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Wednesday, January 28, 2003
US troops in Clark not for war in Iraq
By Dante M. Fabian and Chris Navarro
CLARK ECOZONE -- American military officials Monday clarified the Balance Piston 03-05 military exercise is not in any way a preparation for the United States war against Iraq.
The military exercise started Monday at the Clark Special Economic Zone, the former Clark Air Force Base, involves a combined 500 American Army and Air Force soldiers and an equal number from Filipino troopers.
M/Sgt. John Farris, a member of the American contingent, said the American forces will be here to concentrate on the joint trainings with their counterparts in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
"We are here to undergo training with our Philippine counterparts and that's what we are focused on," Farris said.
Farris added the Balance Piston 03-05 trainings will be held in Fort Magsaysay and Clark.
He said these military exercises would last for one month with an average of 500 American troops staying at any given time within the period.
Farris said he is not aware of any special training being done in Balance Piston in preparation for a possible war in Iraq.
Sgt. Mike Coble, spokesman of the US Joint Combined Exercise Training, also told reporters, on the average the participants will be about 500.
He said the number of participating US troops will be "heavy in the beginning" and others will be leaving, more will be arriving during the exercises.
Farris, said the participating US troops are from the Special Operations Command in the Pacific based in Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan.
He said the joint combined exchange training (JCET) aims to improve inter-operability between the armed forces of the two countries. He added that the joint exercises would also improve the tactical proficiency of both countries' armed forces.
Farris said the trainings would be similar to the previous exercises although with a little modification. He added this year, exercises will emphasized in parachute training.
Farris said the current Balance Piston 03-05 is absolutely not related with any other operations going on within the Philippines particularly the Bayanihan in Zamboanga City which will be launched next month.
He said this is also not related with the Iraq war.
The roots of Balance Piston 03-05 started nearly 2 years ago and ground works have already been laid for this year's Balance Piston. So this has no relation to any current world events.
Farris said security and force protection concerns like curfews and discipline of American troops while in the country will be adopted by the specific commanders of units involved.
Farris said the American contingent brought in military aircraft including the powerful MC130P Combat Shadow from the 17th Operations Squadron based in Kadena Air Base.
He said troops from the 353rd Maintenance Squadron also based in Kadena Air Base in Japan are also in Clark Field to participate in the Joint Combined Exercise Trainings.(Sun.Star Pampanga) |
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