Now in its 17th year, the Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific region. As part of Pacific Partnership 2022 (PP22), the mission team conducts missions throughout Oceania and the Western Pacific. The Pacific Partnership 22 team works with host nation counterparts and regional partners to provide tailored medical, dental, and veterinary care and conduct bilateral engineering civic actions, and exchange information related to processes and procedures. disaster response. Commitments vary depending on the requirements and requests of the host country.
In Fiji, school management joined a combined team of US Navy and RFMF engineers to inaugurate the new classrooms on May 26.
Lt. Inia Celua of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Engineer Regiment says Project Navonu increases interoperability between his team and US Navy Seabees. He says understanding each other’s techniques and how to use a variety of materials benefits both nations, especially in the event of a natural disaster or humanitarian relief effort.
“This exercise will lay the foundation for better HA/DR operations for the Fijian government and Fijian citizens,” Celua said.
This project may provide students with a newly constructed classroom, but elementary students aren’t the only ones learning a thing or two on the Navonu campus.
US Navy Seabees take some notes during the Pacific Partnership.
“We are learning that project management and supply chain logistics can be difficult when operating in a remote location like this,” said Lt. Junior Grade Kyle Carmody, PP22 officer in charge of planning. in Fiji.
Carmody says RFMF engineers share their professional knowledge and construction methods, especially those involving block and stucco.
“US Navy Seabees are learning useful new construction methods that are not commonly taught. These techniques often save time and improve construction quality,” said Lt.jg Carmody.
“With these newly taught efficiencies, Seabees are able to pass on their knowledge to their teammates for a future ‘just enough, just in time’ build response.”
Celua says its engineers also get valuable training.
“We see how the Seabees pour the foundation of the building and use formwork and aggregate to prevent the building from sinking and how to get better quality concrete.”
Additionally, both sides share leadership lessons, especially different approaches on how to lead a diverse group of international engineers.
Leaders on both sides say the idea would be useful in combined operations.
“The lessons we learn during the Pacific Partnership will enable future Naval Mobile Construction Battalions (NMCBs), and potentially other expeditionary forces, to successfully plan and execute deployments with the Fiji Army and, hopefully will help prepare us to work across the region in future construction operations, humanitarian assistance or disaster relief efforts,” said Lt.jg Carmody.
“As Seabees has learned through countless deployments around the world, we cannot rely on ourselves alone for mission execution. Working closely with host and partner nations is essential to the Engineering Operations Success Understanding that mission accomplishment is achieved through a team effort and knowing the specific roles each plays is critical to everyone’s overall success.
These long-term benefits of the Pacific Partnership in Fiji go beyond the classroom.
“By providing this facility, the RFMF and Seabees participating in the Pacific Partnership are not only helping to create educational spaces for Fijian students, but building this school together also strengthens our partnership with the Republic of Fiji military forces and the local community.”
