317th AW airmen receive Philippine Military Merit Medal at Balikatan 2026

U.S. Airmen with the 317th Airlift Wing were awarded the Philippine Military Merit Medal on May 5 for their roles in Exercise Balikatan 2026, during a ceremony at Camp General Servillano A. Aquino in the Philippines. The non-combat decoration, bestowed by senior Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) leaders, recognized the unit for bolstering rapid airlift capabilities and contributing to regional security, according to the Air Force.

“Today, we are giving out awards as a sign of appreciation,” said Philippine Air Force Lt. Gen. Aristotle Gonzalez, commander of Northern Luzon Command. “The Philippines recognizes what the 317th Airlift Wing has completed. The 41st iteration of Balikatan is all in the interest of not just interoperability, but the ability and will to fight together, and of course, win together.”

Pilots and loadmasters from the 40th Airlift Squadron, working alongside Airmen from the 317th Airlift Wing and the 7th Bomb Wing, were credited by the AFP for meritorious service in joint and combined operations. “Balikatan 2026 represented a strategic breakthrough for the joint force, successfully validating the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft as the premier maneuver platform,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Brenden Wier, commander of the 40th AS. “The 40th AS directly enabled the combined joint force land component commander to control key maritime terrain in the Luzon Strait, advancing the exercise timeline by an entire phase and achieving training objectives six days ahead of schedule.”

During operations in the Batanes island group, the 40th Airlift Squadron moved weapon systems, vehicles, personnel and equipment into Itbayat and Basco, establishing a forward presence in austere locations near contested waters. In coordination with joint forces, the squadron supported airlift of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems for the 25th Infantry Division and Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction Systems for the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment.

Across the exercise, the 317th executed daily sorties to deliver and position key capabilities at sites including Itbayat, Basco, Laoag, Lal-lo and Palawan, expanding operational reach and giving commanders more options across the archipelago.

“Some will say that setting up a mission center is an ordinary thing to do, but no—what the 317th AW has accomplished here in the Philippines is more than that,” Gonzalez said. “That mission center, communicating directly with the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, initiates actions and operations that allow us to fight more effectively together.”

U.S. and Philippine forces incorporated combined, joint all-domain operations at tactical and operational levels during the 41st iteration of Balikatan, a long-running annual exercise intended to improve interoperability and deterrence across air, land, sea, space and cyberspace.

“Our success in Balikatan 2026 was driven by the expertise of our key planning team: Capt. Sydney ‘Echo’ Pasterski, Capt. Kyle Pasterski and Senior Airman Kenden Johnson,” Wier said. “However, these achievements were made possible by the entire team of aviators, maintainers and support personnel who executed the mission daily. They absorbed the stress of a high-tempo flying schedule, adapted to last-minute changes and consistently executed with professionalism and dedication. I am profoundly grateful to all these great Airmen and proud to count them as part of the Screaming Eagle Tribe.”

Officials said the performance of the Dyess Air Force Base–based airlifters reflected credit on the unit and highlighted the durability of the U.S.-Philippine defense partnership. Balikatan, jointly led by the AFP and the U.S. military, demonstrates the strength of the alliance and a shared commitment to regional peace and prosperity.