18th MEDCOM (DS) supports the force during RIMPAC 2016

HONOLULU -- Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016 is the largest multi-national maritime exercise in the world operating in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California from June 30 to August 4.

What does a naval exercise in the Pacific have to do with the Army?

The sight of battleships, aircraft carriers and submarines from across the Pacific sailing around the Hawaiian Islands might make someone think about wargames or a certain movie that required the U.S.S. Missouri to be brought back into service to fight an enemy invasion, but RIMPAC 2016 is actually an historic opportunity for an international healthcare community to plan, train, and develop emergency medical readiness throughout the region.

Lt. Col. Samuel Jones, an Army nurse and a clinical operations planner for the Army's 18th Medical Command (Deployment Support), had the unique opportunity to see the integration of multi-national medical support activities combined with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) during a series of mock humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) scenarios as part of the RIMPAC exercise.

During the HA/DR exercise, Jones served as the Deputy Minister of Health for a fictitious country faced with a series of disasters and a significant need for support from the international community.

"We prepared an updated brief each morning (based on the current training scenario) to our humanitarian partners with the current status. The health needs would range from all the needs that arise from a major earthquake to a mini tsunami," said Jones.

The needs included simple things like food, water and shelter, but as the scenario developed, greater needs arose. Just as any nation would do, the fictional country that Jones worked for attempted to alleviate the needs internally before asking for support.

For example, "If there is a communicable disease outbreak, then we would seek to manage it from sources within or request assistance from one of the NGO's in the country first," said Jones.

Jones said that the exercise provided a "snap shot" look at how local governments and civilian organizations operate throughout the Pacific and the medical capabilities that could be utilized to render support during a disaster which is beneficial information when developing plans for the advancement of global healthcare initiatives.

"It was exciting to see 'real world' organizations operate, and a unique opportunity to talk with representatives from the various NGO's participating in the exercise," said Jones.

By incorporating the NGO's into the exercise, it ensures that the scenarios develop as realistically as possible and that the various militaries have an honest picture of the roles they might be asked to play.

"The exercise provided the opportunity (for everyone) to see the different roles of the military vs civilian healthcare support; and to recognize that the military may provide direct assistance, but do not remain in the country as long as civilian organizations," said Jones.

Throughout this portion of the exercise, Jones had the opportunity to speak with senior military leaders and provide scenario based capability briefings to senior leaders from U.S., coalition forces and NGO's.

Jones recommends that anyone who has an opportunity to participate in this type of exercise should do so, "If given the opportunity to participate in the exercise in the future, don't hesitate to volunteer; seeing the outstanding resources that our global healthcare system can bring to bear is truly an enlightening experience."

RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans.

RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

Related Links:

The Official Facebook page of 18th Medical Command (Deployment Support)

The Official Facebook page of Regional Health Command-Pacific