The US Navy sailors have commenced Pacific Partnership 2018 (PP18), following their departure from Guam on-board the Military Sealift Command expeditionary fast transport USNS Brunswick (T-EPF 6).
This year’s exercise is the 13th iteration of Pacific Partnership, which is the largest annual multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA / DR) preparedness mission in the Indo-Asia-Pacific.
Go deeper with GlobalData
The mission primarily focuses on improving regional coordination in areas such as medical readiness and preparedness for manmade and natural disasters.
PP18 deputy mission commander captain Peter Olive said: “Pacific Partnership provides opportunities to better prepare and respond to a disaster and improve relationships in communities.
“I am confident we will make a positive difference in the lives of thousands of people across Micronesia and South East Asia.
“Now, more than ever, it is critical to foster these partnerships to be better prepared to work together in the future.”
As part of the activity, the US Navy vessel USNS Brunswick will be bound for the mission’s first stop in Yap, Federated States of Micronesia.
The T-EPF 6 and hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) are also slated to visit several Asia-Pacific countries during the course of the mission.
The PP18 will involve participants and host nation counterparts carrying out technical expertise exchanges in medical, engineering, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in order to broaden the reach and scope of the mission.
PP18 comprises more than 800 US and allied military personnel, in addition to non-government organisations, working in collaboration with host nation counterparts to be better prepared for potential humanitarian aid and disaster response situations.
