Marines in the Philippines – putting bilateral exercises in the spotlight
The USMC’s I Marine Expeditionary Force is currently conducting Exercise Balikatan 2024 (BK24), which takes place in the Philippines from 22 April to 10 May.
Exercise locations are scattered throughout the archipelago, primarily in Luzon and Palawan, to include several Enhanced Defense Cooperation Activity sites... Continues below
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Above: During last year’s Balikatan 23, a Patriot surface-to-air missile system is fired during a demonstration by the 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, at Naval Education, Training and Doctrine Command, Philippines. (Photo: US Army)
In a release to media, the USMC described this year’s Balikatan event as ‘the most complex to date and includes the integration of participating forces’ systems during field training events’.
Following opening ceremonies at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Metro Manila on 22 April, BK24 features more than two weeks of bilateral training events. These will run in parallel with combined joint all-domain operations, slated to run 28 April to 9 May.
In addition to the designated training events, some participating elements will conduct humanitarian civic assistance activities at various locations between 1 April and 10 May.
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BK24 represents the 39th iteration of the largest annual bilateral exercise conducted between the Philippines and the US. Participants are expected to include approximately 16,000 personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and USMC, as well as participation by all other US service branches.
International participants will include elements from the Australian Defence Force and French Navy, plus 12 nations that have been invited to participate in the AFP-hosted observer programme.
Among the unique aspects of BK24 are the first-time inclusion of four combined joint all-domain operation (CJADO) events ‘designed to test the participants’ ability to conduct complex combined operations, and incorporate several live, virtual, and constructive elements to increase the complexity and realism of the training’.
Another ‘first’ is an Information Warfare Exercise (IWX) ‘designed to align and synchronise information and cyber capabilities between US and Philippine entities based on the exercise scenario’.
Specific BK24 operations identified in training overviews include:
- maritime key terrain security operations scenarios, where AFP and US forces will exercise securing and operating from Philippine islands;
- dynamic rocket employment (HIMARS rapid infiltration);
- integrated air and missile defence training, where the AFP and US will work together to sense and shoot targets using several different systems;
- maritime strike live-fire, where a series of AFP, US, and Australian sensing and shooting platforms work together to target a decommissioned ship;
- civil engineering construction of community health centres and elementary school classrooms;
- combined and joint health engagements with local government leaders and doctors;
- AFP and US medical personnel providing health and dental care to local Filipinos;
- and a joint sail conducted between the Philippine Navy, USN and French Navy.
Other articles in this newsletter:
Don’t forget the training requirement – new grenade programme highlights device demand
Background checks – why vetting foreign military students is vital
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