U.S., Bangladesh prepare to kick off Pacific Angel mission

by 1st Lt. Chris Hoyler
51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

6/9/2010 - JESSORE, Bangladesh (AFNS) -- More than 55 servicemembers from the active-duty, Air Guard and Reserve components arrived here June 10 to begin preparation for the third iteration of Operation Pacific Angel, a U.S. and Bangladesh humanitarian operation scheduled here through June 16.

Operation Pacific Angel is a joint and combined humanitarian assistance operation conducted in the Pacific area of responsibility to support U.S. Pacific Command's capacity-building efforts. This humanitarian and civic assistance program is aimed at improving military civic cooperation between the United States and countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

"Our U.S. joint team is very excited to build a long-lasting relationship with the Bangladesh air force and the entire nation through these civic assistance programs," said Lt. Col. Scott Long, the Pacific Angel mission commander from 13th Air Force at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. "The Pacific Angel 10-3 mission will consist of several concurrent civil-military assistance activities, in addition to medical care for local citizens, and engineering projects for a local school. We'll also conduct medical subject-matter expert exchanges to improve the knowledge and processes for U.S. and Bangladesh military personnel."

A Hawaii Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker arrived at Dhaka International Airport, Bangladesh, with civil engineers and medical officials including doctors, dentists, optometrists, primary care and women's health specialists and subject-matter experts in the fields of hospital administration and neonatology.

The U.S. military, the Bangladesh air force, the nongovernmental Smiling Sun Clinic and the local healthcare community here will work together during the mission.

Operation Pacific Angel missions were previously conducted in the Philippines in February and Vietnam in May. The final iteration will take place in Sri Lanka in August.

The U.S. and Bangladesh militaries have a long history of working in partnership for humanitarian assistance and medical training, and have also conducted air, land and sea exercises.

Operation Pacific Angel is a Pacific Air Forces operation led by 13th Air Force officials.