Showing posts with label USNS MERCY. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USNS MERCY. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

CHINESE HOSPITAL SHIP PEACE ARK HOSTS RIMPAC MEDICAL CONFERENCE

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
Chinese Hospital Ship Hosts RIMPAC Medical Exchange Conference
By Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Pyoung K. Yi
USNS Mercy

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, July 7, 2014 – The Chinese hospital ship Peace Ark hosted a medical exchange conference as part of the 2014 Rim of the Pacific exercise here July 3.

Chinese and U.S. naval medical officers gave presentations during the multinational conference, which opened with a video presentation about Peace Ark.

“We wanted the attendees to learn about our experiences on humanitarian assistance relief missions,” said Lt. Cmdr. Xin Du, a medical officer who serves aboard Peace Ark. “But more importantly, I wanted to learn from others’ experience helping out on humanitarian relief efforts. I like the idea of exchanging ideas with other countries. It promotes friendship and subsequent joint missions.”
Military medical personnel from Canada, Indonesia, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea and the United States attended the conference, which encouraged the exchange of medical knowledge and discussion of ways to help humanity using military resources.

“I was impressed with the sheer capacity of Peace Ark's resources in treating people in a disaster,” said Master Cpl. Katarina Vasic, a dental technician with the Canadian army.

A telemedicine presentation by Navy Cmdr. (Dr.) Gilbert Seda, a pulmonary medicine specialist aboard Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy, caught the attention of many Peace Ark personnel. Telemedicine is the electronic exchange of medical information between sites.

“Most of us are very interested in telemedicine,” said Du. “Our cardiologist, nephrologist, and other officers were very interested in his presentation.”
This year’s RIMPAC marks the first time in the exercise’s history that hospital ships have participated. Peace Ark and Mercy will continue to hold medical exchanges while in Pearl Harbor and during simulated disaster-relief operations at sea.

Twenty-two nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in the RIMPAC exercise, which began June 26 and runs to Aug. 1, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.

Friday, November 15, 2013

USNS MERCY PREPARES FOR POSSIBLE DEPLOYMENT TO PHILIPPINES

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
Hospital Ship Activates to Support Typhoon Relief Mission
From a U. S. Pacific Fleet News Release

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, Nov. 14, 2013 – The commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet yesterday directed the activation of USNS Mercy to prepare the hospital ship for possible deployment to the Philippines.

Navy Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr. directed the activation to accelerate Mercy's ability to attain full operating status in case it’s needed to support the ongoing Operation Damayan relief effort in the typhoon-ravaged island nation, officials said.

The activation order includes moving necessary personnel and equipment to the ship, which is berthed in San Diego. Mercy has been in a reduced operating status, which officials said is normal for a hospital ship.

If ordered to deploy, Mercy would get underway in the next several days, and would arrive in the Philippines in December, joining other U.S. Pacific Fleet units already supporting Operation Damayan.

On Nov. 11, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered the aircraft carrier USS George Washington and its escort ships to depart early from a liberty port in Hong Kong and make best possible speed for the Philippines. George Washington, USS Antietam, USS Cowpens and USNS Yukon were expected to arrive off the Philippine coast this evening local time.

U.S. Pacific Fleet ships already operating in the Western Pacific also were immediately diverted. USS Mustin, USS Lassen, USS Emory S. Land, and USNS Bowditch are now on station and coordinating with the Philippine government. The U.S. Navy also has P-3 maritime aircraft supporting the disaster relief effort led by the Philippine government.

The amphibious ships USS Ashland and USS Germantown are leaving Sasebo, Japan, today. After picking up Marines, equipment and relief supplies in Okinawa, the two ships will arrive at the Philippines in about a week. USS McCampbell and USNS Charles Drew also are heading to the Philippines.

The ships and their complement of aircraft, including helicopters, will provide food and water, the capability to move relief supplies to isolated areas, and to help move the badly injured for medical care, officials said.

The U.S. Navy routinely trains with numerous Pacific nations and military units, including the Philippine armed forces, to prepare for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions, officials said. In 2012, Mercy participated in the annual Pacific Partnership mission, which included working with Philippine authorities near Tacloban, the area hardest hit by Typhoon Haiyan.

Because of the long-standing partnership between the two nations, Pacific Fleet officials said, the United States, working through the Philippine government, is able to rapidly respond with critically needed capabilities and supplies in times of crisis.

The role of U.S. military forces during any foreign humanitarian assistance event, officials explained, is to respond rapidly to host-nation requests for support in mitigating suffering and property damage and in preventing further loss of life. Operation Damayan is part of the broader U.S. government effort to support the Philippine government's request for humanitarian assistance, they added. The effort includes coordination by the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, in constant consultation with Philippine authorities.
As of yesterday, Philippine and U.S. personnel have transported more than 107,000 pounds of relief supplies, officials said.

Friday, August 17, 2012

RECENT U.S. NAVY PHOTOS



FROM U.S. NAVY
Capt. Jeffrey L. Trent, the outgoing commander of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, inspects the rotor blades of an E-2C Hawkeye assigned to the Screwtops of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 123 before his change of command flight aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). Enterprise is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Scott Pittman (Released) 120815-N-FI736-070



 
Surgical staff members assigned to the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) prep Cpl. Aaron Morice for a surgical procedure before the final surgery of Pacific Partnership 2012. Pacific Partnership, an annual U.S. Pacific Fleet humanitarian and civic assistance mission, brings together U.S. military personnel, host and partner nations, non-government organizations and international agencies to build stronger relationships and develop disaster response capabilities throughout the Asia-Pacific region. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Roadell Hickman (Released) 120814-N-KW566-006



 
An E/A-18G Growler, assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129, lands on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), making it the 300,000th arresting gear trap since Nimitz was commissioned. Nimitz is underway conducting fleet replacement squadron carrier qualifications in the Pacific Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan A. Colon (Released) 120815-N-FR671-185

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

U.S. NAVY SPREADING MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE



FROM:  U.S. NAVY
Cmdr. Brice Nicholson performs cataract surgery on an Indonesian patient as Indonesian optometry residents observe in an operating room aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) during Pacific Partnership 2012. Now in its seventh year, Pacific Partnership is an annual U.S. Pacific Fleet humanitarian and civic assistance mission that brings together U.S. military personnel, host and partner nations, non-government organizations and international agencies to build stronger relationships and develop disaster response capabilities throughout the Asia-Pacific region. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Michael Feddersen (Released) 120601-N-GL340-085

Saturday, May 12, 2012

USNS MERCY ARRIVES AT JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKMAN


FROM:  U.S. NAVY
Service members man the rails aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) while arriving at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in support of Pacific Partnership 2012 (PP12). PP12 is the seventh in a series of U.S. Pacific Fleet-sponsored humanitarian and civic assistance missions that work to strengthen regional relationships and to collectively respond to natural disasters in southeast Asia and the western Pacific region. U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Barker (Released) 120509-N-RI884-094 


Monday, May 7, 2012

USNS MERCY LEAVES SAN DIEGO HARBOR


FROM:   U.S. NAVY
The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) transits San Diego Harbor as the ship departs for Pacific Partnership 2012. Pacific Partnership is an annual U.S. Pacific Fleet humanitarian and civic action exercise designed to work with and through host nations to build partnerships and a collective ability to respond to natural disasters. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eva-Marie Ramsaran (Released)

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