed after the Feb. 17 mudslide in Leyte, Philippines.

Balikatan 2006 personnel enabled key assets of the American and Filipino militaries to be in the right place at the right time to assist relief efforts on Leyte Island after a massive mudslide buried the town of St. Bernard.

"It's really good that we can do something to help the people of the Philippines and this disaster (relief effort)," said Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Sakima Stringer, aircraft transport safety specialist for Fleet Logistic Support Wing (VR) 61 Squadron, based out of Whidbey Island, Wash.

Navy and Marine helicopters flying from USS Essex (LHD 2) and USS Juneau (LPD 10) supported the Marines. Both ships had arrived in Filipino waters for Exercise Balikatan 2006 prior to the disaster in Leyte. Medical personnel from the Navy ships and from the island of Luzon also worked in the disaster zone to aid the victims.

Navy Reservists from the Fleet Logistic Support Wing supplied food, clothing, water, oxygen and other essentials to assist Filipino victims and to aid their rescuers on the scene. Other Reservists worked side-by-side with their active-duty counterparts at sea.

Fleet Logistic Support Wing is the largest air wing in the U.S. Navy, and its aircraft are crewed by Full-Time Support (FTS) Sailors and Selected Reservists, often while on their Annual Training. They provide the cargo handling capabilities of the U.S. Navy throughout the world.

The Sailors' original plan was logistical support for the civil military operation and field training exercise portion of the exercise, according to Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Brian Krukiel, FTS reservist and crewman with VR-59.

Air Force, Marine and Filipino air crew unloaded supplies from VR-61's C-9 transport sitting on the runway for a quick turn-around back to Okinawa, Japan, for more supplies.

In Filipino, Balikatan means, "sharing the load together." With American and Filipino military personnel working alongside Filipino civilians to save lives on Leyte, this year's Balikatan 2006 lives up to its name.