http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/index/ en U.S. Department of State 2009-11-20T23:01:01+00:00 About the Author: Tom Weinz served as the Foreign Service Liaison Officer (FSLO) aboard the USNS Richard E. Byrd for Pacific Partnership 2009 (PP09).

Pacific Partnership has officially come to an end. The final projects were carried out in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), a group of 29 coral atolls and five single islands with a land area of just 70 square miles spread across 750,000 square miles of ocean. The Marshall Islands have been closely associated with the United States since World War II. A complex Compact of Free Association between RMI and the United States went into effect in 1986, and a renegotiated compact went into force on May 1, 2004. The U.S. Army operates a large missile test range on RMI’s Kwajalein Atoll. Pacific Partnership 2007 also visited the Marshall Islands, so this was the second mission to RMI. There may be many more.

By any measurement, PP09 was a praiseworthy achievement. The Navy will publish final figures in the near future, which will clarify in statistics the thousands of hours of medical, dental, veterinarian, engineering and community relations activities that were accomplished since the Richard E. Byrd arrived in Samoa arrived in Samoa at the end of June. For me, the greatest legacy is and will remain the countless interactions among the multi-national providers and recipients of this mission. Friendships were forged that will continue over the years, and that will enhance follow-on missions by Pacific Partnership.

Welcome Pacific Partnership 2010. Sustainability has been of primary concern over Pacific Partnership’s relatively short life. Multi-year commitments to a fixed schedule are not currently possible, but a tentative outline of future missions would provide both continuity and encouragement to prospective recipient peoples and governments. In addition to RMI, four countries have benefitted from at least two separate Pacific Partnership missions over the past four years (The Philippines, Viet Nam, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands).

On September 23 and 24, I have been attending the Initial Planning Conference (IPC) for Pacific Partnership 2010. The list of participants includes an encouraging majority of familiar names from the Navy, NGOs, participating foreign governments and specialized contractors. These individuals, combined with extensive “lessons learned” inputs from PP09 staff still on the USNS Byrd, will contribute measurably to the continuity so crucial to this long-term program. Expect to see a return of Pacific Partnership sites, pictures and blogs about May of 2010, when I expect the USNS Mercy to return to the South Pacific.

Read Tom's previous entry: Pacific Partnership Builds Bridges in Kiribati.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/pacific_partnership_end/ 2009-09-24T15:24:19+00:00 About the Author: Tom Weinz served as the Foreign Service Liaison Officer (FSLO) aboard the USNS Richard E. Byrd for Pacific Partnership 2009 (PP09).

From May 4 to 8 of this year the United States and the Republic of the Philippines co-sponsored an ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) disaster response exercise. Twenty-six ARF countries joined in a civilian-led, military supported activity involving the demonstration and execution of medical, engineering, land, air, and maritime capabilities of ARF’s participants. This exercise, as the Pacific Partnership missions, eventuated from the terrible tragedy of the December 2004 tsunami, which horrified the world. And it demonstrates the strong collective commitment to prepare for such an event in the future. One of the recommendations that emerged following the exercise was that any future ARF exercise “…include MEDCAP, ENCAP or VETCAP projects to bring tangible benefits to the hosting nation’s population.” That, in essence, is the definition of Pacific Partnership.

On September 2, the Pacific Partnership team cut a ribbon to open their most ambitious ENCAP construction project of this mission. For some years a major bridge connecting North Tarawa from the rest of the atoll has been dangerously semi-collapsed, preventing the 5,000 i-Kiribati (pronounced “ee-keer-ah-bhas”) living in the north from full access to most services in South Tarawa, including medical, supply and access to the international airport. During consultations over the past year, I have heard the naval engineers discussing every aspect of this impressive effort: now it is reality. Since arrival of the USNS Byrd on August 23, engineers have dismantled and removed the existing 186-foot/56.7-meter bridge. The new bridge was manufactured in England and shipped to Kiribati (pronounced “keer-ah-bhas”) in eight 20-foot sea containers, along with two 7-ton trucks and two heavy lift telehandler forklifts to move the sections out of and into position across the water. This effort brilliantly meshes a real-world need with an “exercise” in transporting and building in an area that completely lacks local infrastructure — which would be the case in most future disaster scenarios.

