Air Force Photographer Participates in Humanitarian Mission In South Pacific

Photo By Chief Petty Officer John Grandin | Air Force Tech Sgt. Tony Tolley prepares to take aerial photos of Vava’u, Tonga from an MH-60s Sea Hawk helicopter during Pacific Partnership 2011. Pacific Partnership is a humanitarian assistance initiative, which promotes cooperation throughout the Pacific, which 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 Seaman John Grandin)  

USS CLEVELAND, USAFRICOM, AT SEA

05.25.2011

Courtesy Story

Pacific Partnership 2011

By Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Russell

USS CLEVELAND, At Sea – Air Force Tech Sgt. Tony Tolley, a resident of Charleston, S.C., is serving in support of Pacific Partnership 2011 aboard amphibious transport dock ship USS Cleveland.

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 proud to document this mission as a photographer,” said Tolley. “As a member of the U.S. Air Force it’s not common to be deployed on a Navy ship but I volunteered for this mission because it was something exciting and different.”

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.

“The places we have been so far are beautiful and the people are so excited to work with us,” said Tolley.

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 10:12
• Story ID: 71037
• Location: USS CLEVELAND, USAFRICOM, AT SEA