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Mercy Mission Highlights Teamwork

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080624-06
Release Date: 6/24/2008 3:55:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Katherine Sanchez, Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines Public Affairs

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (NNS) -- Recently when USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) made a port stop in the southern Philippines during Pacific Partnership 2008, Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the government of the Republic of the Philippines (RP) rolled out the red carpet.

Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, Marines and civilian volunteers -- 80 in all -- coordinated the movements and provided security for the visit.

"The USNS Mercy crew was a welcome addition to our team in the Philippines," said Mercy Ground Element Commander, Army Maj. Larry Daley.

"It was a remarkable opportunity for JSOTF-P and AFP personnel to work hand-in-hand with people from every branch of service and several different countries, on such a large scale.

"In addition, we were able to provide vitally needed medical services to many Filipinos throughout central Mindanao."

The JSOTF-P ground liaison element oversaw an average of five convoys per day and conducted thorough convoy briefs, covering everything from safety and security to routes and procedures, prior to each departure.

In addition to ensuring military personnel and civilian volunteers safely reached their destinations and safely returned each day, JSOTF-P personnel also supplied drinking water, arranged meals, living quarters, laundry service and assisted in exchanging foreign currency for 25 military civil engineers staying off the ship at two different campsites.

In order to successfully complete the mission, the ground liaison element worked closely with their AFP counterparts and personnel from Mercy, to ensure open lines of communication and security to and from all of the daily Medical Civic Action Projects (MEDCAP), Engineering Civic Action Projects (ENCAP), Veterinary Civic Action Projects (VETCAP) and Dental Civic Action Projects (DENCAP).

"Ultimately it's a two-pronged goal: We establish security and get them to their worksites," said JSOTF-P operations sergeant, Army Sgt. 1st Class Joe Groves. "There are a lot of moving parts in between, but generally we move whole companies, so we're used to moving a lot of people in different directions."

Behind the scenes, planning for Mercy's arrival began months before the ship reached the Philippines. One facet of the initial planning process included identifying the sites for each MEDCAP, ENCAP, VETCAP and DENCAP. Each location was carefully selected in advance and approved by the RP.

JSOTF-P commander and Mercy's mission commander shared the sentiment that teamwork between the ship's crew, the men and women of JSOTF-P, AFP and the Philippine government led to the ultimate success of the Mercy mission in the southern Philippines.

"Pacific Partnership was a tremendous success," said Army Col. Bill Coultrup, JSOTF-P commander. "The high volume of medical, dental, veterinarian and engineering civic action projects completed would not have been possible without teamwork.

"Mercy's magnificent crew of doctors, dentists and engineers worked shoulder-to-shoulder with the AFP, JSOTF-P, local government officials and NGOs to provide focused humanitarian assistance to the people of Mindanao."

"JSOTF-P has been instrumental to Pacific Partnership's success in Mindanao," said Capt. William A. Kearns III, mission commander for Pacific Partnership 2008. "We were able to strengthen local communities through medical care and engineering projects because of their teamwork and professionalism."

During the Mercy's port visit in Cotabato, AFP, JSOTF-P and Mercy personnel treated nearly 11,000 medical patients and more than 2,000 dental patients, trained more than 2,000 medical workers and students and completed two civic action construction projects in Mindanao.

For more news from U.S. Pacific Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/cpf.

For more news from Pacific Partnership 2008, visit www.navy.mil/local/PP08/.