Armed forces of the Philippines Maj. Gen. Rustico O. Guerrero gives his remarks as the keynote speaker at the closing ceremony for Amphibious Landing Exercise 2013 at Subic Bay International Airport, Olongapo City, Zambales, Republic of the Philippines, Oct. 18. PHIBLEX 2013 is a bilateral training exercise conducted annually in the Republic of the Philippines designed to strengthen interoperability of the two nations' forces while providing benefits for the local communities. Guerrero is the commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps.

Photo by Sgt. Matthew Troyer

Amphibious Landing Exercise 2013 ends

25 Oct 2012 | Gunnery Sgt. David J. Drafton Marine Corps Installations Pacific

SUBIC BAY, Republic of the Philippines -- U.S. and Philippine forces concluded the bilateral Amphibious Landing Exercise 2013 with a closing ceremony at Subic Bay International Airport Oct. 18.

Throughout the exercise, members of the armed forces of the Philippines and U.S. Marines and sailors with 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade provided medical and dental care to hundreds of local residents and built new facilities such as bathrooms, a septic system, a two-room addition to a school and a pavilion.

The exercise was not limited to civic-military operations. PHIBLEX 2013 also consisted of a bilateral staff exercise and multiple bilateral field training events, culminating in a combined live-fire exercise. The wide range of training conducted during PHIBLEX 2013 ensures the two nations are able to respond together to a variety of potential missions, from disaster relief to the defense of territory.

"The Philippines-U.S. amphibious landing exercise has become not only a venue for sharing our talents and lessons learned, but also a venue for the development of a training course for both nations," said Maj. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps. "We have had the opportunity over the past weeks to provide the local people here with services that they can utilize for years to come."

"PHIBLEX 2013 provided avenues for our participants to develop skills, proficiency and strategies that will enhance our interoperability and capacity for mutual defense," said Brig. Gen. Remigio Valdez, Philippine exercise director and deputy commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps.

"PHIBLEX 2013 was another demonstration of the great friendship and cooperation between our two nations," said Harry Thomas Jr., U.S. ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines.

Guerrero added that the Philippines and U.S. are committed to standing together to allow the Asia-Pacific region to continue to prosper and remain secure.

"PHIBLEX 13 was a challenging task, but was well worth the efforts of everyone involved," said Guerrero.