The Pacific Partnership 2018 missions in Indonesia and Palau kicked off on April 2 and April 4, respectively.
In Indonesia, the multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) preparedness mission officially kicked off with a two-part opening ceremony ashore and aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19).
The Palau mission stop officially started at Ngarachamayong Cultural Center in Koror, Palau, on April 4.
Over 134 military personnel aboard USNS Brunswick (T-EPF 6) from the US Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Coast Guard; British Army and Royal Navy; Japanese Air, Ground and Maritime Self-Defense Force; and Royal Australian Navy will conduct medical, dental and veterinary services and engineering projects throughout the community while working side-by-side with local professionals on HA/DR readiness.
Mercy, along with Military Sealift Command expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Brunswick (T-EPF 6), are participating in Pacific Partnership 2018 (PP18), the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. PP18’s objective is to enhance regional coordination in areas such as medical readiness and preparedness for man-made and natural disasters.
“Pacific Partnership has been a regular visitor to the Republic of Palau, this being the third time since the mission began, with other U.S. ships and teams also visiting over the years,” said Capt. Peter Olive, deputy mission commander of Pacific Partnership 2018. “This reflects years of U.S. commitment to the well-being of Pacific countries.”
In total, the exercise consists of more than 800 US military personnel stationed worldwide, working side-by-side with host nation counterparts to be better prepared for potential humanitarian aid and disaster response situations.