DUMATING na sa Filipinas ang amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), lulan ang Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) 4 na pinangungunahan ng 4th Marine Regiment para sumabak sa RP-US Balikatan 2019 joint military exercise na magsisimula ngayong Lunes.
“We are excited to visit the Philippines for the first time since Wasp was forward deployed to 7th Fleet,” ayon kay Capt. Colby Howard, Wasp’s commanding officer.
“Balikatan is a great opportunity for the Navy, Marine Corps team and our allies from the Republic of the Philippines to learn from one another, and further improve our ability operate together,” dagdag pa ni Howard.
Kasabay nito, kinumpirma ni Lt. Commander Liz Vidallon, Public Information Officer ng PH-US Balikatan 2019 ang magaganap na pormal opening ng nasabing military exercises na isasagawa mula ngayong araw, Abril 1 hanggang April 12.
Nabatid na ito ang kauna unahang Balikatan Exercise na isasali ang Wasp na may lulan na United States Marines Corps’ F-35B Lightning II aircraft.
Sinsabing palalakasin nito ang military capability para tiyakin ang free and open Indo-Pacific region.
“Participating in Balikatan demonstrates their ability to quickly forward deploy in support of an ally should a crisis or natural disaster occur,” diin ni Howard.
Ang RP-US Balikatan-2019 ay pormal ng magsisimula ngayon kasunod ng opening ceremony sa Kampo Aguinaldo na dadaluhan ng ilang matataas na opisyal ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at US Armed Forces at US Ambassador to the Philippine Ambassador Sung Kim .
Sinabi ni Vidallon na isa sa mga highlights ng PH-US Balikatan ay ang live fire drill na gaganapin sa Capas, Tarlac sa Abril 10.
Bukod sa live fire, magkakaroon din ng amphibious landing exercise sa Zambales.
Magsasagawa rin ng urban operations, aviation operations at counter-intelligence response na posibleng gawin sa Palawan at ilang lugar sa Luzon.
Nabatid na nasa 4,000 sundalong Pinoy ang sasali sa nasabing pagsasanay habang 3,500 naman mula sa US Armed Forces at 50 sundalo mula sa Australia. VERLIN RUIZ
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