Pacific Partnership: Shipshape for a cause

Sailors set sail for Pacific Partnership
28 April 2011

RAN personnel stood on the decks of USS Cleveland in the early morning of April 15 and watched the shores of Hawaii recede from view. They were on their way to Tonga – the first port of call in Pacific Partnership 2011 (PP11).

For the next 10 weeks the sailors and officers will work in close partnership with a number of nurses, doctors, dentists and engineers from the US Navy, Army and Air Force, Marines, civilian volunteers and members of other navies.

Pacific Partnership is an annual humanitarian aid mission sponsored by the Commander of the  US Pacific Fleet.

The mission, which started in 2005 in response to the Indonesian tsunami, aims to develop relationships and Australia’s ability to operate in close cooperation with military colleagues from the US, New Zealand and other participants, as well as improve the way of life for our Pacific neighbours.

The commander of the Australian contingent, Commander Ashley Papp, said working closely with Australia’s allies during times of peace helped refine our procedures, understanding and cooperation.

“This helps so that in times of crisis we know how to deliver the right support, at the right time, in the right way,” Commander Papp said.

PP11 will deliver engineering and medical aid to Vanuatu, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and the Federated States of Micronesia.

RAN personnel have participated in the mission since 2006 and some of the current team have been on Pacific Partnership before.

Emergency nurse Navy Lieutenant Steven Line said Pacific Partnership allowed a large number of people to access life-changing medical services, which otherwise wouldn’t be available to them.

“When the opportunity came up to deploy again I jumped at it,” he said.

 

(c)  Australian DoD