When USNS Byrd sailed towards the Republic of the Marshall Islands on September 5, it left thousands of inhabitants of Kiribati with a little better life. The physical bridge has a figurative counterpart, signifying a more compassionate, more involved international community that, in spite of daunting domestic economic challenges, continues to reach out to peoples and countries of the world who need and appreciate benevolent neighbors. Our future needs both types of bridges.

Read Tom's previous entry about Kiribati or his entry about the conclusion of Pacific Partnership 2009.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/pacific_partnership_bridges_kiribati/ 2009-09-10T21:09:55+00:00 About the Author: Tom Weinz served as the Foreign Service Liaison Officer (FSLO) aboard the USNS Richard E. Byrd for Pacific Partnership 2009 (PP09).

Pacific Partnership (PP09) is in Kiribati (pronounced “keer-ah-bhas”), whose principal atoll, Tarawa, is another infamous name from World War II. The Battle of Tarawa in late 1943 was among the bloodiest fighting of the Pacific campaign and a turning point for the war in the Central Pacific.

When I visited Tarawa as part of the site-survey team in March of this year, it was apparent that this location would challenge our mission more than any of the others. Tarawa is comprised of a ribbon of islets joined by simple stone and concrete causeways; the small islet of Betio at the extreme southwest of Tarawa is the focus of much of PP09 local medical outreach. Betio is the densest urban settlement in the Pacific Islands, with 26,000 people living in very basic conditions.

Many I-Kiribati (pronounced “ee-keer-ah-bhas”), as people of the country are known, have already been resettled to other areas and countries. The waters of the Pacific are rising, and gradually turning drinking water brackish and farmland saline. President Anote Tong has been brutally honest about the future of Kiribati. He reflected in 2008, “To plan for the day when you no longer have a country is indeed painful, but I think we have to do that.”

While on USNS Byrd, I was very impressed with the numbers of volunteers taking part in daily community relations projects (COMRELS). I am now looking at the final report for COMRELS in the Solomon Islands, where the USS Mustin was also in port for Guadalcanal Day. COMRELS are staffed entirely by volunteers who have other full-time jobs. In the Solomon Islands, civilian mariners, sailors from the Mustin, Australian Army, Navy and Air Force personnel, Navy SeaBees, PacFleet Band members, NGO volunteers and local citizens banded together to complete 27 different projects over 13 days.

During my experience with very different Pacific Partnership missions over the past three years, one constant has been the ever expanding role of COMRELS, directed by the different Pacific Partnership Chaplains, and developing into a “Come One, Come All” multinational team responsible for significant accomplishments, such as laying pipe for a school water system and other water-improvement or catchment projects. U.S. Peace Corps volunteers have joined these teams in the past; the Peace Corps withdrew from Kiribati in 2008, after forty-one years in the country. The COMRELS planned for Kiribati are as ambitious as those completed in Solomon Islands, thanks to the many volunteers who are serving in them.

Read Tom's previous or next entries.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/pacific_partnership_in_kiribati/ 2009-08-31T20:01:55+00:00 About the Author: Tom Weinz served as the Foreign Service Liaison Officer (FSLO) aboard the USNS Richard E. Byrd for Pacific Partnership 2009 (PP09).

Early in this series, I reflected on how our best-laid plans often take a detour. My personal detour came in French New Caledonia, when some medical tests prevented my sailing with the USNS Byrd, and I subsequently returned to the Washington, DC area. Although I know both Solomon Islands, and PP09's specific mission, very well, I am sorry to miss what continues to be an effective and mutually beneficial undertaking. Guadalcanal Day memorial services were held early on August 7 at the well-kept American Memorial on Skyline Ridge, overlooking Iron Bottom Sound. Americans and Solomon Islanders alike gathered to reflect on the profound events that took place there in 1942-1943.

