USNavy – SubicBayNews

Subic Bay News Vol 15 No 2

Vic Vizcocho — Sat, 05 Feb 2022 14:21:33 +0000

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IN THE NAVY 2.5.2022

Vic Vizcocho — Sat, 05 Feb 2022 13:45:47 +0000

PHILIPPINE SEA. U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), navigate toward the USS Green Bay (LPD 20) during a boat rehearsal in the Philippine Sea, Jan. 30, 2022. The 31st MEU is operating aboard the ships of the America Amphibious Ready Group in the 7th fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific Region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Danny Gonzalez)

PHILIPPINE SEA. U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), return from a boat rehearsal aboard USS Green Bay (LPD 20) in the Philippine Sea, Jan. 30, 2022. The 31st MEU is operating aboard the ships of the America Amphibious Ready Group in the 7th fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific Region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Danny Gonzalez)

PHILIPPINE SEA . U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), board a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Rein.), 31st MEU, aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America in the Philippine Sea, Jan. 31, 2022.The 31st MEU is operating aboard ships of America Expeditionary Strike Group in the 7th fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher W. England).

PHILIPPINE SEA . Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) transport cargo on the flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) during Operation Noble Fusion. Noble Fusion demonstrates that Navy and Marine Corps forward-deployed stand-in naval expeditionary forces can rapidly aggregate Marine Expeditionary Unit/Amphibious Ready Group teams at sea, along with a carrier strike group, as well as other joint force elements and allies, in order to conduct lethal sea-denial operations, seize key maritime terrain, guarantee freedom of movement, and create advantage for US, partner and allied forces. Naval Expeditionary forces conduct training throughout the year, in the Indo-Pacific, to maintain readiness. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Matthew Cavenaile)

In The Navy 1.29.2022

Vic Vizcocho — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 08:02:11 +0000

ATLANTIC OCEAN. Sailors assigned to the Blue Crew of the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Wyoming (SSBN 742) prepare to execute an exchange of command and crews at sea. This regularly scheduled exchange of command at sea demonstrates the continuity and operational flexibility of our sea-based nuclear deterrent operations and our ready, reliable ballistic-submarine force. The efficiency of exchanges of crews at sea allows Sailors to reunite with their families and provides a ready, resilient submarine force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aaron Xavier Saldana)

ATLANTIC OCEAN. The Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Wyoming (SSBN 742) Blue Crew prepares to execute an exchange of command and crews at sea. This regularly scheduled exchange of command at sea demonstrates the continuity and operational flexibility of our sea-based nuclear deterrent operations and our ready, reliable ballistic-submarine force. The efficiency of exchanges of crews at sea allows Sailors to reunite with their families and provides a ready, resilient submarine force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aaron Xavier Saldana)

PHILIPPINE SEA . A CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) lands on the flight deck of USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5). Miguel Keith, assigned to Expeditionary Strike Group 7, is currently operating as the Theater Littoral Warfare Commander’s flagship in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Sherrie A Flippin)

PHILIPPINE SEA. An MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft and a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) refuel on the flight deck of USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5). Miguel Keith, assigned to Expeditionary Strike Group 7, is currently operating as the Theater Littoral Warfare Commander’s flagship in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Sherrie A Flippin)

PHILIPPINE SEA. An MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) refuels on the flight deck of USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5). Miguel Keith, assigned to Expeditionary Strike Group 7, is currently operating as the Theater Littoral Warfare Commander’s flagship in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Sherrie A Flippin)

Subic Bay Welcomes Suspension Of PH-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) Termination

Vic Vizcocho — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 18:48:51 +0000

by Vic V. Vizcocho, Jr.

Subic Bay Freeport — The suspension of the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States has raised hopes on the return of US Military presence in this former US Naval Base.

“From an SBF (Subic Bay Freeport) point of view especially post Covid-19, this is welcome because it means we can continue to be a staging point for Balikatan Exercise, host US and allied ships which will bring much needed income,” Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma told Subic Bay News.

The USS Boxer, a Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) Amphibious Assault Ship of the US Navy in Subic Bay during a joint military exercise under the PH-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). Ordered terminated by Pres. Rodrigo Duterte over the cancellation of the US Visa of a Philippine Senator accused of Human Rights violations, Duterte reconsidered and ordered the suspension of the effectivity of the termination of the VFA for six (6) months “extendible for another six months.” SubicBayNews file photo by Vic V. Vizcocho, Jr.

According to a US Embassy statement today (June 2), the Government of the Philippines on Monday, June 1 “notified the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines of its decision to suspend termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement.”

“The United States welcomes the Philippine government’s decision,” the US Embassy said, “our long-standing alliance has benefited both countries, and we look forward to continued close security and defense cooperation with the Philippines.”

On orders of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, the Philippines officially notified the United States on February 11 this year that it would be terminating the VFA, which would have been effective 180 days later, or on August 9, 2020.

The March 27, 1999 VFA that allows temporary visits of US troops in the country, mainly for joint military exercises, is anchored on the RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951, under which both countries have an obligation to support each other in case of an armed attack.

Duterte’s decision to terminate the VFA was widely seen as a knee-jerk reaction on the cancellation of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa’s US Visa as part of a crackdown on Human Rights violators by the US government. Dela Rosa led Duterte’s bloody “war on drugs” during his stint as the country’s top policeman, and was party to the incarceration of Sen. Leila de Lima on what is believed to be trumped-up drug charges.

US Military personnel and hardware on the way back to their ship docked at Alava Pier in the Subic Bay Freeport after taking part in joint military exercises under the Ph-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). Ordered terminated by Pres. Rodrigo Duterte over the cancellation of the US Visa of a Philippine Senator accused of Human Rights violations, Duterte reconsidered and ordered the suspension of the effectivity of the termination of the VFA for six (6) months “extendible for another six months.“ SubicBayNews file photo by Vic V. Vizcocho, Jr.

Reminiscent of the stay of the US Military in Subic as a US Naval Base beginning in 1899, the largest outside the US Mainland, shutdown in 1992 by the rejection of the Philippine senate of the extension of the RP-US Military Bases Agreement (MBA) then set to expire, the Subic Bay Freeport, as well as the outlying communities benefit from the VFA in various ways, including ships services, bunkering, supplies, and personnel spending, pumping millions of pesos into the local economy.

US Servicemen also conduct community outreach activities during visits, which include medical and dental projects, school painting and repairs, among others, one reason why the locals here are understandably pre-dominantly “pro-US.”

According to SBMA Chaiman Eisma, “I grew up in Olongapo at a time when the US base was still here and I experienced first hand the impact of such activities to the community.” (VVV)

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