US hospital ship leaves San Diego for Pacific Partnership Mission

From Update.Ph (May 12): US hospital ship leaves San Diego for Pacific Partnership Mission  

United States hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) operating under the US Military Sealift Command has departed San Diego, May 11, for the Pacific Partnership 2016, Pacific Partnership Public Affairs said. Pacific Partnership is an annual maritime operation designed to improve disaster response preparedness while enhancing partnerships with participating nations in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

Indonesia, Timor Leste, Malaysia, the Republic of the Philippines, and Vietnam are slated to host Mercy during PP16 and participate in subject-matter expert and civil-military exchanges, emphasizing the importance of cooperation on a global scale in preparing for and responding to disasters. Japan will also lead a mission to Palau.

“This year’s mission is led by Commodore, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23, embarked on Mercy, along with more than 600 military and civilian personnel from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Singapore, Republic of Korea and Japan.” Pacific Partnership Public Affairs said.

“It is a privilege and honor to be the Pacific Partnership mission commander. As in previous years, it attracts a very talented and dynamic group of professionals who will not only share their knowledge with our partners, but learn a great deal from the partner nations we are visiting,” said Capt. Tom Williams, commodore, DESRON 23.

 “Pacific Partnership’s enduring value is in building professional and personal relationships in times of calm to be better prepared for crisis, so when disaster strikes we have a mutual understanding of how to work together to achieve common goals.”

http://www.update.ph/2016/05/us-hospital-ship-leaves-san-diego-for-pacific-partnership-mission/5558