A few days later, as I was monitoring PP09 activity in Solomon Islands from my home, I read an article in the Solomon Islands “Island Sun” newspaper lauding the Pacific Partnership effort, but pleading for sustainability, an equally important concept to Pacific Partnership planners and participants. These events and emotions resonate with me, what that means, and how it impacts people in their daily lives.

Solomon Islands is at a critical juncture. In 2003, the Solomon Islands Parliament requested assistance to stabilize their country, socially and economically. The response came in the guise of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI), military, police and civilian personnel from fifteen Pacific countries working to help Solomon Islanders achieve peace and stability. Sustainability is key to their plans also. Pacific Partnership responded to requests to provide assistance to both Guadalcanal and Malaita, the two key islands responsible for a better future. As I write this, the Byrd is leaving the Solomon Islands, after treating thousands of people and renovating additional schools and hospitals, and constructing teaching facilities for the local Red Cross. Though their stay was not long, PP09 personnel have done much to contribute to sustainability in health care and education for all the people of Solomon Islands.

Read Tom's previous entry en route to the Solomon Islands or his next entry about PP09 in Kiribati. ]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/pacific_partnership_sustainability/ 2009-08-21T14:36:58+00:00 About the Author: Tom Weinz is the dedicated Foreign Service Liaison Officer (FSLO) aboard the USNS Richard E. Byrd for Pacific Partnership 2009 (PP09).

The USNS Richard E. Byrd crew and PP09 personnel, after several days of relaxation in New Caledonia, are now approaching Honiara, Solomon Islands. New Caledonia is a fascinating, little-known extremity of the French Republic, and most of us took the time to explore areas around Noumea, the capital city. These islands were part of the ancient super continent known as Gondwana, and contain some of the oldest ecosystems in existence; their isolation gives them special significance as the world attempts to better understand the effects of global warming. Though still part of France, New Caledonia continues to experience tension between those who support the status quo and proponents of independence. Jean-Marie Tjibaou led the local independence movement until his assassination in 1989; his efforts culminated in the Noumea Accord of 1998, which granted New Caledonia more local autonomy and guaranteed a referendum on independence from France sometime after 2014. That agreement has not kept a vocal and sometimes violent minority from frequent strikes and protests demanding immediate independence.

New Caledonia served as the Pacific headquarters for the U.S. Army and Navy early in World War II, and a small American memorial still stands in downtown Noumea. PP09 will arrive in Solomon Islands in time to participate in ceremonies during Guadalcanal Day, August 7, which commemorates what many believe to have been the turning point of World War II in the Pacific. On August 7, 1942, the Guadalcanal Campaign began. From then until February of 1943, battles raged which claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Japanese and Allied combatants. More than thirty U.S. Navy and fifteen Japanese ships, along with countless airplanes, lie in the waters off Honiara known, for this reason, as Iron Bottom Sound.

American ties to this country of Solomon Islands are well-founded in history, but how much do most of us know about this land of half a million people? That Guadalcanal is the name of SI’s largest island? That Solomon Islanders named Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana located and helped rescue a young Navy lieutenant named John Kennedy after his PT boat was cut in half by a Japanese destroyer? That Honiara’s international airport is Henderson Field, named after a U.S. Marine aviator killed in the battle of Midway? PP09 is building upon these connections by returning to assist people who are the descendents of islanders who helped and supported and died with Americans in World War II.

Read Tom Weinz's previous entry from Tonga or next entry about PP09 in the Solomon Islands.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/pacific_partnership_solomon_islands/ 2009-08-07T19:40:24+00:00 About the Author: Tom Weinz is the dedicated Foreign Service Liaison Officer (FSLO) aboard the USNS Richard E. Byrd for Pacific Partnership 2009 (PP09).

