
Seabees, Pacific Partnership 2016 Arrive in Timor-Leste
By donrochon, / Published June 15, 2016
By Cpl. Brittney Vella, U.S. Marine Corps
Steelworker 3rd Class Codey Jones and Utilitiesman Constructionman Amber Wood, Amphibious Construction Battalion (PHIBCB) 1,take a selfie with Timorese children at Aimutin School during Pacific Partnership 2016 in Dili, Timor-Leste, June 10. U.S. Navy Seabees and U.S. Marines are working alongside Timorese and Australian engineers on various construction projects at Aimutin and Maneluana Schools. This year marks the sixth time the mission visited Timor-Leste since its first visit in 2006. Medical, engineering and various other personnel embarked aboard hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) are working side-by-side with partner nation counterparts, exchanging ideas, building best practices and relationships to ensure preparedness should disaster strike. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Brittney Vella/160610-M-TM809-650 )
Pacific Partnership 2016 arrived in Timor-Leste June 8 for the sixth time in the past eleven years, and it was the first mission stop for hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19).
Constructionman 2nd Class Falcon Allaire, Amphibious Construction Battalion (PHIBCB) 1, lets a Timorese boy help him paint Aimutin School during Pacific Partnership 2016 in Dili, Timor-Leste, June 10. Seabees and Marines are working alongside Timorese and Australian engineers on various construction projects at Aimutin and Maneluana School. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Brittney Vella/160610-M-TM809-635)
While in Timor-Leste, Pacific Partnership personnel will work side-by-side with civilian leadership from the Dili community and Timor-Leste Defense Forces in a disaster relief symposium, civil engineering projects, cooperative health engagements (CHE), subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE) and community service projects.

160610-M-TM809-499 DILI, Timor Leste (June 10, 2016) A Timorese boy watches U.S. Navy Seabees paint Aimutin School during Pacific Partnership 2016. The Seabees and U.S. Marines are working alongside Timorese and Australian engineers on various construction projects at Aimutin and Maneluana Schools. This year marks the sixth time the mission visited Timor Leste since it’s first visit in 2006. Medical, engineering and various other personnel embarked aboard hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) are working side-by-side with partner nation counterparts, exchanging ideas, building best practices and relationships to ensure preparedness should disaster strike. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Brittney Vella/Released)

160610-M-TM809-092 DILI, Timor Leste (June 10, 2016) Builder Constructionman Anthony Murphy, a native of Compton, California, and Steelworker 3rd Class Roy Hughes, a native of Boston, Massachusetts, fill a wheelbarrow with cement at Maneluana School during Pacific Partnership 2016. The Seabees and U.S. Marines are working alongside Timorese and Australian engineers on various construction projects at Aimutin and Maneluana Schools. This year marks the sixth time the mission visited Timor Leste since it’s first visit in 2006. Medical, engineering and various other personnel embarked aboard hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) are working side-by-side with partner nation counterparts, exchanging ideas, building best practices and relationships to ensure preparedness should disaster strike. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Brittney Vella/Released)