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U.S., Philippines starts Balikatan 2005 joint military exercises

 

Philippine Secretary of Defense Avelino Cruz, Jr. (left) welcomes U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Joseph Mussomeli (right) at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City


Philippine Secretary of Defense Avelino Cruz, Jr. (left) welcomes U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Joseph Mussomeli (right) at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City for the opening ceremony of the joint U.S.-Philippine military exercise Balikatan 2005 on February 21. The exercise, to be held until March 6, includes civic action projects in Laguna Province and exercise-related construction at the former Clark Air Base, at Fort Magsaysay, and in Cavite Province. American troops participating in the exercise “are not trainers” but “fellow learners” in Balikatan, Deputy Chief of Mission Mussomeli said in his remarks. “In Balikatan we will train together, learn together, we would work side-by-side and because of this work and training all our forces, Filipino and Americans, will be better, more lethal and more capable.”

 

 

U.S. Embassy DCM Joseph Mussomeli exchange notes with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, Gen. Efren L. Abu (left) and Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG) Philippine and U.S. military honor guards march in with the colors to begin the ceremony. (Below:) As sign of unity, U.S. and Philippine officials lock their arms as a show of the unity and cooperation embodied in Balikatan exercises.


(Above, left:) U.S. Embassy DCM Joseph Mussomeli exchange notes with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, Gen. Efren L. Abu (left) and Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG) - Philippine Chief Col. Mathias Velasco (right) before the start of the opening ceremony. (Above, right:) Philippine and U.S. military honor guards march in with the colors to begin the ceremony. (Below:) As sign of unity, U.S. and Philippine officials lock their arms as a show of the unity and cooperation embodied in Balikatan exercises. (From left:) Major Gen. Stephen Tom, U.S. Co-Exercise Director for Balikatan 2005; AFF Chief of Staff Gen. Abu; Philippine Defense Secretary Cruz; U.S. Embassy DCM Mussomeli; Philippine Assistant Foreign Affairs Secretary Ariel Abadilla; and Major Gen. Romeo Alamillo, Philippine Co-Exercise Director for Balikatan 2005.
As sign of unity, U.S. and Philippine officials lock their arms as a show of the unity and cooperation embodied in Balikatan exercises. (From left:) Major Gen. Stephen Tom, U.S. Co-Exercise Director for Balikatan 2005; AFF Chief of Staff Gen. Abu; Philippine Defense Secretary Cruz; U.S. Embassy DCM Mussomeli; Philippine Assistant Foreign Affairs Secretary Ariel Abadilla; and Major Gen. Romeo Alamillo, Philippine Co-Exercise Director for Balikatan 2005.

 


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Last Update :: 01/09/2007
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