"Synergy" is a word that is often touted, but seldom realized. PP09's final days in Tonga, however, were memorably synergistic. On July 24, much of the community of Faleloa gathered at the newly refurbished primary school for brief speeches, graceful Tongan dances performed by the school children, and a shared meal. Since most of the people of the area have never been near a helicopter, we flew one of USNS Byrd’s EH-96 Pumas for everyone to enjoy. All the children lined up to climb into the copter, and many pictures were taken of child “pilots.” That evening, Tongan Prime Minister Feleti Sevele hosted a dinner for an eclectic gathering of sixty: Tongan officials, the PP09 leadership, U.S. Peace Corps volunteer translators and PP09 representatives from different sites, specialties and countries. Typically, the evening ended with music by the Pacific Fleet Band, and joyous dancing.

The grand finale, a true Tongan feast, took place on Saturday, July 25. The day opened with Prime Minister Sevele and his party being welcomed to the Byrd for a tour. Since Byrd’s bridge sits nearly ten stories above the surface of the water, the Tongan officials enjoyed a commanding view of the several islands in the vicinity. An official ribbon cutting took place in the afternoon at Hihifo primary school, followed by an array of food such as few of us had ever experienced. Since Tongans from every part of the island (two islands actually, joined by a narrow causeway) came to express their support and appreciation, it seemed an enormous gathering for this small town. I wished we were making a documentary (which was discussed at one point) in order to show this warm farewell in greater perspective.

Currently, we are half way to the French colony of New Caledonia, three and a half days west of Tonga. Noumea, the capital city, offers good airline connections, and 17 PP09 volunteers will change places by leaving the Byrd to fly home, their replacements arriving by air to board the Byrd for the rest of the mission. And all of us intend to enjoy some relaxation and some wonderful French cuisine.

Read Tom Weinz's previous or next entry.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/pacific_partnership_departs_tonga/ 2009-07-30T01:43:47+00:00 About the Author: Tom Weinz is the dedicated Foreign Service Liaison Officer (FSLO) aboard the USNS Richard E. Byrd for Pacific Partnership 2009 (PP09).

During one of our feedback sessions in Samoa, an older gentleman who had lived all over the world suggested that Pacific Partnership personnel should take one day, or at least one afternoon, and just spend time with the people of a village or area where they were working. His point was that many of us would never be in Samoa again, and may never meet another Samoan, so we should relax, get to know each other, and generally recharge our batteries. No one disagreed with these points, but most of us thought we couldn’t do that and still complete all of our dedicated projects.

The Tongans changed the suggestion above into a mandate. In Tonga, Sunday is a day of family, worship, and rest. All of us were gently reminded that we too would “rest,” whatever that might mean to us. Of course, we all enjoyed our day of rest immensely, and spent it variously, from attending the local churches (where the a cappella harmonies moved everyone, and reminded some of us of childhood choirs back home) to lazy picnics and even some exceptional scuba diving (which had to be approved by the village leaders, as it bordered on the too active). Furthermore, nearly everyone returned to work on Monday refreshed, invigorated, and ready to work harder and smarter to make up any lost time.

But in fact, almost every project is ahead of schedule, entirely due to the overwhelming participation of Tongans, both officially and as community volunteers. TDS soldiers and Royal Tongan Marines, as mentioned in an earlier piece, had prepared all of the renovation sites by demolishing or removing roofs, siding, windows, etc. In addition, Tongan engineers used PP09 building materials to install all the new trusses and roofs on the schools and community centers chosen as PP09 projects. And every day, local community volunteers simply appeared and mixed cement, carried debris, fed the workers, and painted. So many volunteers participated, in fact, that we are now able to patch a roof and paint some schools that were not originally on our list. So much for time lost to a day of rest.

Unfortunately, we are losing time due to the weather. RHIBs between shore and the Byrd had to be suspended at 3 p.m. yesterday, stranding 47 PP09 workers ashore. Everyone found temporary shelter in the community; current plans call for a trip to the Byrd for breakfast and a quick shower before returning to work on Wednesday. (As I write this early Wednesday morning, the rain and wind continue.)

Read Tom Weinz's previous or next entries from Tonga.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/pacific_partnership_rest_day_tonga/ 2009-07-22T15:10:47+00:00 About the Author: Tom Weinz is the dedicated Foreign Service Liaison Officer (FSLO) aboard the USNS Richard E. Byrd for Pacific Partnership 2009 (PP09).

