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    Pacific Resilience exercise ends with closing ceremony

    Pacific Resilience ends with closing ceremony

    Photo By 1st Lt. Jeremy Alexander | Marines and sailors from III Marine Expeditionary Force attend the closing ceremony of...... read more read more

    KATHMANDU, NEPAL

    09.12.2013

    Story by 1st Lt. Jeremy Alexander 

    III Marine Expeditionary Force   

    KATHMANDU, Nepal – Marines and Sailors from III Marine Expeditionary Force participated in the closing ceremony of Pacific Resilience Disaster Response Exercise and Exchange field training exercise Sept. 12.

    During the exercise from Sept. 9 - 12, participants were able to further common emergency preparedness, response and recovery goals through academic sessions on day one and through field training activities on the second two days at the Nepal Army Headquarters and various sites throughout Kathmandu.

    “This exercise is instrumental in cultivating civil-military cooperation, emergency preparedness and enhanced response capabilities,” said Maj. Jude Shell, III MEF exercise planner. “It builds upon the Table-Top Exercise we conducted in February, and from this, we adapted procedures, developed a common understanding of certain problems, and refined best practices that directly impacted this field training exercise.”

    Participants included the Nepal Army, the Government of Nepal, U.S. Army Pacific, and representatives from international organizations, non-governmental organizations and multinational observers.

    “I am confident that this practical exercise that you have conducted during Pacific Resilience, along with the relationships that you have all cemented this week, will have a lasting impact on disaster response mechanisms in Nepal,” said Ambassador Peter Bodde, U.S. Ambassador to Nepal. “The success of your work this week and your future collaboration will be manifested in expeditious relief, coordinated response, and ultimately the number of lives saved when a disaster strikes.”

    During the exercise, participants also established coordination and operations centers, and worked through various complex exercise injections, in a field environment, prompting a much greater understanding of the various civil and military organizations involved. This facilitated a better understanding of the coordination required between these organizations to respond to such an event.

    “Seamless interface between the concerned stakeholders is very important for success of the Government of Nepal’s effort in the field of disaster management,” said Lt. Gen. Netra Thapa, the acting Chief of Army Staff. “Be it civil military collaboration or international parties rendering assistance during the disaster, there is a need to understand each others capabilities, define clear roles and establish procedures for greater cooperation.

    In the exercise, the U.S. military acting as Joint Task Force 505, at the request of the Government of Nepal and as directed by USAID/OFDA, responded to a catastrophic earthquake in Nepal with unique capabilities in support of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts to save lives and mitigate human suffering. This allowed participants to practice with actual response procedures and requests for assistance.

    “The Government of Nepal and the Nepalese Army have made great strides in developing capacity to rapidly respond to a potential disaster of the largest proportions,” said Brig. Gen. Paul Kennedy, the deputy commanding general of III MEF. “I applaud your efforts and assure you that JTF-505 will respond immediately as part of the larger effort to provide assistance in Nepal’s time of need.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 09.12.2013
    Date Posted: 09.15.2013 03:31
    Story ID: 113659
    Location: KATHMANDU, NP

    Web Views: 118
    Downloads: 1

    PUBLIC DOMAIN