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	U.S. Army and Philippine Army Conduct Sling Load Operations During Balikatan
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        <h1 class="title">U.S. Army and Philippine Army Conduct Sling Load Operations During Balikatan</h1>
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            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2024/Apr/25/2003450648/1920/1080/0/240421-A-JV239-1011.JPG"
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                 alt="U.S. Army Soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, alongside Philippine Army Soldiers from the 7th Service Support Battalion, Army Support Command, and Special Forces Regiment Airborne pose for a group photo following a sling load operations training activity in support of Exercise Balikatan 24 at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, April 22, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Kai Rodriguez, 28th Public Affairs Detachment"
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                <div class="image-title">240421-A-JV239-1011</div>
                <div class="image-caption">U.S. Army Soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, alongside Philippine Army Soldiers from the 7th Service Support Battalion, Army Support Command, and Special Forces Regiment Airborne pose for a group photo following a sling load operations training activity in support of Exercise Balikatan 24 at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, April 22, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Kai Rodriguez, 28th Public Affairs Detachment</div>
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            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2024/Apr/25/2003450646/1920/1080/0/240421-A-JV239-1006.JPG"
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                 alt="U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 25th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, 25th Infantry Division alongside Philippine Army Soldiers assigned to 7th Service Support Battalion, Army Support Command, and Special Forces Regiment Airborne conduct sling load training using A22 cargo bags with a CH-47 Chinook helicopter from the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division in support of Exercise Balikatan 24 at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, April 22, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Kai Rodriguez, 28th Public Affairs Detachment)"
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                <div class="image-title">240421-A-JV239-1006</div>
                <div class="image-caption">U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 25th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, 25th Infantry Division alongside Philippine Army Soldiers assigned to 7th Service Support Battalion, Army Support Command, and Special Forces Regiment Airborne conduct sling load training using A22 cargo bags with a CH-47 Chinook helicopter from the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division in support of Exercise Balikatan 24 at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, April 22, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Kai Rodriguez, 28th Public Affairs Detachment)</div>
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            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2024/Apr/25/2003450647/1920/1080/0/240421-A-JV239-1003.JPG"
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                 alt="U.S. Army Warrant Officer Trevor Colcasure assigned to the 25th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, alongside Philippine Army Soldiers assigned to 7th Service Support Battalion, Army Support Command, and Special Forces Regiment Airborne conduct sling load training with a CH-47 Chinook helicopter from the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division with A22 cargo bags during a training mission in support of Exercise Balikatan 24 at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, April 22, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Kai Rodriguez, 28th Public Affairs Detachment)"
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                <div class="image-title">240421-A-JV239-1003</div>
                <div class="image-caption">U.S. Army Warrant Officer Trevor Colcasure assigned to the 25th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, alongside Philippine Army Soldiers assigned to 7th Service Support Battalion, Army Support Command, and Special Forces Regiment Airborne conduct sling load training with a CH-47 Chinook helicopter from the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division with A22 cargo bags during a training mission in support of Exercise Balikatan 24 at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, April 22, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Kai Rodriguez, 28th Public Affairs Detachment)</div>
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    <div><b>By Staff Sgt. Katelyn Vazquez,</b> <span class="date">/ Published April 25, 2024</span></div>
    <span class="dateline-text">FORT MAGSAYSAY, Philippines, </span>
    <p><span style="font-size:larger;">U.S. Army Soldiers with the 25th Infantry Division joined forces with Philippine Army Soldiers assigned to Army Support Command, 7th Infantry Division, and Special Forces Regiment Airborne to conduct Low-Cost Low Altitude dropping and sling load operations during Exercise Balikatan 2024 on Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, April 22, 2024.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:larger;">The purpose of the training was to strengthen interoperability between the participating forces and facilitate valuable training opportunities for the Philippine Army.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:larger;">“This training enhances our partnership with the Philippine Army by showing them our techniques and procedures,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ryan Flynn, a CH-47 pilot with 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. “A shared understanding of how our allies work is only going to help us in the future for larger operations.”</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:larger;">Increasing interoperability with the Philippine Army holds significant importance for U.S. military, as it allows us to increase complexities in our training, fostering cooperation and readiness between the two forces.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:larger;">“The most important reason for completing this exercise is that, because of their terrain, the sling load operation would be incredibly important and beneficial for the Philippine Army to use out here in the Philippines,” said Chief Warrant Officer Trevor Colclasure, an Airdrop Systems Technician assigned to the 25th Division Support Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Colclasure was in charge of ensuring successful offload of the LCLA drops during the exercise.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:larger;">The sling load and LCLA drops fostered significant opportunities for both the U.S. military and the Philippine Army to engage with one another as several different forces, and to strengthen partnerships by offering hands-on experience with U.S. Army aircraft.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:larger;">The sling load and LCLA drops presented invaluable opportunities for the U.S. Army and the Philippine Army to engage closely, showcasing the spirit of cooperation inherent in Exercise Balikatan. By working and training together, both forces could exchange expertise and deepen their partnership bonds, ultimately bolstering not just their individual units' readiness but also the overall readiness of the combined military force.</span></p>
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