From left to right: Philippine Maj. Denis L. Bulanday,

From left to right: Philippine Maj. Denis L. Bulanday, U.S. Marine Col. Curtis Lee, Philippine Navy Capt. Ramon C. Renales and Bicol Police Superintendent Jesus C. Martirez prepare for the opening of the Civil Military Operations symposium April 25 in Legazpi City, Albay Province, Philippines. During the seminar, subject matter experts with the AFP and U.S. will exchange best practices and ideas for each of the CMO areas to generate discussion that will focus on developing improved methods of operation. The symposium is held in conjunction with Exercise Balikatan, an annual bilateral training exercise and humanitarian assistance engagement between members of the Philippine and U.S. armed forces that focuses on improving interoperability and strengthening the partnership of the two allied countries. Bulanday is a Naval Forces Luzon chaplain; Lee is the commanding officer of Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force the U.S. armed forces; Renales is commanding officer of the JCMOTF, AFP; and Martirez is the Bicol Police community relations chief. (Photo by U.S. Cpl. Kevin Crist)