A number of construction projects that will benefit local communities and enhance the skills of military engineers as part of exercise Balikatan are set to begin in early April in the Philippines. Balikatan officially kicks off Apr. 16.
As noted by the Philippine Information Agency, the projects include road construction, upgrades to water systems, and additions at several schools.
U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps engineers will work alongside their Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) counterparts to complete the projects. Partnering in this way not only provides assistance to these communities, but allows the engineers to learn from one another and improve their ability to work together as a team.
Balikatan will emphasize training and activities that ensure disaster relief efforts are more responsive, efficient and effective. Included in this professional development are numerous medical outreach projects that will have medical professionals from both nations assisting local communities.
Balikatan is U.S. Pacific Command’s premier bilateral military exercise with the AFP. The Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the United States have a long relationship and history of working together. This partnership includes a 57-year mutual defense treaty.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Engineering Projects Provide Lead-in to Balikatan Exercise in Philippines
Sunday, March 29, 2009
JPAC Brings Lost WWII Navy Pilot Home
Fallen WWII Navy pilot Ensign Robert Tills was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery this past week following the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command’s (JPAC) 2008 identification of his remains and material evidence more than 66 years after his death.
The Herald Times Reporter of Manitowoc, Wisc., reported on the service, which included full military honors and a missing man formation flyover by Navy F-18s.
Tills died on Dec. 8, 1941 in the Philippines when his PBY-4 Catalina Flying Boat aircraft was strafed with machine gun fire from a Japanese fighter plane. His remains were found by local divers and fishermen in Malalag Bay in eastern Mindanao in late 2007 and early 2008, and subsequently retrieved by JPAC from the Philippine Government for identification.
In addition to maintaining detachments in Thailand, Vietnam and Laos, JPAC teams routinely deploy throughout the U.S. Pacific Command area of responsibility, and beyond, partnering with local and national agencies with the mission of achieving the fullest possible accounting of all Americans missing as a result of the nation's past conflicts.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Army NCOs Promote Professional Development with TNI
Indonesia’s first Warrior Leader Course led by Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD), or Indonesian army, instructors graduated March 25 in Indonesia, and marks the first time the nation led its own professional development class for its non-commissioned officers (NCOs).
Indonesia is one of the first nations in the Asia-Pacific region to take this step in their NCO development. NCOs are known as the backbone of the U.S. military and are tasked with mentoring junior officers and enlisted service members, while providing guidance to senior officers. They are recognized for their technical and tactical proficiency and their ability to adapt and overcome, often without receiving direction.
As evidenced by the implementation of the Warrior Leader Course, Indonesia is looking to develop some of these same characteristics in its own NCO Corps. This graduation highlights more than a year of significant efforts by the TNI-AD, working in conjunction with U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC), to establish a professional development system for its NCOs.
The idea of such a program was first discussed in 2007 at a concept development forum. By January 2008, Army Master Sgt. Gerald Daniel, from the Office of Defense Cooperation, was engaged in earnest discussions to establish the program.
The idea behind the program was not for the U.S. to train Indonesian NCOs, but rather to form a partnership with a mutual interest of furthering the competency of NCOs in the region.
Now, Daniel and his two counterparts, Army Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Pelayo from USARPAC International Military Affairs and Army Staff Sgt. Travis Snook from the NCO Academy Hawaii, are serving as advisors to a six-member cadre of TNI instructors. There were 53 students in the class that graduated March 25, all in the rank of second sergeant, which is equivalent to an enlisted five (E-5) rank in the U.S. military.
While the concept of enlisted development isn’t new to the U.S., it is one that is just taking hold throughout Asia-Pacific nations, with Indonesia at the forefront. Indonesia is currently working on developing not only the Warrior Leader Course, but also a platoon sergeants course and a company/first sergeant course. Their goal is to promote competent NCO leadership that is capable of further developing subordinate leaders.
This subordinate development will allow senior leadership to plan and prepare for future objectives, thus enhancing the overall success of their organization and the strength of the NCO Corps.
U.S. Pacific Command recognizes that a strong NCO Corps can enforce standards, discipline and individual readiness. This vital skill set will enable the Indonesian army to further participate in bilateral and multilateral engagements throughout the Asia-Pacific region and help increase the readiness of militaries to respond to operational or humanitarian contingencies.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
PACOM Commander Testifies before House Armed Services Committee
The commander of U.S. Pacific Command, Adm. Timothy J. Keating, testified before the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Mar. 24, responding to a wide range of questions that spanned the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) area of responsibility.
