Pacific Partnership is an annual deployment of forces from the Pacific Fleet of the United States Navy (USN), in cooperation with regional governments and military forces, along with humanitarian and non-government organizations.
The deployment was conceived following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, as a way to improve the interoperability of the region's military forces, governments, and humanitarian organisations during disaster relief operations, while providing humanitarian, medical, dental, and engineering assistance to nations of the Pacific, and strengthening relationships and security ties between the nations.
The deployment is typically based around an amphibious warfare vessel or hospital ship of the USN's Pacific Fleet. Other nations regularly contribute to the deployment; the Australian Defence Force has provided assets since the first deployment in 2006, and seven nations, along with other branches of the United States Armed Forces, US government agencies, and non-government organizations, were involved in Pacific Partnership 2011.
(Source and More Information : Wikipedia)
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Pacific Partnership 2012
About
A dedicated humanitarian and civic assistance mission conducted with and through partner nations, non-governmental organizations and other U.S. government agencies.
Mission
Mission
Pacific Partnership 2012 will perform humanitarian and civic assistance activities in Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Cambodia. USNS MERCY (T-AH 19) will serve as the command platform in addition to a Japanese Landing Ship Tank (LST 4001) OOSUMI. PP12 seeks to build and strengthen alliances, partnerships and relationships with regional host nations, partner nations, foreign humanitarian assistance actors and non-government organizations (NGO), and U.S. government interagency organizations by conducting HCA and other civil military operations.
General Information
If you are looking for the official source of information about Pacific Partnership, please visit our website at http://www.cpf.navy.mil/pp.
(Source and More Information : Pacific Partnership 2012 Official Facebook's Page)
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On January 31ST 2012, the Governor of North Sulawesi, Mr. Sinyo Sarundajang, is invited to attend the Mid Planning Conference Pacific Partnership 2012 (PP12) in San Diego, CA. I am extremely excited when I read the news because for one, I am a Manadonese and my husband is a U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer. Partnership like this is amazing because their mission is humanitarian, friendship and strengthened the relationship between the nations.
So, Military Sealift Command (MSC) hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) departed Naval Station San Diego May 3, beginning its part in Pacific Partnership 2012, a four-and-a-half month humanitarian and civic assistance mission to Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia. Mercy was scheduled to depart May 1, but a mechanical problem delayed the ship's departure for two days.
Pacific Partnership 2012 is a mission that will take medical, dental, veterinary, engineering and civic assistance projects to Southeast Asia and Oceania. Pacific Partnership missions build on relationships that have been developed during previous missions, for example Mercy's participation in international relief efforts following the December 2004 tsunami that struck Southeast Asia, and Mercy's 2006, 2008 and 2010 humanitarian and civic assistance deployments to the region.
USNS Mercy arrived in Manado, North Sulawesi, on May 31 2012 as part of a two-week visit to Indonesia and to participate in the PP12. The people of Manado were so excited to see the big ship arrived in their city and the mission it carries. They are forever grateful and loved the Mercy and her crew :)
Manado is the "Land of swaying coconut tree and smiling people", because we have a lot of coconut trees, LOL, we love people, we are friendly, happy, love to eat and outgoing people. Manado's culture got influenced a lot by the Dutch, Spain, Portuguese, Japanese and British cultures. All of those mixed cultures influences shows in our ethnicity, foods, languages, names, also religion. We are the largest Christian's region in Indonesia and so far our city has been living in peace and harmony with everyone.
Notes: I put all the links of/to the original sources/owner of all the pictures I posted below with the word "via" (click on it) below each picture or if I posted more than one picture from the same source, I will put the original source all the way at the end of the images/pictures they took.
via Mr. Harold Immanuel's Twitter
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"Pacific Partnership 2012 (PP12) completed its first mission port in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, June 15. Aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), the PP12 team of more than 1,200 crew spent 15 days traveling between Manado and the three islands of Sangihe, Talaud, and Siau.
The multinational, multi-organizational crew of host and partner nations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) worked in the fields of medical and dental, veterinarian, civil engineering and subject matter expert exchanges. They also conducted community service in the areas of sports and recreation, donated items and band performances.
"I believe the key to our success was our ability to bring people together in a focused effort," said Capt. James Morgan, PP12 Mission Commander. "We have accomplished a great deal in two weeks time."
The mission participated in 11 major subject matter expert exchanges involving more than 1,000 Indonesian specialists, allowing this year's mission to continue building on established best practices for all the countries involved.
