U.S. Marines assigned to 3D Civil Affairs Group, Force Headquarters Group, Marine Forces Reserve, conducted civil military operations with U.S. Army Soldiers and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, throughout the Philippines, April 10 – 28, 2023, as part of Balikatan 23.

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Zachary Goodman, a civil affairs officer with 3rd Civil Affairs Group, Force Headquarter Group, Marine Force Reserves, gifts Philippine Coast Guard Cmrd. Salvador Dagoon Jr., port authority head of security, a unit patch during Balikatan 23 in Antique, Philippines, April 14, 2023.

Philippine and U.S. service members speak with Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office leadership during Balikatan 23 in the Province of Antique, Philippines, April 18, 2023.

U.S. Marines, with 3rd Civil Affairs Group, Force Headquarters Group, Marine Forces Reserve, meet with leadership from the Binirayan Sports Complex and the Philippine Red Cross in support of Balikatan 23 in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique Province, Philippines, April 13, 2023. Balikatan, Tagalog for “shoulder-to-shoulder,” is an annual bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military. The exercise provides unique opportunities for participating forces to increase interoperability and provide tangible benefits for the people of the Philippines. Humanitarian civic assistance projects support local communities in the Philippines and strengthen our partnership. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. James Stanfield)