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This summer was a big year for our country, and for the world as a whole. Part of the many achievements was Pacific Partnership 2010 (PP10). PP10 was the 5th humanitarian mission of Pacific Partnership, and brought all four branches of the military together to help six underdeveloped nations.
PP10 planned on doing a lot this summer. The main goals were to strengthen the bond between us and our current alliances, improve the United States’ ability to deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and to improve security cooperation among other nations. In order to do all of this, the people of PP10 had to plan to help the health and virtue of all of the nations that they were visiting.
The hospital ship USNS Mercy left port in Mid-July to head for the countries of Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and New Guinea. On board were medical professionals from all four branches of our military. The professionals included surgeons, dentists, and physicians. Also aboard the Mercy were Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) who helped the cause, and members from ten other partner nations.
Shortly after arriving in each country, the servicemen and women began to get down to work. PP10 brought medical health centers to the countries. Doctors began to give examinations first thing, and performed many surgeries. In total, PP10 professionals performed over 100,000 patients, 850 surgeries, and issued over 60,000 pairs of glasses to the people of the visited nations.
Of course, the military did not forget about the four-legged creatures of the earth. Veterinarians on the USNS Mercy helped treat animals of all kinds. Almost 3,000 veterinary patients were treated over the summer program.
But the help went beyond physical health and needs. Engineers on board helped to finish over 20 engineering projects. Together as a whole, our military, and the other members of PP10 helped to build the community as well. More than 80 community service projects were completed.
All work and no play is no way to spend time, and the people of PP10 realized that. Men and women at any point in time could be seen playing jump rope with little girls, creating art with children, and making music with the people as a whole.
The U.S. Pacific Fleet Band even performed a Jazz Concert in Papau, New Guinea, one of the last spots on the trip. In the Kokopo Public Market, on September 4th, the band performed for over 2,000 people. Musician 1st Class Eric Snitzer said that “it was a unique area, the courtyard area…you’re surrounded by concert-goers and everywhere you look in every direction, it’s packed in, shoulder-to-shoulder”. Mr. Snitzer added, “We have played in many different countries, and it’s always a pleasant surprise when you see the crowd connect with the music we play for them”.
Every year brings more people to help, and larger numbers of treatments. The amount of help done this year topped all 5 previous years. The help these countries received blew previous PP10 records out of the water. Plans for Pacific Partnership 2011 are already in progress, and they plan to continue topping records.
