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	15th MEU Marines Arrive for Balikatan Embarked on USS Somerset, USS Harpers Ferry
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        <h1 class="title">15th MEU Marines Arrive for Balikatan Embarked on USS Somerset, USS Harpers Ferry</h1>
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                 alt="U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare CH-53E Super Stallions attached to VMM-165 (Rein.), 15th MEU, for flight operations aboard the amphibious transport dock USS Somerset (LPD 25) in the South China Sea April 11, 2024. Somerset and embarked elements of the 15th MEU are conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aidan Hekker)"
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                <div class="image-title">CH-53E Super Stallions Lift Off USS Somerset</div>
                <div class="image-caption">U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare CH-53E Super Stallions attached to VMM-165 (Rein.), 15th MEU, for flight operations aboard the amphibious transport dock USS Somerset (LPD 25) in the South China Sea April 11, 2024. Somerset and embarked elements of the 15th MEU are conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aidan Hekker)</div>
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    <div><b>By 1st Lt. Robert Nanna,</b> <span class="date">/ Published April 26, 2024</span></div>
    <span class="dateline-text">PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines, </span>
    <p><span style="font-size:larger;">Marines and Sailors assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, embarked on the amphibious transport dock USS Somerset (LPD 25) and amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), consolidated in the province of Palawan to participate in Exercise Balikatan 2024 on April 22.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:larger;">Over 1,000 Marines and Sailors embarked on the Somerset and Harpers Ferry integrated for the first time on their routinely scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific region for the exercise. Training alongside the Philippine Marine Corps, the 15th MEU’s participation in Balikatan helps maintain a high level of military readiness to enhance bilateral response capabilities in the Philippines and improve mutual defense capabilities.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:larger;">“Exercise Balikatan is one of the most important exercises in the Pacific, and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit is proud to participate, shoulder-to-shoulder, with our fellow Philippine Marines. The training and integration among our allies and partners here is an opportunity to continuously test our capabilities with realistic training and ensure we are ready, together, to respond to crisis or contingency,” said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Sean Dynan, commanding officer of the 15th MEU.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:larger;">The 15th MEU will participate in each of the four combined joint all-domain operations events during this year’s exercise, highlighting the combined capabilities of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force and the Philippine Marine Corps’ 3rd Marine Brigade. Their training activities will include securing key maritime terrain to support territorial defense, conducting simulated long range, precision strike fires, and sensing and shooting surface threats with missile defense systems.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:larger;">Somerset, Harpers Ferry, and embarked elements of the 15th MEU are under the command and control of Combined Task Force 76/3, employed by U.S. 7th Fleet to operate with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:larger;">"Balikatan" is a Tagalog phrase that means "shoulder-to-shoulder.” The goal of the bilateral military cooperation is to build the capacity to respond to crisis or conflict, working “shoulder-to-shoulder” with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, enhancing mutual defense capability.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:larger;">Please direct all Balikatan 2024 related questions to Capt. Josephine Rios at Josephine.rios.1@us.af.mil.</span></p>
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