Navy ensign from Illinois participates in humanitarian mission in South Pacific

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Tony Tolley | Ensign Allison Luzwick claps hands with a Timorese girl at Farol Primary School during a community service event for the Timor-Leste phase of Pacific Partnership 2011. Pacific Partnership is a five-month humanitarian assistance initiative that will make port visits to Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the Federated States of Micronesia. Also pictured is Petty Officer 2nd Class Victoria Kent. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Tony Tolley)  

USS CLEVELAND, USAFRICOM, AT SEA

06.20.2011

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Russell 

Pacific Partnership 2011

USS CLEVELAND, At Sea – Navy Ensign Allison Luzwick, a resident of Champaign, Ill. And wife of Nathan Luzwick is currently 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.

“Pacific Partnership has the ability to help people in these countries on a huge scale,” said Luzwick. “The process isn’t always easy but the outcome is always worth it.”

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.

“Participating in this mission is a once in a lifetime experience,” said Luzwick. “Working with people from all the different nations has taught me so much.

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.
Luzwick is a 2010 graduate of University of Illinois.

• Date Taken: 06.20.2011
• Date Posted: 06.27.2011 08:39
• Story ID: 72819
• Location: USS CLEVELAND, USAFRICOM, AT SEA