Son of National City, Calif. Resident Participates in Humanitarian Mission In South Pacific

Photo By Chief Petty Officer Michael Russell | Petty Officer 3rd Class Sergio Alvarez from Amphibious Construction Battalion 1 hammers a nail into a support structure during a Pacific Partnership 2011 engineering project site at Talihua Town Hall on the island of Vava’u. Seabees from Amphibious Construction Battalion 1, engineers from the Tonga Defense Service and volunteers from the local community are repairing and renovating critical infrastructure at several locations on the Island. Pacific Partnership 2011 is a humanitarian assistance mission aimed at strengthening regional relationships. The mission will visit five island nations this summer: Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and the Federated States of Micronesia. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Russell)  

USS CLEVELAND, USAFRICOM, AT SEA

05.25.2011

Courtesy Story

Pacific Partnership 2011

By Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Russell

USS CLEVELAND, At Sea – Petty Officer 3rd Class Sergio Alvarez, son of Angelina Martinez, a resident of National City, Calif. is serving in support of Pacific Partnership 2011 aboard amphibious transport dock ship USS Cleveland in support of Pacific Partnership 2011.

Cleveland is the lead vessel for Pacific Partnership 2011. Pacific Partnership is the Pacific Fleet’s annual mission to Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands to engage in partnerships with host nations by improving dialogue, effecting a lasting, positive change, and employing subject matter expert exchanges in order to improve the capabilities and interoperability of the U.S. and partner nations when dealing with natural and man-made disasters.

“I feel blessed to be a part of this humanitarian mission,” said Alvarez. “I get to build schools for less fortunate children and that gives me a sense of pride plus I get to go home and share my adventure with my son, family and friends.”

Cleveland completed its mission in Tonga and will continue in Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and the Federated States of Micronesia, and the military group will be accompanied by non-government organizations like Project HOPE, Vets Without Borders, and the University of California, San Diego Pre-Dental Society.

“We work long hours most of the time but I feel lucky to be on the last voyage aboard USS Cleveland,” said Alvarez.

Pacific Partnership developed as a mission following the tsunami in 2004 which devastated Indonesia and much of the South Pacific. Since 2006, Pacific Partnership has treated 150,000 patients in 15 countries, and is supported by all U.S. uniformed services and partner nations that include Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. Other nations providing teams include Canada, Spain, Malaysia, and France.

• Date Taken: 05.25.2011
• Date Posted: 05.25.2011 09:56
• Story ID: 71034
• Location: USS CLEVELAND, USAFRICOM, AT SEA