Pacific Partnership's second mission is to the Kingdom of Tonga, approximately 500 miles south of Samoa. USNS Byrd arrived in the early morning darkness of July 13 (Samoa is just east of the international dateline, and Tonga is just west of it. It is exactly the same time of day in Tonga as in Samoa — but one day later) and we awoke to grey skies and heavy rain. As with Samoa, our movement of equipment and materials to shore was hampered by weather.

Tonga is a country of 170 islands (about 40 of which are inhabited) with a population of just over 100,000 people. Our mission sites are all concentrated on islands in the Ha’apai group, roughly in the middle of Tongan territory and the least developed and accessible of Tonga’s three island groups. Because the waters near Pangai, the largest city in the area, are too shallow for the Byrd, all movement to and from shore is by Australian landing craft, helicopter, and by Byrd’s Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats, or RHIBs.

July 13 witnessed a flurry of activity, putting all medical and engineering equipment into place on shore. Thanks to significant advance work by Tongan Defence Services (TDS) personnel, who demolished parts of buildings and installed several new corrugated metal roofs prior to our arrival, PP09 engineers will be able to complete more projects during the mission. (Note the Brit/Aus spelling of “defence.” Tonga’s military is highly respected for their discipline and professionalism. Tongan Royal Marines served in Iraq with U.S. forces, and TDS soldiers serve currently with the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, or RAMSI.)

On July 14, with ENCAPS, MEDCAPS and DENCAPS fully under way, a group of us participated in the opening ceremonies at a local school. The Reverend Doctor Tevita Palefau, Minister of Education, Women’s Affairs & Culture, noted in his opening address that, in spite of serious economic concerns in the United States, America still cares enough about others to carry out this mission. Since Tonga spends 28% of its annual budget on health and education, he said, Tongans are especially appreciative of the PP09 assistance. Local school children, some in classes conducted by American Peace Corps volunteers, took an active role in the opening ceremonies. As always, we are most grateful for a propitious beginning and a warm local reception.

Read Tom Weinz's previous entry from Samoa or his next entry from Tonga.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/tonga_pacific_partnership/ 2009-07-18T00:34:47+00:00 About the Author: Tom Weinz is the dedicated Foreign Service Liaison Officer (FSLO) aboard the USNS Richard E. Byrd for Pacific Partnership 2009 (PP09).

“The little unremembered acts of kindness and love are the best parts of a person’s life.”

Samoa’s deputy prime minister quoted these words of William Wordsworth during his dedication speech for work done at the National Hospital. Pacific Partnership 2009 (PP09) is fully choreographed to achieve maximum results during relatively short visits. But the multifaceted, multitalented men and women carrying out this mission are interacting in uniquely spontaneous ways which will be remembered by countless individuals throughout their lives.

Without doubt, the medical focus of PP09 is central, and here are some impressive numbers: at our four MEDCAP sites, doctors met with 2,144 patients; dentists cared for 601 patients; optometrists tested 685 individuals (and dispensed free glasses as needed.) PP09 experts presented educational exchanges and classes to more than 3,500 local students, nurses, doctors and teachers, and participated in more advanced subject matter exchanges with 224 people. PP09 biomedical technicians repaired 44 pieces of equipment that were not functioning when we arrived in Samoa. (The veterinarians also provided outstanding service, but more on that in a later piece.)

One two-year-old boy in the village of Lalomanu will grow up with the story of how his life was saved by a U.S. Navy surgeon. The child was brought to the medical clinic critically dehydrated from severe gastroenteritis. When routine attempts to rehydrate the boy failed, a successful surgical procedure was used to insert an IV tube and he was rushed to Apia. After two days in the hospital, he was released in good condition.

Speaking with a local woman at one of the PP09 closing ceremonies, I asked whether she considered our brief stay worthwhile. She responded sincerely, in words that echoed other Samoans’ expressions during the past ten days: “We are so happy to have you here, and we hope you will return very soon!”

