Army, Navy Corpsman Birthdays Observed During Pacific Partnership 2011

USS CLEVELAND, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors, Soldiers, Marines and Airmen celebrated the birthday of both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy's corpsmen aboard amphibious transport dock ship USS Cleveland (LPD 7), June 15.

The chairmen of the two service-oriented festivals decided that they would celebrate their services together, just as they have worked together for the past two months.

"It's a great celebration for very important entities of our nation. By celebrating this event with the Navy, it genuinely displays the cohesion between the services," said Sgt. First Class Lionel Thomas, Army ball chairman. "This is a first for everybody and hopefully this will be a tradition we start for Pacific Partnership."

The ceremony blended the traditions of the Corpsman and Army celebrations. The evening included the singing of the national anthem, the presentation of national colors, an acknowledgement of past and present heroic deeds, the recitation of the Corpsman Pledge, the display of the Prisoner of War/ Missing in Action table, and the recitation of the Army Creed.

"We incorporated the Army by recognizing their 'Heroes, Past and Present' theme, acknowledging the origins of both events, and hosting a joint color guard between the Army, Navy, and Marines. From set up to break down, they were incorporated in the event," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Cassandra Townsend, Corpsman ball chairman.

Once the traditional observances were over, the celebration began with the Pacific Partnership 2011 Band playing Top 40 hits for the guests.

"It's always a privilege to support our shipmates in the celebration of their events and provide entertainment so they can enjoy themselves," said Chief Musician Scott Helwig. "As with any other historical event of significance, it is important to take the time and remember those who have gone before, some paying the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their nation."

The joint service representation in this event demonstrated how the Pacific Partnership mission promotes camaraderie as well as interoperability.

"This mission is enlightening. I have never worked with other branches before, and I now have a newfound appreciation and respect for their hard work," Thomas said.

Since the first mission in 2006, Pacific Partnership has visited 15 countries, treated more than 230,000 patients and built over 150 engineering projects. During this year's mission, the Pacific Partnership team has treated more than 21,000 patients, participated in thousands of contact hours of formal subject matter expert exchanges, built classrooms and water catchment systems in all three of its mission ports.

Pacific Partnership has completed missions in Tonga, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea. Currently, the joint multinational mission is in Timor-Leste and will complete its mission in the Federated States of Micronesia.

For more information on the Pacific Partnership mission go to:
www.cpf.navy.mil/pp11
www.facebook.com/pacificpartnership/
http://twitter.com/pacificpartner
http://www.public.navy.mil/lpd7

For more news from Pacific Partnership, visit www.navy.mil/local/pacificpartnership/