III MEF VIDEOS

U.S. Marines with Engineer Company A, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group are working ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’ with the Philippine and the Australian Army to build a new classroom at Victor O. De Guia Jr. Memorial Elementary School in Balian, Pangil, Laguna, Philippines as part of Exercise Balikatan, April 1, 2019. The exercise, in its 35th iteration, is an annual exercise that allows the U.S. and Philippines to strengthen relationships, increase interoperability and enhance operational readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Mark Fike)

U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Kathryn Quandt speaks with Gunnery Sgt. Bradley Schmidt about working together with the Philippine Army to build a school in Batangas, Philippines, as part of Exercise Balikatan, March 21, 2019. Balikatan’s humanitarian and civic assistance activities enable Philippine and U.S. service members to get to know each other and provide support to local communities. Quandt, a Houston, Texas native, is the platoon commander for 1st Platoon, Company A, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group. Schmidt, a Seattle, Washington native, is the platoon sergeant for 1st Platoon, Company A, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group.

Philippine airmen and U.S. soldiers continue construction of a two-classroom school building at Pagasa Elementary School in Orani, Bataan during exercise Balikatan 2019. Balikatan 2019 is a bilateral training exercise that strengthens cooperation in humanitarian and civic assistance activities and enables our service members to get to know each other and provide support to local communities. Combined training like that of Balikatan 2019 helps service members develop mutual respect, trust and partnership. (U.S. Army video by Spc. Jon Welch)

Philippine and U.S. Forces continue in the construction of the Pagasa School building for the Orani, Bataan community in the Philippines during Exercise Balikatan 2019. Balikatan is an annual, multilateral exercise hosted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which contributes to and enhances U.S. and Philippine military readiness and tactical interoperability while strengthening multinational relationships. Balikatan contributes to regional peacekeeping capability in the Indo-Pacific region, which in turn fosters interoperability and competency in international peacekeeping operations. (U.S. Army video by SPC Jon Welch)

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Brendon Cagney speaks about the engineering civic action project at Pagasa Elementary School in Orani, Bataan, Philippines, as part of Exercise Balikatan 2019, March 12, 2019. During the exercise planning process, military planners visit various locations in coordination with Armed Forces of the Philippines and local officials to nominate sites. Numerous factors are taken into account, including logistics requirements, community need, unit capabilities, and exercise requirements. Cagney is an engineering officer with the 561st Engineer Construction Company, 84th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command. (U.S. Army video by Sgt. Scott Vargas)