Greater than 800 service members and civilian mariners returned to San Diego after taking part in Pacific Partnership 24-1, the biggest multinational humanitarian mission that takes place within the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership, now in its nineteenth iteration, is an annual mission that focuses on strengthening capability of host nations to reply to disaster and fostering enduring bonds of friendship and multinational cooperation by 4 traces of effort: medical, engineering, host nation outreach and humanitarian help and catastrophe aid (HADR). This yr’s mission’s 5 stops included the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, the Republic of Palau and two states within the Federated States of Micronesia, Pohnpei and Chuuk.
“Our annual dedication to the Pacific Partnership mission demonstrates our dedication to strengthening alliances and partnerships for a permanent free and open Indo-Pacific,” stated Rear Adm. Mark A. Melson, Commander, Process Power 73 and govt agent for this yr’s mission. “I’m tremendously happy with our workforce of Joint service members, allies and companions who supported the 2024 mission. There may be extra work to do. We’ll proceed to work shoulder-to-shoulder yearly i alongside companion nations in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, to make sure we’re prepared collectively in instances of disaster.”
Born out of the devastation of the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, Pacific Partnership is a permanent annual mission within the Indo-Pacific area. This yr’s mission was joined by companion nations from Japan, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Germany and Australia.
“Pacific Partnership is a multinational effort which signifies that we work with companion nations who share our values, who share our dedication to those growing nations who host us, and who share our widespread purpose of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” stated Capt. Brian Quin, mission commander for Pacific Partnership 24-1. “We go as a result of there’s a necessity. We go as a result of we companion with like-minded nations and like-minded individuals, and we go as a result of we’re requested. ”
Pacific Partnership medical personnel alongside the host nation medical groups and companion nations carried out over 410 surgical procedures each aboard USNS Mercy and on the native host nation hospitals. Moreover, the dental workforce noticed 3,665 sufferers and the optometry workforce noticed 7,025 sufferers. Along with medical companies, the workforce additionally supplied persevering with medical schooling.
“I believe an enormous focus of this has been schooling,” stated Cmdr. Matt Russell, medical planner for Pacific Partnership 24-1. “Along with the persevering with medical schooling lectures that our workers are giving, in addition to our surgical colleagues, we now have arrange lessons for fundamental life assist, first support for first responders, how to reply to trauma, and actually all of those programs have been very nicely acquired and nicely attended.”
Seabees from Amphibious Development Battalion One (ACB 1) additionally supplied their development experience to restore faculties, hospitals, roads and enhance host nation capability. In Palau, Seabees constructed a group rooster coop which can permit for the native inhabitants to lower their dependency on imported meals.
Host nation outreach occasions (HNOE) concerned sports activities days and band live shows by the Pacific Partnership Band comprised of a detachment from the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band augmented by two Royal Australian Navy musicians for your entire mission and three Japan Self Protection Power band members through the Palau mission cease. In the course of the 5 stops, the Pacific Partnership workforce participated in 41 HNOE occasions and 53 band live shows with a complete attendance of 23,500.
Humanitarian aid and catastrophe response (HADR) efforts embrace working with host nations to extend capabilities for getting ready for and responding to disasters and emergencies. In the course of the four-month mission, U.S. Army Civil Engineers held boating security lessons, 21 material professional programs and 4 search and rescue workouts.
For extra details about Pacific Partnership and USNS Mercy, go to www.fb.com/pacificpartnership, www.fb.com/USNSMERCY, or https://www.msc.usff.navy.mil/ships/mercy
