U.S. Army Spc. Latiana Heden, right, a quartermaster

U.S. Army Spc. Latiana Heden, right, a quartermaster and chemical equipment repairer with 3rd Squardron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, jokes with children in the audience during basketball tournament May 12 between Philippine and U.S. soldiers in Palayan City, Philippines, as part of Balikatan 2014, a bilateral training exercise between Philippine and U.S. service members. Balikatan is designed to improve cooperation and interoperability between the two nations’ armed forces through training, as well as humanitarian aid and disaster relief projects. Activities such as the basketball tournament allow for increased cohesion between Philippine and U.S. forces. Philippine soldiers are assigne to the 20th Infantry Battalion, 8th Infantry Division, and U.S. soldiers are assigned to the 25th Infantry Division. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Shaltiel Dominguez)