From Yuma to the Philippines, MCAS Yuma Marines continue to support missions globally

From the dry desert spring climate of Yuma, Arizona to the tropical summer climate of Manila and Palawan, Republic of the Philippines, a few MCAS Yuma-based Marines had the opportunity to travel thousands of miles to support an annual training exercise between U.S. and the Philippine military forces. 

Over 4,000 U.S. military members supported Exercise Balikatan 2012 (BK12), which included three major components:  humanitarian civic assistance; combat field training and command post training. Local Marines worked closely with both nations, Army, Navy Sea Bees and Air Force to expose the outstanding engineering, medical and veterinary assistance being provided to Filipinos in the area surrounding Puerto Princesa, Palawan as well as providing superb administrative and logistical support to U.S. military members supporting the exercise.

Sergeant Joseph Nunez, MCAS Yuma Admin Clerk, assisted with the in and out-processing of U.S. military members to ensure they were accounted for and provided ample coordinating instructions for forward passage in to other areas of the Philippines.  Working in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, his support included transporting U.S. military members from the airport to the Joint Reception Center and providing administrative details.  Sgt. Nunez was recognized for his efforts by the Joint Reception Center Commander prior to returning to Yuma in early May.

Sergeant Daniel Malta, MCAS Yuma Combat Correspondent and Broadcast Journalist and Captain Staci Reidinger, MCAS Yuma Public Affairs Officer, chronicled the partnership between both nations as they helped those most in need while working on Palawan.  Their work encapsulated the construction of classrooms and comfort rooms at five Puerto Princesa schools; the installation of improved water distribution and storage systems within these schools; the free pediatric, dental, optical and family health care provided to over 4,000 Filipinos and the treatment of over 2,000 animals for the prevention of rabies and intestinal diseases.  Both Marines worked within a combined staff of Army, Navy and Air Force from the Philippine and U.S. military as well as local government and community officials.  

Deploying in support of international exercises helps our U.S. military members gain a better understanding of other cultures, religions, governments and social systems around the world.  MCAS Yuma is no exception to this, with Harrier squadrons from the Marine Aviation Group 13 and support staffs from Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 and Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, Japan, and on U.S. Naval Maritime Prepositioning Vessels in Pacific.  Additionally, the F-5 Tiger II squadron VMFT-401, the only Marine Corps aggressor squadron in the Corps, deploys to the east coast and overseas to provide realistic air-to-air combat training throughout the year while Marine Aviation and Weapons Tactics Squadron 1 deploys globally to provided advanced aviation and combined air-ground training to squadrons and units in garrison and in combat. 

Above all, all of the units and squadrons stationed at MCAS Yuma participate in annual joint or international exercises to build their interoperability to perform at peak performance during real-world contingency, disaster relief and combat operations.