USA: Maritime Civil Affairs Team 103 Comes Back From Pacific Partnership Mission

Maritime Civil Affairs Team (MCAT) 103 returned from Pacific Partnership 2011 Aug. 5 after a five-month deployment that took them to five Pacific countries.

MCAT 103 facilitated, supported, and assessed civil-military operations while deployed aboard USS Cleveland (LPD 7) in Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and the Federated States of Micronesia.

“Our primary mission while deployed was to continue to build strong and enduring relations with the nations we visited,” said Lt. Mark Poblete, MCAT 103 team leader. “It was an honor to serve during Pacific Partnership 2011 because it epitomizes the purpose for which maritime civil affairs as a community was created.”

The MCAT 103 team members are Poblete, Chief Hospital Corpsman Christopher Crumpler, Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Oscar Pacquing, and Information Technology Specialist 1st Class Corey Walker.

Pacific Partnership is a dedicated humanitarian and civic assistance mission conducted with and through partner nations, non-governmental organizations and other U.S. and international government agencies to execute a variety of humanitarian civic action missions in the Pacific Fleet area of responsibility.

“The team did a fantastic job supporting the Pacific Partnership mission,” said Capt. Frank Hughlett, commanding officer, Maritime Civil Affairs and Security Training Command (MCASTC). “I can think of no better ambassadors for our nation than these highly-skilled professionals working to foster strong relations with our friends and allies.”

Maritime civil affairs is dedicated to enhancing international relationships in a maritime environment.

MCASTC was established in 2009 and is a capability of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command.

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Source: navy, August 10, 2011;