Husband of La Mesa, Calif., resident participates in humanitarian mission in South Pacific

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Eli Medellin | Seaman Jacob Daniels, boatswain's mate, assigned to the amphibious transport dock ship USS Cleveland, mans the 17 meter Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat off the shores of Papua New Guinea during Pacific Partnership 2011. Pacific Partnership is a five-month humanitarian assistance initiative that completed its mission in Tonga and Vanuatu, and will visit Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and the Federated States of Micronesia. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Eli J. Medellin)  

USS CLEVELAND, USAFRICOM, AT SEA

05.27.2011

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Russell 

Pacific Partnership 2011

USS CLEVELAND, At Sea – Petty Officer 3rd Class Jake Daniels, boatswain’s mate, husband of Lisa Daniels, a resident of La Mesa, Calif., is serving 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 this mission is much needed,” said Daniels. “The conditions when we arrive compared to when we leave are profound.”

Cleveland will visit the Kingdom of Tonga, 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.

“While in Vava’u Tonga, I spent a whole day running around playing soccer and swimming with the native children and the glow in their eyes and smile on their face said it all,” said Daniels. “If I could partake in this mission every time it came around, I would.”

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

• Date Taken: 05.27.2011
• Date Posted: 06.06.2011 14:53
• Story ID: 71671
• Location: USS CLEVELAND, USAFRICOM, AT SEA