Exercise Balikatan 24: Strengthening Bilateral Interoperability and Fostering Global Health through Community Health Engagement

Philippine and U.S. military forces collaborated in a community health engagement event at Davila Elementary School in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, Philippines on April 21, 2024. The event was a vital component of Exercise Balikatan 24, an annual training exercise between the two nations that aims to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation.

During the community health engagement event, Philippine and U.S. service members trained local healthcare workers and residents on basic lifesaving skills such as CPR and tactical combat casualty care. This enhanced emergency care access and awareness for the local community.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Forster-Curnew led a training session on Tactical Combat Casualty Care for Philippine Marine Corps Cpl. Reynaldo A. Castro and Pfc. Christian N. Crave as part of the community health engagement event at Davila Elementary School in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, Philippines on April 21, 2024 during Exercise Balikatan 24.

The collaboration of Philippine and U.S. service members in providing critical medical training reflects the commitment to building strong partnerships and promoting community well-being through initiatives like this community health engagement event at Davila Elementary School in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte.

This shared mission underscores the importance of international collaboration in promoting global health and security by enhancing emergency response capabilities and fostering mutual understanding and cooperation between nations.

Exercise Balikatan 24 is an annual training exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the U.S military that aims to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation that have been built over decades of shared experiences.

During this exercise at Davila Elementary School in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte on April 21st, both nations focused on providing essential health training to local healthcare workers and residents to enhance emergency response capabilities while fostering mutual understanding and cooperation between nations.

In conclusion, the collaboration between Philippine and U