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PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP

US Pacific Fleet sponsored PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP is an annual US Pacific Fleet sponsored training and readiness mission to perform Humanitarian Civic Assistance (HCA) and theatre security missions in the US Pacific Command Area of Responsibility. The mission works by, with and through host and partner nations, non-governmental organisations and Government agencies. PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP is truly a partnership with a multinational team and host nations working alongside each other to improve the lives of the people.

The PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP campaign evolved from the unprecedented international disaster response for countries devastated during the 2004 Asian tsunami. Follow up missions recognised the benefits derived from cooperation between national governments, militaries, international organizations, and non-governmental organisations during disaster relief operations, as well as in civic assistance projects. In an effort to capitalise on the experiences and relationships formed during that tragic disaster, the concept of a recurring mission was established to:

For related coverage of Pacific Partnership 2009 from the US Navy Pacific Fleet http://www.navy.mil/local/cpf/

Now in its fifth year, partner nations continue their mission to improve the lives of people in the Pacific region, as well as improve the capacities of nations and organisations to respond to disasters through recurring opportunities for cooperation and training.

The ADF has contributed to PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP since 2006 and is enthusiastically rejoining the multi-national and multi-skilled PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP team for 2009.

 


PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP 2009

PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP 2009 seeks to build on the relationships established in previous PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP missions to deliver a variety of medical, dental, engineering, and veterinary projects in the SW Pacific.

The mission will be conducted from June to September 2009, stopping in each South West Pacific host nation for approximately 10 to 14 days.

For related coverage of Pacific Partnership 2009 from the US Navy Pacific Fleet http://www.navy.mil/local/cpf/

Host Nations

This year, PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP is scheduled to visit Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Kiribati and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Specific locations within each country will be announced prior to arrival at that country.

ADF Involvement

Royal Australian Navy Landing Craft Heavy HMA Ships BETANO and WEWAK will provide vital ship to shore logistics in Tonga and the Solomon Islands.

The ADF personnel deploying to PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP are honoured to be part of a mission dedicated to assisting their regional neighbours and are looking forward the opportunity to exchange expert knowledge with many different countries and organisations.

RICHARD E. BYRD

This year’s mission will be conducted from USNS RICHARD E. BYRD. USNS RICHARD E. BYRD is a Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship in the United States Navy, with a displacement of 23, 852 tons light. RICHARD E. BYRD is the enabling platform for the mission, transporting equipment, supplies and the multi-national and multi skilled team.

The 2009 Mission Projects

The PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP team will work with host nations on public health and preventive medicine, veterinary care, optometry and ophthalmology, dental, adult and paediatric medicine, medical subject matter expert exchange, immunizations, nutritional counselling, biomedical repair and medical environmental assessments.

As requested by each host nation, PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP engineers will provide focused humanitarian civic assistance to include school and medical clinic repairs, water catchment system improvements and replacement of a bridge connecting two communities in Kiribati. Additionally, the engineering team will provide support to the medical and dental healthcare providers.