FORT BELVOIR, Va. - Medical officers from eight nations gathered this month to take part in Pacific Partnership, an annual humanitarian initiative sponsored by the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Pacific Partnership 2011 allowed U.S. personnel to work with a variety of partner nations and non-governmental organizations to train in military operations while providing various support services to the countries visited, according to a U.S. Pacific Fleet article.
The team included representatives from Japan, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, Spain, New Zealand, France and Indonesia. The Pacific Partnership medical team has treated more than 36,000 patients and cared for more than 1,500 animals. They conducted more than 40 community projects and completed more than 20 engineering projects.
The Federated States of Micronesia was the final mission port for Pacific Partnership 2011, which completed operations in Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste.
Making it possible
The initiative was powered by marine fuel procured by Defense Logistics Agency Energy Pacific and delivered via underway replenishment at sea by the U.S. Navy.
DLA Energy Pacific supported the initiative throughout its journey. Team members began planning for the operation in the fall of 2010 and contracted for more than 480,000 gallons of marine fuel to be delivered at sea to the lead ship, the USS Cleveland.
In June, the USS Cleveland received 244,521 gallons of F76 marine diesel from the USNS Matthew Perry. The fuel originated from a defense fuel support point in Japan. The USNS Rappahannock delivered it to the Perry, which transferred it to the Cleveland.
"In July, the Cleveland acquired 236,000 gallons of F76 from the Matthew Perry, who had obtained its fuel from the USNS Ericsson, who in turn had picked up its fuel from DFSP Guam," explained Navy Cmdr. Andrea Lemon, commander of DLA Energy Pacific’s Guam office.
"We are expecting the Matthew Perry to return to Guam soon to replenish her stocks and carry on her mission of refueling at sea," Lemon explained.
(Terry Shawn of DLA Energy Public Affairs contributed to this article)