Photo By Chief Petty Officer Eric Chan | 150807-N-KK081-209 SAN DIEGO (Aug. 7, 2015) - Capt. Greg Vinci, commanding officer of...... read more read more
SAN DIEGO – Seabees, attached to Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB) 1, return from a deployment on USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) in support of Pacific Partnership 2015 (PP15), Aug. 29.
PP15 is the largest annual multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region that provided civil engineering projects, medical assistance and subject matter expert exchanges.
“This is huge opportunity for us to show good support to all the countries that represent what we can provide around the world,” said Capt. Greg Vinci, commanding officer of ACB 1. “I’m happy to meet and greet the folks from ACB 1 who did a fantastic job going on a very long deployment. We’re happy to welcome them back.”
Friends and family members joined Vinci as they welcomed their ACB 1 Seabees home at San Diego International Airport.
ACB 1’s USNS Mercy Det. traveled to Fuji, Papa New Guinea, Republic of the Philippines and finished in Da Nang, Vietnam.
“They performed outstanding and did great work,” said Lt. j.g. Brittni King, ACB 1’s USNS Mercy Det. officer in charge. “They did everything that I expected and more.”
ACB 1 provided disaster preparedness with projects like retrofitting schools that doubled as storm shelters. They also provided humanitarian assistance such as repainting exterior walls to seal them from the elements.
“We completed everything with excellent quality control, zero safety mishaps and right on schedule,” said Chief Steelworker Anthony Cardona, ACB 1’s USNS Mercy Det. assistant officer in charge.
The visit to Da Nang was special because ACB 1 took the lead and ownership on the projects there. Seabees, U.S. Air Force’s Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers and local nationals replaced 2000 square feet of tiles, installed new light fixtures and repainted walls at a women’s health clinic. At the Village of Hope Orphanage, Seabees converted two storage closets into restroom facilities with modern plumbing.
King explained that PP15 isn’t just a one-sided exchange but a mutual helping of allies.
“It was true partnership exemplified on both sides from us to the host nation,” said King. “And then we learned a lot from the host nation as well.”
Along with a partnership, PP15 gave a unique chance for the Seabees to gain perspective on why they serve.
“It’s just good to know we are making a difference in someone else’s life,” said Builder Constructionman Erica P. Kachur, attached to ACB 1.
“We all built really close relationships to some of the people and children and just in the community,” said Kachur. “It’s an experience I don’t think we will find anywhere else.
ACB 1 sent an additional Det. aboard the Military Sealift Command joint high-speed vessel USNS Millinocket (JHSV 3) as part of PP15. They returned at the beginning of September.
| Date Taken: | 09.21.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 10.20.2015 14:15 |
| Story ID: | 179414 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 297 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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