When responding to questions regarding his top concern in the region, Adm. Keating said that an area on which PACOM continues to focus is countering the spread of violent extremism. He noted that significant progress has been made by working with partners and allies throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
He also highlighted the dramatic decline in piracy in the Strait of Malacca - to less than five incidents last year - as a result of funding, training, and dialogue that have allowed neighboring countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and now Thailand to collaborate closer and enjoy greater success with improved safety and security in this critical chokepoint.
Other issues addressed during the testimony included the planned move of Marines from Okinawa to Guam, missile defense, India and Pakistan, the USNS Impeccable incident, and the status of military-to-military relations with China.
Adm. Keating’s prepared statement, which was submitted to the HASC, addresses all of the broader issues raised during the testimony. Video of the complete session is available on the HASC website. View Part 1 and Part 2.
Monday, March 23, 2009
APCSS Transnational Security Cooperation Course Emphasizes Collaboration
Twenty-two senior Asia-Pacific military and civilian leaders took part in the weeklong Transnational Security Cooperation course last week at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) in Honolulu.
The course is an intensive program that includes interactive seminar workshop scenarios, guest speakers, and discussions with senior U.S. Pacific Command officials. Topics included issues such as understanding and assessing security implications of transnational threats, and economic security.
Participants included U.S. Pacific Command’s Director for Intelligence Rear Adm. Michael Rogers, and Deputy Director for Strategic Planning and Policy Brig. Gen. William Uhle.
Represented during the course were: Afghanistan, Australia, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, the Pacific Island Forum, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, the United States, and Vietnam.
The Transnational Security Cooperation course gives senior leaders from throughout Asia-Pacific an opportunity to consider, discuss, and share perspectives concerning the impact of regional and global security threats.
U.S. Pacific Command seeks bilateral and multilateral solutions with its allies and partners to meet challenges together. Through its courses, APCSS provides not only executive education, but opportunities to enhance important relationships and identify cooperative approaches to current and future security issues.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Adm. Timothy J. Keating Testifies before Senate Armed Services Committee
“We (U.S. Pacific Command) employ a strategy which concentrates on partnership, readiness and presence. We think this is a blueprint for enhancing United States relationships. And we think we take advantage of a capability of our allies and regional partners to address challenges and leverage significant opportunities in the Asia Pacific region.
We want to enhance our position as the indispensable partner with all of those in the region through sustained and persistent collaboration and cooperation, and by employing those forces that are necessary to strengthen the partnerships and support all those conditions which preclude the necessity for combat operations.” (Adm. Keating to the Senate Armed Services Committee)
Adm. Keating, commander of U.S. Pacific Command testified, alongside the commanders of U.S. Forces Korea and U.S. Strategic Command, before the Senate Armed Services Committee Mar. 19. Read Adm. Keating’s statement, or view video of the testimony.
Adm. Keating discussed U.S. Pacific Command’s strategy in the Asia-Pacific region and answered a range of questions from the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee that included: the status of military-to-military engagement with China; the recent incident with USNS Impeccable in international waters in the South China Sea; North Korea’s stated intent to launch a satellite in April; military-to-military interaction with India following the Mumbai terrorist attacks; status of the planned move of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam; and the importance of funding and training programs with Indonesia and other countries throughout the PACOM area of responsibility.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
U.S., Philippines Discuss Way Ahead for 2010 Mutual Defense, Security
Members of the Executive Committee (EXECOM) for the U.S. and Philippine Mutual Defense Board (MDB) and Security Engagement Board (SEB) met Mar. 13 at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii to discuss and forward to the MDB and SEB detailed plans for 2010 engagements, as well as a five-year plan for future large-scale engagements.
These plans will be presented to the board for approval and final signatures by co-chairs, the commander of U.S. Pacific Command and the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The board is scheduled to convene in Hawaii the first week in August.
The MDB was formed in 1958 as a way to enhance the U.S. and Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), which was signed in 1951 and is the oldest treaty the U.S. has with a Pacific nation. As regional threats and military requirements changed, there became a need for the SEB, which addresses non-traditional issues like terrorism and natural disasters.
A recent development to the MDB-SEB process is the identification of specific goals and objectives to increase the ability of the Philippines to participate in coalition operations. This is especially important in assuring military readiness for both countries as stipulated in the MDT.
To address this need, one of the most significant inputs on this year’s meetings calls for an increased focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR), multilateral cooperation, and interagency coordination during training exercises like Balikatan.
The EXECOM also addressed professional enlisted development, an area that is just taking root among most Asia-Pacific militaries, with the Philippines at the forefront.
Once the board approves the plan, it will serve to continue and further enhance the long standing partnership that has been enjoyed by the U.S. and Philippines for more than 50 years.
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