This has been a very personal experience. Our band has played for kids with special needs and marched with the police band in the streets of Apia. Similarly, all of us have worked both for and with our Samoan counterparts. And it makes Samoans and Americans and our several partner nation participants a little wiser, a little more understanding, and even more appreciative of random acts of kindness and love.

Read Tom Weinz's previous entry from Samoa or his next one from Tonga.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/pacific_partnership_kindness/ 2009-07-13T17:43:47+00:00 About the Author: Tom Weinz is the dedicated Foreign Service Liaison Officer (FSLO) aboard the USNS Richard E. Byrd for Pacific Partnership 2009 (PP09).

In a comment last week, one of DipNote's readers, Eric in New Mexico, asked whether a decommissioned aircraft carrier might be converted into a humanitarian mission ship. I put that possibility directly to Captain Jaeger of USNS Byrd, and he responded as follows:

“The total cost to convert an ex-carrier would be roughly triple the cost of building a new ship. Replacing corroded water and sewage systems, and reconfiguring the work areas into a hospital configuration would also be less efficient than designing new space. The Navy is currently looking at the new T-AKE design (as the Richard E. Byrd) and considering hospital configurations which would eventually replace the USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy.”

Eric’s question led me to think about the ships, or “platforms,” which have carried Pacific Partnership. The USNS Mercy (PP2006, 2008, 2010) is a state-of-the-art floating hospital. It has a patient capacity of 1,000 beds, with 12 operating rooms, as well as radiological services, a comprehensive laboratory, dental and optometry wards, a morgue, and two oxygen-producing plants. Mercy was built as an oil tanker in 1976, and converted to a hospital ship when still relatively new (1984). The ship is usually in reduced operating status in San Diego, and her crew is part of the Naval Medical Center. Mercy brings an unrivaled medical platform to Pacific Partnership, but is less effective for engineering projects.

The USS Peleliu (PP2007) represented the first “grey hull,” or active duty ship, to host Pacific Partnership. Peleliu is an amphibious assault ship, and many Pacific Partnership planners think she was the most effective platform of all. Peleliu carried two large CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters, which could transport 30 passengers, or impressive loads of supplies and equipment. She carried the marvelous LCAC (Landing Craft Air Cushion), which can access remote island beaches in spite of shallow surrounding waters. Her massive well deck also held a standard landing craft; a ramp led from the well deck up to a storage deck, which contained an assortment of heavy construction vehicles and machinery.

The USS Dubuque, originally chosen for PP2009, was also an amphibious ship (with a well deck and landing craft.) The USNS Richard E. Byrd, a supply ship, has replaced Dubuque, and is at the beginning of her mission. She is a beautiful ship. If she performs well on PP09 and Captain Jaeger is correct, we may see a new “Mercy” in Pacific Partnership’s future.

Read Tom Weinz's previous or next entry from Samoa.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/pacific_partnership_vessels/ 2009-07-10T17:46:23+00:00 About the Author: Tom Weinz is the dedicated Foreign Service Liaison Officer (FSLO) aboard the USNS Richard E. Byrd for Pacific Partnership 2009 (PP09).

I read a New York Times editorial today (online) that commented on the sameness of Fourth of July: “…the weather and the menu and the fireworks and the friends and family you celebrate with.” Pacific Partnership personnel, and many of the crew of the USNS Byrd, celebrated a very different Fourth of July. To be sure, there were elements of tradition: a softball game between U.S. Peace Corps volunteers and PP09 personnel, a menu of hot dogs and barbecued chicken, sparklers for everyone who wanted one. The American Embassy, as in hundreds of other locations around the globe, planned and hosted the celebration. Entirely by chance, an American couple from Florida who had been visiting the Robert Louis Stevenson memorial on a beautiful hillside in Apia, wandered into the gathering, which was held at the mansion (now a museum) of the famous author. They marveled at this Fourth of July, unlike any they had ever attended.

The Samoan Head of State joined us but went out of his way to keep the party very informal. The printed programs contained the Declaration of Independence, translated by a local professor into the Samoan language. Miss Samoa 2009 and her sister sang the national anthem. American Charge’ d’Affaires Robin L. Yeager read messages from President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton. A brass and percussion quintet from the Pacific Fleet Band offered rousing renditions of New Orleans classics. It rained off and on, but no one noticed. Everyone was having a great time celebrating the American National Day.

