2,200 US Marines arriving at Subic for Military Exercise

Approximately 2,200 U.S. Marines assigned to the 31st U.S. Marine Expeditionary Unit will begin military and humanitarian exercises in the Philippines.

Amphibious Landing Exercise PHIBLEX is a bilateral training exercise among Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) Sailors, and units from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown, together with USS Essex and the transport dock ship USS Denver is set to arrive at Subic Bay Freeport.

The 31st MEU will work with members of the Philippine marine corps on disaster preparedness, community development, and humanitarian assistance projects. The 28th annual exercise, which will take place at various locations across the country, is expected to last throughout the month.

“Thousands of local residents will benefit” from the medical and engineering projects, the news release states. “PHIBLEX 2012 perpetuates a long and lasting partnership founded firmly on common heritage between freedom loving countries committed to the preservation of liberty and democracy.”

The MEU is currently deployed with elements of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group, which departed Sasebo last month for its patrol.