SAN DIEGO -- Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) returned to its homeport Sept. 30 following completion of the 17th annual Pacific Partnership mission.

Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

“It has truly been an honor to lead a diverse crew of committed men and women on the Pacific Partnership 2022 team,” said Pacific Partnership 2022 Mission Commander Capt. Hank Kim. “We set out to strengthen ties and create new friendships with our host and partner nations, and we achieved this with resounding success.”

The mission team worked collectively with participating host and partner nations to enhance regional interchangeability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific.

“One of the mission highlights was seeing the multinational knowledge exchange and passion for learning from everyone who was a part of Pacific Partnership,” said Capt. Jeffrey Feinberg, Mercy’s commanding officer. “Every participant brought something new to the table, whether it was a safer way to construct the foundation for a building, a new approach to a patient procedure, or a more efficient means for disaster response. That collaboration is what enhances every nation’s capacity to respond to crisis and provides an enduring impact. That, and the friendships we make, are what will remain long after Mercy returns home.”

Host nations included Vietnam, Palau, the Philippines, and Solomon Islands. Partner nations included Australia, Chile, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom.

Pacific Partnership saw more than 15,000 patients, completed 10 major construction projects, participated in more than 80 host nation outreach events, and conducted humanitarian assistance and disaster relief workshops in each mission stop during the five-month mission.

For more information on Pacific Partnership and USNS Mercy, please visit https://www.msc.usff.navy.mil/Ships/Mercy/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pacificpartnership
Facebook: www.facebook.com/USNSMERCY
DVIDS: www.dvidshub.net/feature/PacificPartnership

Pacific Partnership Facts

Phu Yen, Vietnam
June 19 – July 4

• Two humanitarian and disaster relief shelters built
• 222 surgeries conducted
• 600 local medical professionals trained
• Hosted a humanitarian and disaster relief conference with nine organizations from three countries
• 10 concerts performed from the PP22 band
• A primary school built in Vanua Levu, Fiji in conjunction with Seabees from U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3 and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces


Koror, Republic of Palau
July 12 – July 23

• 111 medical engagements
• 71 veterinarian services
• Hosted a search and rescue drill with assets from the U.S. Coast Guard, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Palau, the Royal Navy and Mercy
• Three concerts performed by the PP22 band
• Hosted the inaugural One Health Symposium for 10 Government of Palau and non-profit organizations


Puerto Princesa, Philippines
July 27 – Aug. 17

• 9,658 medical services rendered during 12 community health fairs
• 184 surgeries
• 2,307 dental procedures
• 1,553 veterinarian services
• Taught and certified personnel as instructors for tactical combat critical care
• Two town halls repaired by PP22 Seabees
• 34 community engagement events


Solomon Islands
Aug. 29 – Sept. 11

• 149 medial training sessions
• 5,610 patient encounters
• 61 surgeries
• Trained local professionals on the operation of a CT scanner
• Two hospital wards repaired
• Hosted a three-day humanitarian and disaster relief conference
• 40 community engagement events


Total

• 15,353 patient encounters
• 3,861 optometry exams performed
• 7,955 eyeglasses distributed
• 3,713 dental patients seen
• 372 surgical procedures, including 254 performed aboard Mercy
• 389 radiological/pathological exams performed
• 1,696 veterinary services provided
• 82 community outreach events, including 40 concerts with musicians from U.S. Pacific Fleet, Royal Australian Navy, and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force bands, reaching nearly 50,000 community members
• Three humanitarian and disaster relief field training exercises with 546 host nation professionals
• 10 major construction projects, including the construction of five humanitarian and disaster relief shelters