U.S. Navy Champions Global Collaboration in Pacific Partnership Initiative

The Pacific Partnership 2024-2 (PP24-2) mission team cooperated with international allies to fortify relationships and bolster the host nation’s ability to deliver essential humanitarian services. They also focused on mitigating risks and improving responsiveness to humanitarian disasters.

Under the leadership of U.S. Navy Capt. Daniel J. Keeler, the mission embarked on the USNS City of Bismarck, a Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport ship. Their journey included stops in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Philippines, Vanuatu, and Vietnam.

“Building relationships before a disaster strikes is crucial. Each nation brings unique skills and resources that are invaluable in times of need,” stated Keeler. “Proactive planning and training help us foster deeper understanding and cooperation, making us resilient against future challenges.”

Over two-and-a-half months, nearly 1,500 military and civilian personnel from various countries, including Australia, Canada, Japan, and Vietnam, participated in the mission. The multinational approach, involving military forces, civilian agencies, international organizations, and NGOs, emphasized multilateral cooperation.

Pacific Partnership prioritizes medical and public health, engineering, and community outreach to enhance resilience and capacity for essential humanitarian services. Each project is tailored to meet the requests of the host nations.

“Through partnership, we learn from each other and prepare to help people effectively,” noted Royal Australian Air Force Wing Cmdr. Scott Minchin, deputy mission commander. “Pacific Partnership thrives on the person-to-person connections built at every stop, demonstrating our collective capability to aid others.”

Participating teams conducted live search and rescue exercises, expert exchanges, health engagements, and workshops on disaster response. These efforts aimed to improve collective capacity and regional partnerships.

The medical team conducted over 1,100 eye exams, handed out 1,035 pairs of glasses, performed 164 dental exams, and carried out various surgeries. They also hosted expert exchanges and trained nearly 400 nursing professionals. Meanwhile, the veterinary team performed spay and neuter surgeries and participated in specialist exchanges.

Engineering projects included renovating schools and medical facilities, repairing airport equipment, and working on coastal erosion and water purification site surveys. A playground was also assembled at an elementary school.

The outreach team organized 97 events, including school engagement activities, interfaith dialogues, gender workshops, and concerts performed by the Pacific Partnership band. These activities aimed to reinforce community ties and enhance cultural exchange.

HA/DR teams from the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and Army Civil Affairs held workshops to enhance the host nation’s emergency response capabilities, focusing on emergency operations centers and incident command systems. They also conducted six boating safety workshops.

During the stop in Vietnam, U.S. Pacific Air Forces personnel joined the mission for concurrent engineering and medical events.