LUGANVILLE, Vanuatu -- The U.S. military and Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF), along with service members from Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines, kicked off Pacific Angel (PAC ANGEL) 18-3 in Luganville, Espiritu Santo Island, Vanuatu, July 16, 2018.

PAC ANGEL Vanuatu, the second of four humanitarian assistance engagements taking place in 2018, brings together medical and civil engineering personnel from multinational partner nations to provide healthcare and structural assistance for the residents of Luganville, Espiritu Santo Island and Tanna Island, Vanuatu.

“PAC ANGEL provides a platform for the U.S. and our Ni-Vanuatu partners to increase interoperability and cooperation by exchanging best practices in engineering and medicine, while giving back to the community,” said Lt. Col. Benjamin Doyle, PAC ANGEL 18-3 mission commander.

Medical clinics are offering optometry, dental, pediatrics, family practice, pharmacy and physical therapy services. So far, more than 1,600 patients were treated over the first three days of the health services outreach in Luganville.

Concurrently, a civil engineering team, comprised of 14 U.S. Airmen, 1 U.S. Marine and multinational partners, is leading renovations of four schools and two medical clinics. The scope of the renovations includes structural repairs, roofing, plumbing and electrical work.

The close partnerships and collaboration shared throughout the exercise provides invaluable educational opportunities for both the U.S. and Ni-Vanuatu participants.

This year marks the 11th year of the PAC ANGEL mission, with four iterations held in different countries throughout the year. Earlier this year, Pacific Air Forces conducted PAC ANGEL engagements in Suai, Cova Lima Municipality, Southwest Timor-Leste, and are scheduled for future engagements in Anuradhapura (North Central Province), Puttalam (Northwest Province) and Vavuniya (Northern Province), Sri Lanka and Tam Ky, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam.