PACIFIC ANGEL 24-1: Strengthening Partnerships, Enhancing Readiness
By Ms. Lauren Fosnot, Staff Writer
Disasters are a steady reality around the world—earthquakes, typhoons, and regional health crises continue to affect communities, leaving people in need of support, resources, and coordinated response.
When disaster strikes, the ability to respond quickly, effectively, and collaboratively can save lives. That is the spirit behind Pacific Angel, a U.S. Indo-Pacific Command-sponsored operation that strengthens regional partnerships, enhances readiness for humanitarian assistance and disaster response missions, and showcases the Department of Defense’s global medical outreach capabilities.
The Mobility Forum spoke with SMSgt Deandre Curtiss, Public Affairs lead for Pacific Angel, who provided insights into the exercise’s objectives and outcomes. He emphasized that Pacific Angel 24-1 was more than just a training event: it was a strategic effort to enhance interoperability among the participants.
Pacific Angel 24-1, the latest iteration of the mission, brought together forces from four nations—the United States, Australia, France, and Papua New Guinea—for a five-day field training exercise focused on search and rescue. The event kicked off on August 24, 2024, and served as a powerful platform for subject matter expert exchange in areas such as aircraft maintenance, adverse terrain survival, and swift-water personnel recovery.
From a safety and training perspective, Pacific Angel 24-1 provided invaluable opportunities. Airmen and partner nation forces exchanged critical techniques in emergency triage, casualty evacuation, infectious disease control, engineering programs, and airfield operations and repairs. These knowledge-sharing moments extended beyond the classroom, unfolding in structured, scenario-based exercises that tested each participant’s ability to adapt, lead, and protect lives in high-stakes environments. This progression from theoretical instruction to practical application ensured that teams were better equipped to respond quickly and cohesively when it matters most.
The exercise also included a comprehensive aeromedical evacuation component to enhance capacity to manage medical emergencies during disaster response operations, a critical capability in a region prone to natural calamities.
This collaboration marks a pivotal step in enhancing the Papua New Guinea Defence Force’s (PNGDF) capability to conduct more complex military operations, particularly in humanitarian assistance and disaster response scenarios, thereby advancing the operational readiness of U.S. partners in the region.
Beyond the tactical benefits, Pacific Angel reaffirms a broader U.S. strategy in the Indo-Pacific. The U.S. military continues to strengthen relationships with allies and partners in the region through operations like Pacific Angel. These missions are vital not only for preparing for emergencies but also for preserving peace and stability throughout the Indo-Pacific.
The mission culminated in the successful completion of bilateral training and increased cooperation, marked during the Pacific Angel 24-1 closing ceremony at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on August 30, 2024.
For Airmen and joint partners alike, Pacific Angel is a powerful reminder that mission success depends on collaboration, preparation, and trust—especially when lives are at stake.
When there is no room for error, the ability to train, plan, and operate as a unified team makes the difference. The connections built across countries and career fields are not just valuable in the moment—they are critical to responding faster and more effectively when the next crisis hits.
Total Participation Included:
- Over sixty U.S. Air Force personnel
- Eighteen Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) members
- Nine French Navy personnel
- Forty-five PNGDF members
- Two HC-130J Combat King IIs from the 39th Rescue Squadron, Patrick Space Force Base, FL.
- One RAAF C-27J Spartan
- One French Navy Dassault Falcon 20G
- One PNGDF PAC-750