Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN– The Pacific Partnership 2025 dental team conducted dental readiness exams aboard the expeditionary sea base USS John L. Canley (ESB 6), Nov. 5–6, ensuring Canley Sailors remain medically ready while deployed across the Indo-Pacific.

John L. Canley has a blue and gold crew of Sailors that rotate every four months, depending on the mission. The gold crew has the helm while Pacific Partnership is onboard, and dental readiness requirements need to be classified correctly for their next deployment mission. 

“The goal is to get Sailors on the Canley in the correct dental class to be fit for sea,” said Lt. Kelly Ganzen, PP25 Dental Officer. “Without a dentist on board, they would have to wait until returning to homeport, which can lead to delays in treatment or cause them to appear on readiness hit lists as overdue. Conducting these exams underway helps ensure they’re fully deployable and reduces the workload on their shore commands later.”

Aboard John L. Canley, Ganzen and her team performed exams using portable handheld dental X-ray devices known as Nomad units. These lightweight units replace traditional, bulky radiography equipment and make it possible to take high-quality images anywhere on the ship.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class John Pascual and Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Kevin Carranza, both assigned to the PP25 dental team, demonstrated the equipment during the exams. 

“If I could describe the Nomad unit in one word, it would be ‘versatile,’ because it didn’t matter the environment we were in, the X-rays were effective,” said Carranza.

The portable systems allow the dental staff to perform diagnostics efficiently and safely in the ship’s limited workspace.

“The Nomad unit makes a huge difference in how we operate,” said Pascual. “It’s fast, accurate, and gives us the flexibility to deliver care wherever it’s needed, whether underway or ashore during mission stops.” 

Beyond shipboard readiness, the PP25 dental team has supported clinical operations throughout the region during Pacific Partnership 2025. During mission stops in Papua New Guinea, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Samoa, and Vanuatu, the dental team provided a range of preventative and restorative care services.

“During our Pacific Partnership port calls, we’re providing basic oral hygiene instruction as well as performing extractions, restorations, screenings, and fluoride applications,” said Ganzen. “We were even able to perform root canals in Palau and Samoa.”

In addition to providing care, the PP25 dental team emphasized collaboration with partner nation and host nation dental professionals.

“The hope is that from both the partner nations and host nations, we can all learn from each other,” Ganzen explained. “We all speak the same dental language, but each of us has different techniques and tricks to share. That exchange of knowledge is what makes missions like Pacific Partnership so meaningful.”

Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission in the Indo-Pacific. The mission unites host and partner nations, nongovernmental organizations, and military personnel to strengthen regional response capabilities, enhance medical readiness, and promote enduring relationships through cooperation and shared experience.

For more information about Pacific Partnership 2025, visit https://www.clwp.navy.mil/Pacific-Partnership/.

Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

LUGANVILLE, Vanuatu – The Pacific Partnership 2025 band performed at the Luganville Market, Nov. 8, bringing music and camaraderie to local vendors and community members while strengthening relationships between partner nations and the people of Vanuatu.

The concert, held in the heart of Santo’s bustling local market, drew shoppers, families, and vendors from more than 200 surrounding villages. The event enhanced regional cooperation, built trust, and fostered goodwill through shared experiences.

“The vendors are very happy with you all being here and our partnership with our government,” said Catherine Leo, market manager for the Luganville Local Market. “Thank you for caring for us and for everyone who comes to set up here. We really enjoyed the partnership together, and you can continue to come here and visit.”

Leo, who has managed the market since 2010, said the Luganville Local Market has long been a center of community and trade for local families, with some vendors traveling by horse or boat from remote villages to sell fresh fruits and vegetables.

For local resident Roslida Binihi of Ambae, the performance was a meaningful reminder of unity and friendship.

“Pacific Partnership is good to partner with one another to help other people,” said Binihi. “I shop here at the local market to get my fruits and local food, vegetables, and spices.”

Capt. Mark Stefanik, mission commander of Pacific Partnership 25, said the performance underscored the power of connection through culture.

“Music is a universal language that helps bring people together,” said Stefanik. “Events like this allow us to connect beyond uniforms and missions, celebrating the friendships and shared values that make Pacific Partnership so meaningful.”

Pacific Partnership, in its 21st iteration, is the U.S. Navy’s largest maritime humanitarian and civic assistance mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Each year, the mission team works alongside partners and allies to strengthen relationships, bolster host nation capacity to provide essential humanitarian aid, and support efforts to reduce the risk of, prepare for, and respond to disasters.

Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

LUGANVILLE, Vanuatu — Multinational service members from Pacific Partnership 2025 joined members of the Vanuatu Police Force for a friendly soccer match at the Luganville Soccer Stadium, Nov. 12.

The event brought together local residents, students, and members of the Vanuatu Police Force for an afternoon of sportsmanship and cultural exchange. 

The Pacific Partnership Band also performed a selection of songs after the match, adding to the festive atmosphere and strengthening community connections through music.

“If I can describe this interaction in one word, it would be friendship,” said Silva Erick, coach of the Vanuatu Police Force team and officer with the Tactical Response Group. “It’s important for the young generation to see the presence of the United States and understand the value of working together across nations.”

Multilateral missions like Pacific Partnership are based on the shared goal of enhancing partnerships with allied nations and building mutual understanding. People-to-people relationships, forged over decades of joint exercises, exchanges, and collaborative response to real-world crises, illustrate the value we place in our allies and partners, and our enduring commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.

“Pacific Partnership is about building trust and resilience,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Stefanik, mission commander for Pacific Partnership 2025. “Our biggest victory is that we are here on the field together, we strengthen friendships that make all of us more prepared and connected.”