There were at least ten different countries represented at our celebration, and I was struck by how much they knew about our nation, and our leaders, and how fascinated many of the Samoans were with some of the phrases of our Declaration of Independence, translated into their own language. Many of them also expressed their appreciation for the Pacific Partnership mission and are looking forward to the coming week, when both engineering and medical efforts will focus on the National Hospital in Apia. It was a very special Independence Day -- for all of us.

Read Tom Weinz's previous entry from Samoa or his next entry about the vessels that have carried the Pacific Partnership missions.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/pacific_partnership_fourth_samoa/ 2009-07-07T16:08:23+00:00 About the Author: Tom Weinz is the dedicated Foreign Service Liaison Officer (FSLO) aboard the USNS Richard E. Byrd for Pacific Partnership 2009 (PP09).

Organizations love acronyms, so I had best introduce some of the most important ones right away. The U.S. Navy calls its humanitarian outreach “civic action programs,” or CAPs. By affixing the first few letters of each specialty (engineering, medical, dental, veterinarian), we are blessed with the catchy ENCAP, MEDCAP, DENCAP, VETCAP. There are also “community relations” programs: COMRELs. COMRELs are made up of volunteers, primarily from the ship’s crew, who go out each day and contribute in some way to the local communities. They may play soccer with local children, join a local group of volunteers to clean up a field or participate in some other local program, or help paint a school, hospital ward—whatever might be suggested by community groups. As a former Peace Corps volunteer, I see great similarities in the people-to-people relationships that are formed during Pacific Partnership visits, short term though they be. (By the way, the U.S. Peace Corps has an active program here in Samoa, and some of the volunteers will assist during PP09 with translation and other participation, according to their talents and interests.)

On July 1 (Samoa lies just east of the international date line; at noon in New York, which is 9 a.m. in Seattle, it is 5 a.m. on the same day in Samoa), our anxious crew awoke to rain coming down in sheets. The rain was so heavy that nothing was able to begin according to schedule. Somehow, the engineers, who are not easily deterred from their intended tasks, managed to raise their tents (they will camp at the National Hospital for the entire program, allowing them to work sun-up to sun-down on their ENCAP) and begin renovation of a family hall at the hospital. It is common here for families to provide food for members who are in the hospital, and to spend time with the person who is hospitalized. Although there is a large hall on the hospital grounds for family members to use, it had fallen into serious disrepair over the years. PP09 will completely renovate it during our stay.

A small MEDCAP also got underway today in the town of Lalomanu, in the southeastern part of Upolu. In spite of the downpour, more than 150 patients visited the clinic. I hope to visit that MEDCAP early July 2, and still make it back to Apia in time for the official opening ceremony, which will take place in a large park at the edge of Apia Harbor. The Prime Minister of Samoa will officially welcome PP09; Commodore Andy Cully, who leads PP09, will speak, as will Chargé Robin Yeager, officer in charge of the American Embassy in Apia. So we are very hopeful that the rain will stay at sea for the day.

Read Tom Weinz's previous entry from aboard the USNS Richard E. Byrd or his next entry from Samoa.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/pacific_partnership/ 2009-07-02T23:05:23+00:00 About the Author: Tom Weinz is the dedicated Foreign Service Liaison Officer (FSLO) aboard the USNS Richard E. Byrd for Pacific Partnership 2009.

The Scottish poet, Robert Burns, noted that our best laid plans “…gang aft agley.” Aye, Robbie, and June 30 was a fine example. The USS Dubuque was originally chosen for Pacific Partnership 2009; it is an amphibious ship with a well deck, which is an internal deck that can hold a landing craft. The landing craft is loaded within Dubuque itself, and is simply floated out to sea when ready. But in May, several Dubuque crewmembers contracted H1N1 flu, and the USNS Richard E. Byrd replaced the Dubuque. Byrd is a cargo ship and uses cranes to lower cargo onto piers or other fixed platforms. But Apia’s pier was busy today, so Byrd had to transfer all the cargo for the mission onto a local ship, the Samoa Express. Imagine two ships in heavy swells, trying to transfer cargo from one to the other without mishap. Thanks to expert seamanship, and a great deal of patience, the Samoa Express reached Apia and offloaded cargo at 6:00 p.m. Our weary crew and drivers then transported everything to National Hospital, where the medical mission will kick off on July 1.

