Pacific Angel 13-5 begins with U.S., Cambodia safety exchange

by Senior Master Sgt. Allison Day
Pacific Angel 13-5 Public Affairs

9/10/2013 - TAKEO PROVINCE, Cambodia -  -- The United States and Cambodia have teamed up to conduct Operation Pacific Angel 13-5 Sept 9 - 14 here.

Thirty-six engineers from both the Royal Cambodia Armed Forces and U.S. forces arrived yesterday and are scheduled to provide engineering assistance at three health centers.

However, before work can begin at the sites, both forces began the day with a subject-matter expert exchange, which focused on safety.

"Our primary focus during this mission is safety first," said Senior Master Sgt. Kurt Kowaleski, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron, infrastructure superintendent from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan and the lead engineer planner for the operation. "We need to get the job done, but do so safely."

Topics covered during the SMEE included, electrical and ladder safety.
"A lot of electrical work will be done at each site and it's important that all members stick to the basics of safety," said Master Sgt. John Barboni deputy lead engineer for the operation and 18th CES, NCOIC exterior electric, Kadena AB. "It was important for us to conduct this SMEE because our standards of operation in the U.S. are different from other countries."

In addition to electrical and ladder safety, personal safety such as eye, face, foot, hand, head and hearing protection were also briefed.
"This training was very good for us," said Lt. Col. San Savoeun from Engineering High Command, Headquarters, Deputy Demining Office in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and lead engineer for the RCAF. "It will help us to understand each other and the way we do things."

This Operation Pacific Angel will focus on engineering civil action programs as well as subject-matter expert exchanges. In its sixth year, the operation is hosted by U.S. Pacific Command and implemented jointly with other governments, non-governmental agencies, and multilateral militaries in the Asia Pacific region.

Four other operations were conducted this year in the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka. This is the fifth and final operation this year.