Pacific Partnership, in its 21st iteration, is the U.S. Navy’s largest maritime humanitarian and civic assistance mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Each year, the mission team works alongside partners and allies to strengthen relationships, bolster host nation capacity to provide essential humanitarian services, and support efforts to reduce the risk of, prepare for, and respond to disasters.

Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN– The Pacific Partnership 2025 dental team conducted dental readiness exams aboard the expeditionary sea base USS John L. Canley (ESB 6), Nov. 5–6, ensuring Canley Sailors remain medically ready while deployed across the Indo-Pacific.

USS John L. Canley has a blue and gold crew of Sailors that rotate every four months, depending on the mission. The gold crew has the helm while Pacific Partnership is onboard, and dental readiness requirements need to be classified correctly for their next deployment mission. 

“The goal is to get Sailors on the Canley in the correct dental class to be fit for sea,” said Lt. Kelly Ganzen, PP25 Dental Officer. “Without a dentist on board, they would have to wait until returning to homeport, which can lead to delays in treatment or cause them to appear on readiness hit lists as overdue. Conducting these exams underway helps ensure they’re fully deployable and reduces the workload on their shore commands later.”

Aboard Canley, Ganzen and her team performed exams using portable handheld dental X-ray devices known as Nomad units. These lightweight units replace traditional, bulky radiography equipment and make it possible to take high-quality images anywhere on the ship.

Hospital Corpsman First Class John Pascual and Hospital Corpsman Third Class Kevin Carranza, both assigned to the PP25 dental team, demonstrated the equipment during the exams. 

“If I could describe the Nomad unit in one word, it would be ‘versatile,’ because it didn’t matter the environment we were in, the X-rays were effective,” said Carranza.

The portable systems allow the dental staff to perform diagnostics efficiently and safely in the ship’s limited workspace.

“The Nomad unit makes a huge difference in how we operate,” said Pascual. “It’s fast, accurate, and gives us the flexibility to deliver care wherever it’s needed, whether underway or ashore during mission stops.” 

Beyond shipboard readiness, the PP25 dental team has supported clinical operations throughout the region during Pacific Partnership 2025. During mission stops in Papua New Guinea, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Samoa, and Vanuatu, the dental team provided a range of preventative and restorative care services.

“During our Pacific Partnership port calls, we’re providing basic oral hygiene instruction as well as performing extractions, restorations, screenings, and fluoride applications,” said Ganzen. “We were even able to perform root canals in Palau and Samoa.”

In addition to providing care, the PP25 dental team emphasized collaboration with partner nation and host nation dental professionals.

“The hope is that from both the partner nations and host nations, we can all learn from each other,” Ganzen explained. “We all speak the same dental language, but each of us has different techniques and tricks to share. That exchange of knowledge is what makes missions like Pacific Partnership so meaningful.”

Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission in the Indo-Pacific. The mission unites host and partner nations, nongovernmental organizations, and military personnel to strengthen regional response capabilities, enhance medical readiness, and promote enduring relationships through cooperation and shared experience.

For more information about Pacific Partnership 2025, visit https://www.clwp.navy.mil/Pacific-Partnership/.

Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

APIA, Samoa – Pacific Partnership 2025 hosted a Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) key leadership symposium, Oct. 23-24, bringing together Samoan national leaders and representatives from partner nations including Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, and the United States.

This two-day conference focused on incorporating the contributions and specific needs of women into planning for disaster management, improving access to health care, preventing violence against vulnerable populations, and strengthening civil society.

“Pacific Partnership is about preparing in calm to respond together in crisis,” said Capt. Mark Stefanik, mission commander of Pacific Partnership 25. “That spirit of readiness extends beyond disaster response – it includes strengthening the systems that protect and empower every member of society.”

Loau Donina Tili Vaa, Chief Executive Officer of Samoa’s Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development, delivered opening remarks on behalf of the Samoan government. She spoke about the country’s progress and ongoing challenges in advancing gender equality.

Vaa noted that while Samoans have seen significant improvements in girls’ performance in secondary education, women’s participation in the workforce remains disproportionately low. Domestic and sexual violence are also persistent concerns.

Addressing the Pacific Partnership nations present at the symposium, Ms. Vaa said, “Your collaboration reaffirms that peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of cooperation. In Samoa, when cyclones strike or disasters unfold, it is the women’s committees and village representatives who mobilize first — assessing needs, coordinating food, and caring for children and elders long before the formal response arrives.”

“WPS ties together all of the Pacific Partnership lines of effort – medical, engineering, disaster management, and host nation outreach and engagement – to ensure that our efforts are having a whole-of-population impact,” said Capt. Laura Gilstrap, Women’s Affairs Advisor for Pacific Partnership 25 and the lead organizer of the event. Pacific Partnership is all about working by, with, and through local partners, and that can only be effective if we’re working with the entire population.”

The WPS framework, established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, adopted Oct. 31, 2000, established the WPS framework, which reaffirms the essential role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, humanitarian response, and post-conflict reconstruction. On Oct. 6, 2017, President Donald J. Trump signed into law the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017, requiring the U.S. Government to integrate women’s participation into its foreign policy, national security, and development efforts in conflict zones. In 2019, the U.S. Government released the U.S. WPS Strategy, making the United States the first country to adopt both a comprehensive law and whole-of-government strategy on WPS.

Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. The mission fosters multilateral cooperation and strengthens collective capacity to respond to crises while promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region grounded in shared respect and partnership.

For more information about Pacific Partnership visit www.clwp.navy.mil/Pacific-Partnership.

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Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)