Out of This World

Video by Staff Sgt. Emili Koonce

Balikatan 18: Opening Ceremony B-Roll

III Marine Expeditionary Force

May 7, 2018 | 4:26

The Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military forces held the opening ceremony for Exercise Balikatan, at Tejeros Hall, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Manila, Philippines, May 7, 2018. Armed Forces of the Philippines Lt. Gen. Emmanuel B. Salamat, commander, Armed Forces of the Philippines Northern Luzon Command and U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson, commanding general, III Marine Expeditionary Force officially declared the start of Exercise Balikatan. Exercise Balikatan, in its 34th iteration, is an annual U.S.-Philippine military training exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism and other combined military operations held from May 7 to 18. (U.S. Air Force video by Staff Sgt. Emili Koonce)