Current ADF Commitment
Overview
Pacific Partnership 2011 is an annual Humanitarian Civic Assistance (HCA) program sponsored by the Commander US Pacific Fleet. The deployment aims to strengthen alliances and promote multilateral security cooperation.
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 organisations, 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:
- Strengthen relationships with host, partner nations, and other partner organisations.
- Build partner capacity to conduct peace, stability, and consequence management operations
- Improve US and Partner Humanitarian Assistance/ Disaster Relief capacity
- Improve security cooperation among partner nations.
Now in its seventh 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 Australian Defence Force (ADF) has contributed to Pacific Partnership since 2006 and is enthusiastically rejoining the multi-national and multi-skilled Pacific Partnership team for 2011.Pacific Partnership 2011
Pacific Partnership 2011 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 Pacific region.
Pacific Partnership 2011 is supported by USS Cleveland and will deliver engineering and medical aid to Vanuatu, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and the Federated States of Micronesia from 1 April to 25 July 2011.
ADF contributionThe ADF contribution to the Pacific Partnership mission will include approximately 50 people who will deploy in two phases comprised primarily of engineering and medical personnel:
- 12 Australian Army Engineers from 17th Construction Squadron based in Sydney
- Approximately 40 medical and dental personnel in two phases from the Navy, Army and Air Force
- Two Landing Craft Heavy ships based at Cairns: HMA Ships Betano and Balikpapan
- Four person Deployable Geospatial Team from Sydney
- ADF Contingent Command
The Deployable Geospatial Team will also embark for survey tasking roles, and the two Landing Craft Heavy ships will provide vital ship-to-shore logistics, transferring supplies, equipment and personnel from USS Cleveland to more remote project locations.
Related information
More information, blogs, images and video clips can be found at:
www.facebook.com/ADFPacificPartnership
www.pacificpartnership.wordpress.com/