U.S. military ramps up Philippine typhoon mission
United States airmen assisted an elderly Filipino in a wheelchair and other displaced persons aboard a C-17 Globemaster III with the 535th Air Lift Squadron out of Hickam Field for transport to Manila from Tacloban Air Field, today. The supply drop-off and personnel loading was the first use of the C-17 during Operation Damayan, able to carry significantly more supplies and displaced persons than the C-130 Hercules aircraft currently being utilized.
U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft arrive at Villamor Airbase, Monday, Nov. 11, 2013 in Manila, Philippines, to deliver humanitarian aid for victims in the areas devastated by Typhoon Haiyan. Haiyan, one of the strongest storms on record, slammed into six central Philippine islands on Friday leaving a wide swath of destruction and scores of people dead. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
A U.S. Navy Sea Hawk helicopter from the U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington takes off to air drops relief supplies to villages isolated by last week's typhoon at Tacloban City airport, Leyte province in central Philippines, Friday Nov.15, 2013. The Philippines has received an outpouring of international aid running into hundreds of millions of dollars but much of it has been stuck in a bottleneck outside the affected areas. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
In this Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013, photo provided by the Navy Media Content Service (NMCS), civilians displaced by Typhoon Haiyan board a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J Super Hercules at Tacloban Air Base before being transported to Manila, Philippines. U.S. service members are assisting the Armed Forces of the Philippines joined the recovery efforts for the people affected in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan. (AP Photo/NMCS, Lance Cpl. Anne K. Henry/Released)
U.S. Navy Osprey and Seahawk helicopters prepare to load relief supplies for air drop to isolated villages at Tacloban airport, Leyte province in central Philippines, Friday Nov. 15, 2013. The Philippines has received an outpouring of international aid running into hundreds of millions of dollars but much of it has been stuck in a bottleneck outside the affected areas. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
In this Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013, photo provided by the Navy Media Content Service (NMCS), U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Xavier L. Cannon and members of the Philippine Armed Forces help civilians displaced by Typhoon Haiyan disembark a C-130 aircraft at Villamor Air Base, Philippines. U.S. service members are assisting the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the recovery efforts for the people affected in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan. (AP Photo/NMCS, Lance Cpl. Anne K. Henry)
A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft arrives at Villamor Airbase in Manila, Philippines, Monday, Nov. 11, 2013 to deliver humanitarian aid and help with search and rescue efforts in areas devastated by Typhoon Haiyan. Haiyan, one of the strongest storms on record, slammed into six central Philippine islands on Friday leaving a wide swath of destruction and scores of people dead. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
Filipino medical personnel offload an injured Filipino civilian out of a U.S. Marine Corps C-130 Hercules aircraft at Villamor Air Base, Philippines. U.S. service members are assisting the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the recovery efforts for the people affected in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan. (AP Photo/NMCS, Cpl. Codey Underwood)
Displaced Filipino and other international personnel prepared for takeoff inside a C-17 Globemaster III with the 535th Air Lift Squadron out of Hickam Field today for transport to Manila from Tacloban Air Field. To date, the multi-national force has delivered more than 623,000 pounds of relief aid. The 3rd MEB is currently supporting the Armed Forces of the Philippines in providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief to areas affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda.
VILLAMOR AIR BASE, Philippines >> The U.S. military is sending roughly 1,000 more troops, along with additional ships and aircraft, to join a massive effort to assist typhoon victims in the Philippines — a mission one Philippine military official on Friday (Thursday in Hawaii) called a "game changer."
"We are increasing our presence based on the request of the government of the Philippines," said Col. John Peck, chief of staff for the 3rd Marines Expeditionary Battalion, which is coordinating the U.S. operation from a Philippine air force base next to Manila’s international airport.
The U.S. military — looking to both help an ally and show its commitment to remaining the leading power in the Pacific amid the rise of China — has been extremely fast in responding to the disaster.
About a half dozen countries — including Japan, Indonesia, and Singapore — have offered military assistance to Manila, and many more have sent supplies. Chinese troops, however, have been prominently absent, in large part because of a territorial spat between the two nations.
According to Lt. Col. Rodney Legowski, the first U.S. Marines arrived in the Philippines in response to the disaster within six hours, and began flying supplies to affected areas less than 18 hours after that. By Friday, there were 400 Marines in the country.
The USS George Washington aircraft carrier and its battle group are also in place off the hard-hit islands of Leyte and Samar. So far, the U.S. military has moved 174,000 kilograms (190 tons) of supplies and flown nearly 200 sorties.
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"Having the U.S. military here is a game changer," said Col. Miguel Okol, a spokesman for the Philippine air force. "For countries that we don’t have these kinds of relationships with, it can take a while to get help. But with the U.S., it’s immediate."
With roughly 600,000 people displaced by the typhoon and millions still in need of aid, the Marines said in a statement Thursday that about 900 more Marines based on Okinawa, Japan, were to arrive early next week aboard two U.S. Navy amphibious ships.
Another 100 Marines from Okinawa will come aboard aircraft.
