260820-N-PA358-1131

Steelworker 2nd Class Autumn Bridges, assigned to Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB) 1, welds a structural steel frame as part of a Pacific Partnership 2026 (PP26) engineering project at the Escola Básica Filial Kasnafar schoolhouse in Dili, Timor-Leste, Aug. 20, 2026. Working alongside the Timor-Leste Defence Force, the engineering project will upgrade infrastructure throughout the school, to include the renovation of an exterior classroom, the installation of a new water tank and the addition of plumbing connected to a handwashing station, providing running water for the school and improving the quality of life for students and staff. Now in its 22nd iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the region. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class T’ara Tripp)