Source: United States Navy
Sama Sama, meaning “togetherness” in Malay, is an exercise designed to promote regional security cooperation, maintain and strengthen maritime partnerships, and enhance maritime interoperability. It is an annual partnership between the Philippine Navy and the U.S. Navy, while Lumbas is a yearly exercise between the Philippine Navy and the Royal Australian Navy.
This year the exercises were combined for the first time and helped to strengthen longstanding alliances of the participating forces.
“It was really exciting and challenging working with multiple countries in a singular effort to find the ‘survivor,’ and incredibly rewarding once we did so,” said Naval Aircrewman (Operator) 2nd Class Garrett Carlston, after successfully concluding a search-and-rescue exercise.
Combat Aircrew-3 of the “Red Lancers” also participated in a subject matter expert (SME) exchange with members of the Philippine Navy at Clark Air Base on Luzon Island, Philippines. During the SME exchange the aircrew gave tours of a P-8A Poseidon and explained how the aircraft executes both anti-submarine warfare and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
During the exercise, the U.S. and Philippines emphasized togetherness by bringing members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on board a VP-10 aircraft during a mission exercise flight.
“It was great having the Filipino riders onboard demonstrating the aircrafts capabilities and how we can all work together towards a common goal,” said Lt. Cmdr. Douglas Tengler II, the officer in charge of the squadron’s Philippines detachment.
The “Red Lancers” are based in Jacksonville, Florida and are currently operating from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. The squadron conducts maritime patrol and reconnaissance, as well as theater outreach operations, as part of a rotational deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.