Photo By Tech. Sgt. Heather Salazar | U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jennifer Schnepp, 146th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron...... read more read more
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ANURADHAPURA, Sri Lanka-- More than 60 U.S. military personnel, in cooperation with partner nation support, local non-governmental organizations and host nation military forces, conducted several humanitarian assistance engagements throughout Anuradhapura, Colombo and Vavuniya, Sri Lanka, for Exercise Pacific Angel 18-4, Aug. 6-18, 2018.
During PAC ANGEL 18-4, the U.S. and its partner nations trained together providing medical, and engineering assistance, as well as conducting subject matter expert exchanges.
“PACIFIC ANGEL is about partnership and promoting regional cooperation and interoperability between military-civilian-nongovernmental organizations in preparation for humanitarian and disaster relief scenarios,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Ryan Evans, 713th Combat Operations Squadron director of operations and PAC ANGEL 18-4 mission commander, Beale Air Force Base, Calif.
U.S. forces together with volunteers from the Vavuniya Nursing School, the Red Cross, the Sri Lankan air force and doctors from Maldives, Nepal, and Bangladesh treated over 5,000 patients during the medical portion of PAC ANGEL. Together they provided dental, physical therapy, optometry, pediatrics, general medicine, and pharmaceutical services.
“They are treating nearly 1,000 patients every day at these clinics. Through the care they are providing, they are building those bonds with the people we believe are so important,” said Robert Hilton, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy to Sri Lanka. “It’s a real honor for me representing the U.S. out here, but the people who are doing the real hard work are our colleagues from the U.S. military, our partner nations, and local non-governmental organizations.”
Civil engineers came together to complete seven engineering civic action projects. Focused primarily on renovating school facilities, the group installed lights and fans, built roofs and walls, repaired ceilings, and also replaced a water pump.
“In supporting Sri Lanka’s efforts to bring humanitarian assistance to its people helped provide engineering services that will benefit Sri Lankans for years to come,” said Evans. “We do all this essentially over a one-week timeframe on site here with our multinational partners and it makes us feel very happy to see what we accomplish together alongside our Sri Lankan counterparts.”
Subject matter exchanges on countering vector borne diseases, water treatment, and airfield management, allowed U.S. service members and members form the Sri Lankan air force, Ministry of Health, and non-government organization to come together to swap best practices.
“We are happy to be part of this team,” said Maj. Gen. James Eifert, Air National Guard assistant to the Commander, Pacific Air Forces. “It’s been a great experience, and we’re happy that what we have learned here also benefited the local Sri Lankan population.”
Efforts undertaken during PAC ANGEL help multilateral militaries in the Pacific improve and build relationships across a wide spectrum of civic engagements. These interactions bolster each nation’s capacity to respond and support future humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
“PAC ANGEL is not just a U.S. operation, we have people coming together from Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka,” said Eifert. “They are all part of the team that is learning to work together, so that if anything happens within the Indo-Pacific region and assistance is required, it won’t be the first time they’ve ever worked together.”
Now entering its eleventh year, PAC ANGEL ensures the region’s militaries are prepared to work together to address humanitarian crises throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Since 2007 PAC ANGEL engagements have impacted the lives of tens of thousands of people by providing health services ranging from dental, optometry, pediatrics and physical therapy to civil engineering programs, humanitarian aid and disaster relief and subject matter exchanges.
| Date Taken: | 08.18.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 08.27.2018 21:09 |
| Story ID: | 289930 |
| Location: | LK |
| Web Views: | 77 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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