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Tuesday, 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 said the Balance Piston 03-05 military exercise here is not in preparation for the war the United State is set to wage against Iraq.
The exercises that started on Monday at the Clark Special Economic Zone, the former Clark Air Force Base, involve the combined forces of 500 American army and air force soldiers and an equal number of Filipino troopers.
MSgt. John Farris, a member of the American contingent, said that the American forces are here to concentrate on the joint trainings with their counterparts in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
"We are here to undergo training with our Philippine counterparts and that's what we are focused on," Farris said.
Farris added that the Balance Piston 03-05 trainings would be held in Fort Magsaysay and Clark.
He said that these military exercises are scheduled to be held for one month with an average of 500 American troops staying at any given time within the period.
Farris said that 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 that on the average the participants would be about 500.
He said that the number of participating US troops would be "heavy in the beginning." He also said that while others will be leaving, more would be arriving during the exercises.
Farris said that the participating US troops are from the Special Operations Command in the Pacific based in Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan.
He said that 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 that the trainings would not have a lot of difference from the trainings held in the country previously. He added that this year, exercises would have a little bit more emphasis in parachute training.
Farris said that 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.
He said that this is also not related with the Iraq war.
"The roots of Balance Piston 03-05 started nearly 2 years ago. Last year's Piston, when all of this was going on, the ground works have already been laid for this year's Balance Piston. So this has no relation to any current world events.
Farris said commanders of units would adopt curfews and discipline of American troops while in the country to ensure specific security and force protection concerns.
Farris said that 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 that 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.
(January 28, 2003 issue)
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