According to Morgan, nearly 200 surgeries were conducted; four major engineering projects stood up; over 2,300 livestock and pets received veterinary care; and, over 9,000 local citizens received medical evaluations and treatments in Manado and on the outer islands.
The crew also conducted cultural exchanges and community service with local citizens by playing sports, reading with children, transporting donated supplies, and conducting 10 music concerts and clinics performed by the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band.
The goal of PP12 is to take part in a humanitarian and civic assistance mission that brings together U.S. military and civilian personnel, host and partner nations, non-government organizations and international agencies to build stronger relationships and develop disaster response capabilities.
The crew also conducted cultural exchanges and community service with local citizens by playing sports, reading with children, transporting donated supplies, and conducting 10 music concerts and clinics performed by the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band.
The goal of PP12 is to take part in a humanitarian and civic assistance mission that brings together U.S. military and civilian personnel, host and partner nations, non-government organizations and international agencies to build stronger relationships and develop disaster response capabilities.
"Pacific Partnership in Indonesia brought together the very best military, humanitarian, governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations that our countries and the international community as a whole have to offer," Morgan said. "I couldn't be more proud."
Working together as an integrated team and at the invitation of the Indonesian government, Indonesia military and civil service personnel worked alongside the partner nations of Australia, Canada, France, Malaysia, and the United States; the NGOs of Global Grins, Hope World Wide, Johns Hopkins University Medicine, Latter Day Saints Charities, Project Handclasp, Project Hope, Univ. of California San Diego Pre-Dental Society, University of Hawaii Schools of Engineering and Nursing, and World Vets; and, Joint and Interagency teams from the United States Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, Departments of State, Justice, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Approximately 70 professional civilian mariners also ensured the safety and navigation of the USNS Mercy.
The remaining Pacific Partnership 2012 mission ports include the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia. Through active engagement with host nation officials and militaries, subject matter expert exchanges, civil action projects and medical exchanges, the mission will continue to build the regional partnerships and collective abilities needed to respond to natural disasters.
Sponsored by the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet and now in its seventh year, Pacific Partnership is the largest annual humanitarian civic assistance mission in the Asia-Pacific Region."
(Source for the news http://www.cpf.navy.mil/news.aspx/030010)
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Sunrise that looked like a cross? :)
Playing basketball with Mount Karangetang on the background
(All the images above are the courtesy of Iddo Posangi, who is also a doctor from Manado participated in PP12)
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(The volcano off the coast of the island of Siau, Indonesia. )
(All the images/pictures above are taken from Pacific Partnership 2012 Facebook's Page)
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(Mr. Iskandar, an Indonesian man, a translator for PP12, a U.S. Navy sailor)
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(Pictures on the collages are the courtesy of my mom and miss V.Danes)
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Below are some of the pictures of the Closing Ceremony of PP12 in Manado
Friday, June 15th 2012
The Governor of North Sulawesi
Mr. Sinyo Sarundajang
The Governor of North Sulawesi
Mr. Sinyo Sarundajang
The Governor of North Sulawesi
Mr. Sinyo Sarundajang
via
The Governor of North Sulawesi
Mr. Sinyo Sarundajang
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Thank you very much for everyone who volunteered and involved with the PP12. You did great things for the people of North Sulawesi and Indonesia in general. You have changed many lives, perspective and bond a strong partnership and friendship of the nations.
Thank you for all of your donations, money, energy, time, work, help, talents, sacrifices (including and especially) for leaving your families for months due to the deployment (Thank You USNS Mercy's families).
I wished many people would realize the prize these families must endure during deployment. I also wished that many people would understand and realized that the military is not all about war, they are doing many humanitarian efforts all over the world just like this one. For once in your life, set your political view aside, and see it from a different perspective. I am sure the people that they helped would love to tell you what they did and how it changed their lives forever.
Thank you for all of your donations, money, energy, time, work, help, talents, sacrifices (including and especially) for leaving your families for months due to the deployment (Thank You USNS Mercy's families).
I wished many people would realize the prize these families must endure during deployment. I also wished that many people would understand and realized that the military is not all about war, they are doing many humanitarian efforts all over the world just like this one. For once in your life, set your political view aside, and see it from a different perspective. I am sure the people that they helped would love to tell you what they did and how it changed their lives forever.
We hope to see you again in Indonesia! Terima Kasih, Sampai Jumpa Lagi (Thank You, Til We Meet Again)!
For more information, pictures and news, please check out these websites:
BRAVO ZULU! STAY SAFE AND MAKE IT HOME EVERYONE! FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS!
xoxo,
Lindsay
