Pacific Partnership 2013

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U.S., New Zealand Navies Trade Sailors for Pacific Partnership 2013

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (NNS) -- Members of Pacific Partnership 2013 (PP13) from the U.S. and Royal New Zealand Navy traded places for seven days, switching ships and returning to their respective vessels prior to the end of the PP13 mission's completion, Aug 5.

The Sailors from the amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) and the amphibious sealift ship HMNZS Canterbury (LSL 421) cross-decked to experience the similarities and differences between the two ships, their operations and daily lives before Pearl Harbor departed for its homeport of San Diego, Calif., following the conclusion of the mission's last phase in the Solomon Islands.

"It was a really good experience and we got to do stuff we normally wouldn't do on Canterbury," said Royal New Zealand Navy Midshipman Gideon Van Zyl. "Working with Australians, Koreans and Americans was one of the coolest things we could do."

The personnel who cross-decked were pleasantly surprised by how similar operations were and how cohesively the Pacific Partnership mission was conducted across both ships. They also noticed the differences in the ship's layout designs and quality of life.

"We're both amphibious ships so we do the same operations," said Van Zyl. "The ships are slightly different because one is newer than the other, but they do the same things and carry out the mission the same way."

U.S. Navy Information Systems Technician 1st Class Brooke D. Hejl was struck by how small the ship's crew was compared to that of the Pearl Harbor, and how positive and welcoming they were to the U.S. Sailors aboard.

"The crew is amazing," said Hejl. "They have an infectious spirit and attitude towards the mission and life at sea that is very inspiring."

Cross-decking not only improves the skills and experiences at all levels of the organization, but also contributes to Pacific Partnership's mission and understanding.

"From an operational standpoint, cross-decking increases the situational awareness of our Sailors and fellow nations," said U.S. Navy Capt. Wallace Lovely, Pacific Partnership 2013 mission commander. "I hope they learned that other nations are as proficient, capable, and talented. They are our equals and together we can be even more powerful."

Throughout the mission and during the cross-deck crew swap, lasting relationships were built and knowledge was exchanged between the partner nations and the two ships' crews. They hope that missions like Pacific Partnership continue and missions like it may grow.

"I think all militaries need to try and understand, working together is a lot better than working separately trying to achieve the same goal," said Van Zyl. "Doing it together builds relationships with other people. I had a fun time on the Pearl Harbor and it was great to work with them."

With missions like Pacific Partnership, the nations involved are able to build not only water catchment systems and classrooms, but lasting relationships as well.

Hejl agreed. "We are not just building lasting relationships with the people in the countries we visit, but we are building lasting relationships with all the partner nations involved as well. It has been great to see the similarities, as well as the differences each nation has made in regards to the planning and execution of each successful mission."

As Pearl Harbor leaves the Solomon Islands, the Canterbury is scheduled to continue delivering supplies and completing projects in the islands for the final week of the Pacific Partnership 2013 mission. During the mission, Pearl Harbor visited the Pacific Island nations of Samoa, Tonga, Marshall Islands, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands.

Working at the invitation of each host nation, the annual Pacific Partnership mission combines U.S. Navy forces with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and regional partners that include Australia, Canada, Colombia, France, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and New Zealand to improve maritime security, conduct humanitarian assistance and strengthen disaster-response preparedness in the Indo-Asia-Pacific Region.

http://www.usspearlharbor.navy.mil/

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Command of Pacific Partnership moves to HMNZS CANTERBURY

HMNZS CANTERBURY arrived in Honiara in the Solomon Islands on Monday 29 July to take part in Operation Pacific Partnership, the largest annual multi-nation humanitarian and disaster preparedness exercise in the South Pacific.

The versatile CANTERBURY's landing craft are being used  to take personnel and equipment ashore in four locations in the Solomons.

