(Left to right) U.S. Marine Maj. Gen. Richard L. Simcock
Summary
(Left to right) U.S. Marine Maj. Gen. Richard L. Simcock II, deputy commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, the honorable Under Secretary of National Defense Honorio S. Azcueta, Deputy Chief of Mission for the U.S. Embassy Brian L. Goldbeck, Philippine Army Gen. Emmanuel T. Bautista, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Philippine Air Force Maj. Gen Emeraldo C. Magnaye, Philippine exercise director, stand arm-in-arm as the honored guests at the exercise Balikatan 2014 closing ceremony here May 16. The ceremony marked the official closing of the 30th iteration of Balikatan, an annual bilateral exercise which aims to increase interoperability and strengthen the Philippines-U.S. relationship. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Isis M. Ramirez)