RP, US army execs declare Luzon war games successful

USS Essex (LHD 2) seen here leaving Subic Bay, passing thru the Olongapo Lighthouse, after a successfull Military Exercise - Talon Vision '08

By Tonette Orejas - Inquirer

CLARK FREEPORT—Philippine and American military officials reported success in the Talon Vision ’08, saying the military exercise in Luzon had further honed the skills of troops to deal with terror and disasters and undertake humanitarian aid in communities.

“Our activities in the last two weeks were one big success,” said Col. Alexander Bote, operations director of the Philippine Air Force’s 600th Air Base Wing and exercise co-director, during the closing rites here on Tuesday.

“We have prepared to fight terrorism and other international callings. We have strengthened our bond and relationship,” Bote said.

Echo

His co-director, Col. Ben Mathews, commanding officer of the United States Marine Aircraft Group 36, said the exercise was “very successful.”

Under Talon Vision, he said units under the Rapid Deployment Force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEU) had flown 460 sorties and spent 974 flight hours on defense air combat training, aerial delivery practice and other tactical training flights.

Mathews credited Filipino and American pilots for showing “superior tactical skills” and carrying out “safe executions.”

Old, modern fleet

Flight maneuvers and jump-offs were done over Clark in Pampanga, Crow Valley in Tarlac, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Subic in Zambales, Sangley Point in Cavite, and in Laguna.

The PAF’s fleet of aircraft flew with the modern aircraft of the US Marine Corps, it was learned.

But Bote said PAF pilots did not get to fly the American planes.

“We were not allowed to fly their aircraft. What we did was do maneuvers together so our pilots learned to anticipate and react with joint forces,” he said.

Construction

For Bote, one of the best parts of the exercise was the “subject matter exchange” or the sharing by experts.

For Mathews, the “critically important” part of the exercise was the medical and dental missions done with the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Division in Laguna’s eight villages. These served more than 10,000 residents.

The joint forces also built outdoor toilets and concrete floors for at least 36 houses, constructed a 1,600-meter farm-to-market road, and repaired six classrooms in Laguna.

Training

The US military spent $250,000 (P10,962,500) for the training and civic missions, Mathews said.

“Anytime you do bilateral training, when you learn the techniques and procedures of your ally and then they learn how we do business, it’s a win for us,” he said.

“Let’s just say something critical happens, something dangerous happens … lets’ say the typhoons return or there was a tsunami or anything like that. Anytime you have an opportunity to train with the partner in this region, it helps not only the US side but the side of the country where we are visiting,” Mathews said.