The Marines have landed

The US Marines’ have landed, ” Aircraft and personnel from three U.S. Marine Corps squadrons arrived at Clark Air Base starting Oct. 11 and 12, for bilateral exercises Talon Vision and Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) FY 2007.” the Press release says from the U.S. Marine Corps:.  .

“The flying squadrons from Marine Corps Air Stations Futemna and Iwakuni, Japan came with a variety of aircraft. There are KC-130 Hercules aircraft with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 (VMGR 152), F/A-18C Super Hornet jets with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 (VMFA 122), and CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (HMM 262).” Most are up at Clark Airbase in Pampanga for the excercises which do allow the AFP a chance to get skills upgrade training on much new equiptment available.

The press release goes on to say – ” The aircraft are attached to 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and will be used in joint training with the Philippine Air Force.” adding further that,
” The Philippine and U.S. pilots will be flying their respective aircraft, in close air support missions for ground forces during the exercises, according to Major James Travor, the assistant operations officer for VMFA-122..”

Major Tayloe r says, “Our goal is to increase our capability to conduct combined operations with elements of the Marine Air Ground Task Force and to improve professional bilateral relations between Marines and the Philippine Air Force,” adding Maj. Travor.
to much needed skiills matchup between, “Pilots with VMGR-152 will be using KC-130 Hercules to support the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and, to perform fixed wing aircraft and helicopter refueling operations, and to perform low level tactical insertion drops for U.S. Marines and members of the AFP.”

While none of this is going on in any combat environment – the mission does have benifits to the PAF as much of the inflows costs and training operations fuel expences are covered by the US governemt thus – training missions often left to class room of computer simulation can now be at least for the course of the excercise done in real flying conditions  – which per PAF sources of late has been limitd because of high fuel costs in the last few months,  – ” in support of the bilateral exercises.” 

The Marine Corps press release goes on say – ” According to Maj. Ken Asbridge the operations officer for VMGR-152. –  “There’s a lot we can do here in the Philippines, taking advantage of the unique training environment and it’s terrain will help us increase our overall combat capabilities,” Asbridge said.

The aircraft and crews of HMM-262’s main mission will be to support the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab’s advanced warfighting experiment, Sea Viking 2006. Subject matter expert classes will also be held for members of the Philippine Air Force, and they will get to work on various aircrafts along with Marine maintenance crews.”We’re giving them the opportunity to see the way we do business,” said Capt. Thomas Savage the weapons and tactics instructor for HMM-262.

	REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES – A CH-46E Sea Knight and a KC-130 Hercules sit on the flight line of Clark Air Base after arriving from Okinawa Oct. 11. The Sea Knights belong to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 and the KC-130s belong to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152. Both Squadrons are currently attached to 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The aircraft are here as part of bilateral exercises Talon Vision and Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) FY 2007. The exercises will take place Oct. 16 – 31 and are designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness, and continue the professional relationships between the U.S. and Philippine Armed Forces. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David Rogers)(Released) Photo by: Lance Cpl. David Rogers
	REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES – A row of CH-46E Sea Knights sit on the flight line of Clark Air Base after arriving from Okinawa Oct. 11. The Sea Knights belong to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 and are currently attached to 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The aircraft are here as part of bilateral exercises Talon Vision and Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) FY 2007. The exercises will take place Oct. 16 – 31 and are designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness, and continue the professional relationships between the U.S. and Philippine Armed Forces. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David Rogers)(Released) Photo by: Lance Cpl. David Rogers
	REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES – F/A-18C Super Hornets taxi off the runway of Clark Air Base’s flight line after arriving from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan Oct. 12. The Super Hornets belong to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122, and are currently attached to 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The aircraft are here as part of bilateral exercises Talon Vision and Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) FY 2007. The exercises will take place Oct. 16 – 31 and are designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness, and continue the professional relationships between the U.S. and Philippine Armed Forces. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David Rogers)(Released) Photo by: Lance Cpl. David Rogers
	REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES – An airfield management specialist with the Philippine Air Force pays respect to the pilot of an F/A-18C Super Hornets from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan that arrived at Clark Air Base Oct. 12. The Super Hornets belong to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122, and are currently attached to 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The aircraft are here as part of bilateral exercises Talon Vision and Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) FY 2007. The exercises will take place Oct. 16 – 31 and are designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness, and continue the professional relationships between the U.S. and Philippine Armed Forces. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David Rogers)(Released) Photo by: Lance Cpl. David Rogers