The Samoa Express must now carry all the materials needed for the island of Savai’i (which I erroneously called “smaller” in my previous piece; Savai’i is physically larger, but has a population of about 45,000--approximately a quarter of Upolu’s) overnight on a four to five hour trip to two additional sites. Thanks to a pre-positioned team member waiting on Savai’i, and two intrepid Navy medical personnel willing to ride the Samoa Express all night, we expect to have everything in place and ready to go as scheduled. Yes we can.

In the meantime, volunteers from Japan, New Zealand, Australia and the United States have been arriving via commercial air and picked up by PP09 coordinators. Two fast rubber inflatable boats make the trip from Apia marina to the Byrd hourly until midnight, or later should one of the incoming flights be delayed. So everyone will get to bed a little later than planned tonight, weary from the extra effort required in overcoming unforeseen obstacles, but a wee bit proud to have taken them in stride.

Read Tom Weinz's previous entry from aboard the USNS Richard E. Byrd or his next entry from Samoa.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/pacific_partnership_first_day/ 2009-07-01T15:20:23+00:00 About the Author: Tom Weinz is the dedicated Foreign Service Liaison Officer (FSLO) aboard the USNS Richard E. Byrd for Pacific Partnership 2009.

The annual humanitarian mission, this one known simply as Pacific Partnership 2009 (PP2009), is about to begin. It will commence on the two major (and the one very small) islands of Samoa, which are called Upolu and Savai’i, and will continue across thousands of miles of the Pacific over the next several months, visiting five island nations, ending in the Republic of the Marshall Islands on September 18.

The devastating earthquake-induced tsunami that struck on December 26, 2004, killed more than 200,000 people in 13 countries, more than 128,000 in Indonesia alone. The United States Navy responded forcefully to that disaster, both with ships in the area immediately following the tragedy, and later by sending the large hospital ship, the USNS Mercy, to help assist some of the tens of thousands of Indonesians affected by the destructive flooding and its aftermath. Out of the experience of that event, Pacific Partnership was born. The USNS Mercy conducted five-nation humanitarian missions in 2006 and 2008; the USS Peleliu undertook a similar mission in 2007. The USNS Richard E. Byrd was selected for PP2009.

As I write this, the Byrd is approaching the smaller Samoan island of Savai’i, carrying 110 doctors, nurses, dentists, veterinarians, engineers and support personnel. U.S. Navy personnel are in the majority, but there is a substantial number of participants from partner nations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other U.S. and international government agencies. Others will arrive by air over the next two days, as will several U.S. Navy planes carrying additional personnel and materials; a ten-person advance team has been here in Samoa working with the U.S. embassy and local officials since June 3. Our small American embassy in Apia, the capital, has played a major role in the preparations, from issuance of the initial diplomatic note of request to the Samoan government, to providing local expertise and contacts within the pertinent ministries.

The Byrd carries two helicopters and a number of small boats. In addition, local boats, trucks, cars, ferries, and volunteers will be utilized to move everything and everyone necessary to carry out the medical programs and engineering renovations (primarily to schools and hospitals) that will work in pre-selected sites on both islands over the next ten days. (A one-day medical program, and another one-day engineering program will be carried out on the tiny island of Apolima, which lies between the two major islands.) As of this moment, all of us who have been working on this mission for a very long time are ready to move everything into place for Day One of PP09 on site: June 30 at the National Hospital in Apia.

Read Tom Weinz's next entry from aboard the USNS Richard E. Byrd.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/pacific_partnership_2009_samoa/ 2009-06-29T21:04:23+00:00