Pacific Partnership Medical Personnel Participate in Medical Training with Palau Locals

Photo By Ensign Alexis VanBuren | KOROR, Palau (Sept. 23, 2025) Pacific Partnership 2025 multinational medical professionals and local Palauan medical professionals prepare to transport a simulated patient during a trauma training and air evacuation exercise, at the Palau International Airport in Aira, Palau, Sept. 23. Now in its 21st iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Ens. Alexis Van Buren)  

KOROR, PALAU

09.23.2025

Story by Ensign Alexis VanBuren 

Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific

KOROR, Palau – Medical personnel from the Belau National Hospital partnered with the U.S. Army’s Oceania Engagement Team, and Pacific Partnership 2025 to participate in a simulated trauma training and air evacuation exercise in Koror, Palau, Sept. 23.

The training focused on strengthening local capability to respond to emergencies and natural disasters.

The exercise involved a simulated casualty being stabilized to enable transport by ambulance and aircraft to get to better equipped trauma hospitals to provide more specialized care.

“I expect to learn a lot of trauma and specialty training,” said Charlene Cubacub, registered nurse with the Belau National Hospital Medical Ward. A lot of us graduate from the community college here in Palau, but there was a lot of lacking information and skills training. With our limited resources, this training really helps us prepare for recent and future cases.”

The hands-on exercise included scenarios in trauma care, patient stabilization, and patient evacuation ensuring the local first responders are better prepared to support their communities' needs for higher levels of care.
The training highlighted practical challenges in patient transport, which the U.S. medical team mitigated using a mix of improvised fixes and more sustainable solutions, including adapted procedures and necessary equipment.

“This training helped the locals be able to provide trauma wound care and med evacuations of patients if needed into the community during the event of a natural disaster,” said U.S. Army Capt. Fanolua Faraimo, Oceania Engagement Team Mission. “We see the need for hands-on training opportunities that build real capability for both local medical staff and military personnel.”

The collaboration between the Pacific Mission Aviation (PMA), the Belau Hospital and Pacific Partnership 2025 highlighted the importance of medical readiness and partnership between Palau’s healthcare providers and U.S. forces. By strengthening practical skills and coordination, the training enhanced Palau’s overall preparedness to respond to emergencies and save lives.

For more information about the Belau National Hospital, visit the following websites: http://palaugov.pw/bureau-of-hospital-clinical-services/

• Date Taken: 09.23.2025
• Date Posted: 09.24.2025 21:22
• Story ID: 549233
• Location: KOROR, PW