U.S. Airmen and Soldiers stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Armed Forces of the Philippines service members during an awards ceremony for Exercise Balikatan 2026 at Camp General Servillano A. Aquino, Philippines, May 5, 2026. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military that represents the strength of our alliance, improves our capable combined force and demonstrates our commitment to regional peace and prosperity. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jade M. Caldwell)
U.S. Airmen with the 317th Airlift Wing received the Philippine Military Merit Medal for their missions in support of Exercise Balikatan 2026 at Camp General Servillano A. Aquino, Philippines, May 5.
The Philippine Military Merit Medal is awarded by senior Armed Forces of the Philippines leaders for non-combat, meritorious achievement. The decoration recognized U.S. Airmen for significantly enhancing rapid airlift capabilities and strengthening regional security.
"Today, we are giving out awards as a sign of appreciation," said Philippine Air Force Lt. Gen. Aristotle Gonzalez, commander of Northern Luzon Command. "The Philippines recognizes what the 317th Airlift Wing has completed. The 41st iteration of Balikatan is all in the interest of not just interoperability, but the ability and will to fight together, and of course, win together."
Pilots and loadmasters assigned to the 40th Airlift Squadron, alongside Airmen from the 317th Airlift Wing and 7th Bomb Wing, rendered meritorious service in support of joint and combined operations, as credited by the AFP.
"Balikatan 2026 represented a strategic breakthrough for the joint force, successfully validating the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft as the premier maneuver platform," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Brenden Wier, commander of the 40th AS. "The 40th AS directly enabled the combined joint force land component commander to control key maritime terrain in the Luzon Strait, advancing the exercise timeline by an entire phase and achieving training objectives six days ahead of schedule."
During Batanes operations, the 40th AS transported weapon systems, vehicles, service members and equipment into Itbayat and Basco, establishing a forward presence in austere locations near contested maritime areas. In coordination with joint forces, the squadron enabled the airlift of HIMARS for the 25th Infantry Division and Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction Systems for the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment.
U.S. Army Col. Jim Kiersey, deputy commander of operations for the 25th Infantry Division, delivers remarks during an awards ceremony for Exercise Balikatan 2026 at Camp General Servillano A. Aquino, Philippines, May 5, 2026. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military that represents the strength of our alliance, improves our capable combined force and demonstrates our commitment to regional peace and prosperity. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jade M. Caldwell)
Philippine Air Force Lt. Gen. Aristotle Gonzalez, left, Commander of Northern Luzon Command, pins the Philippine Military Merit Medal on U.S. Air Force Capt. Sydney Pasterski, a pilot assigned to the 40th Airlift Squadron, for her service in support of Exercise Balikatan 2026 at Camp General Servillano A. Aquino, Philippines, May 5, 2026. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military that represents the strength of our alliance, improves our capable combined force, and demonstrates our commitment to regional peace and prosperity. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jade M. Caldwell)
U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Matthew McFarlane, right, commanding general of I Corps, and U.S. Airmen assigned to the 40th Airlift Squadron, attend an awards ceremony during Exercise Balikatan 2026 at Camp General Servillano A. Aquino, Philippines, May 5, 2026. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military that represents the strength of our alliance, improves our capable combined force, and demonstrates our commitment to regional peace and prosperity. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jade M. Caldwell)
Source: U.S.Air Force