Personnel from all three New Zealand services have been taking part in Op PP13, which began on 29 May and ends on 15 August. USS PEARL HARBOR was the Command ship until CANTERBURY's arrival. HMNZS WELLINGTON and HMNZS MANAWANUI took part in earlier phases of PP13, especially the clearing of unexploded WWII ordnance.

http://www.navy.mil.nz/

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PREPARING IN CALM TO RESPOND IN CRISIS

By LT CDR Vicki Rendall RNZN

Developing relationships, enhancing capability, and making lives better for Pacific nations—these are the aspirations of the Pacific Partnership team in 2013. This year's NZDF contribution is larger than previously.  New Zealand has provided two deputy mission commanders over the duration of the mission: GPCAPT Darryn Webb and  CAPT Tony Millar.  There are three ships participating, operational divers and EOD teams, over 120 NZDF personnel involved in ground operations and supporting RNZAF flights throughout the Pacific.

"Pacific Partnership 13 is a four-month operation spanning six Pacific nations," says Deputy Mission Commander, CAPT Tony Millar, RNZN.  "It is a large-scale regional operation designed to provide real world help to local people whilst simultaneously building relationships and cooperation between regional partners in order to be ready deal with a natural disaster or other emergency.

Pacific Partnership originated as a means of improving regional cooperation  after the December 2004 Banda Aceh earthquake and tsunami. "We are all Pacific peoples who live along and within the infamous ring of fire. We have needed to deal with natural disasters in the past and we will have to do it again," says CAPT Millar.

Pacific Partnership is now in its eighth year and continues to evolve.  Previously, all missions have been US-led. However this year a variety of nations lead individual phases.  Australia has successfully completed the Papua New Guinea phase and the US led the way in three PP13 mission ports—Samoa, Tonga and the Marshall Islands.  And New Zealand relishes the opportunity to lead in Kiribati and Solomon Islands; There has been full support and participation from all partner nations involved, including, Canada, Columbia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea. 

Lead nations take responsibility for the planning and coordination of multinational assets and resources to achieve tasks as identified and agreed to by the host nation government.  Although the NZDF is regularly involved in regional capacity building activities in our backyard, PP13 offers a new challenge for us to step up, enhancing our coordination with a wide range of regional partners on a larger scale.

In each phase there are military personnel, civilian employees and volunteers from non-government organizations such as Project Hope and World Vets (amongst others) working alongside host nation staff and enthusiastic crowds of residents.   The PP13 team supports a variety of medical, engineering, and community projects targeted towards the needs of each host nation.  The projects are designed to enhance local capacity and encourage sustainable knowledge into the future.   In 2013, there has been a tangible shift from provision of direct care (such as hands-on medical clinics), towards education, discussion and workshops which are designed to empower local staff to sustain progress long after the PP13 teams have left town.

The amphibious dock landing ship USS PEARL HARBOR is the primary platform for PP13 with the Mission Commander Commodore Wallace Lovely, USN and his PP13 team embarked.  The PEARL HARBOR provided the only naval ship support in the US led mission ports of Samoa, Tonga and the Marshall Islands during June and July.  In August, CDRE Lovely will move his flag to HMNZS CANTERBURY and command from NZ 'soil' for two weeks.

In Papua New Guinea, HMAS TOBRUK and JS YAMAGIRI supported personnel from the Australian Defence Force, United States Armed Forces and Japanese Self Defence Force as they provided medical, dental, veterinary, environmental health and engineering assistance to the townships of Wewak and Vanimo which have combined populations of approximately 40,000.

Concurrently, in the Solomon Islands in July, HMNZ Ships WELLINGTON and MANAWANUI were supporting divers and explosive disposal teams from Australia, Canada, and the United States to find and render safe explosive remnants from World War II, improving the safety of the environment for local populations.  Further Pacific Partnership activities will occur in Solomon Islands in August, when both USS PEARL HARBOR and HMNZS CANTERBURY will be supporting operations in the Georgia and Choiseul island groups.

PP13 is an ambitious programme of humanitarian support and capacity building in Pacific Island nations.  It provides real time assistance to host nations, whilst regional partners enhance relationships and understanding of one another's capabilities.  There are excellent opportunities for development as PP13 team members experience and embrace the differences in culture. CAPT Millar best acknowledged the overarching influence of each host nation, thanking each for "your hospitality and your willingness to teach us, and help us to learn from your experiences." 

http://www.navy.mil.nz/oae/ops/sp/pacific-partnership-2013.htm