U.S. and Philippine forces wrapped up planning last week for the 2010 Balikatan joint military exercise, to be held March 9-18, according to the Marine Corps.

Training will take place at locations in the Ilocos Sur region of Luzon, the northern main island of the Philippines.

It will be the 26th year the two countries have held Balikatan, which includes military operations along with civil and humanitarian operations.

Related exercises to test crisis response and disaster relief will run simultaneously, the joint public affairs office reported.

Migrated