The hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) prepares to anchor off the coast of Majuro, Republic of Marshall Islands, prior to its first mission stop for Pacific Partnership 2024-1 Oct. 30, 2023. Pacific Partnership, now in its 19th iteration, is the largest multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission in the Pacific and brings together more than 1000 participants from 8 partner and host nations. (U.S. Navy photo by Grady Fontana)

From the left, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Erik Olson, from Gardnerville, Nev., Belau National Hospital general surgeon Dr. Glenda Santos, and U.S. Navy Cmdr. Jason Butler, from Forest, La, perform a laparoscopic gall bladder surgery onboard the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), anchored off of Koror, Palau, as part of Pacific Partnership 2024-1, Jan. 3, 2024. Pacific Partnership, now in its 19th iteration, is the largest multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific and works to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships. (U.S. Navy photo by Cmdr. Cheryl Collins)

KOROR, Palau (Jan. 5, 2024) Cmdr. Gabe Valerio, from San Diego, uses a slit lamp to check a Palauan patient's eyes during an ophthalmology post-op consultation at Belau National Hospital during Pacific Partnership 2024-1 in Koror, Palau, Jan. 5, 2024. Pacific Partnership, now in its 19th iteration, is the largest multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific and works to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Celia Martin)

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Nov. 25, 2023) Lt. Trey Ketchum, left, from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, uses a portable slit lamp to check the eyes of a local patient during a Pacific Partnership 2024-1 community health engagement at the Holy Cross Cathedral in Honiara, Solomon Islands, Nov. 25, 2023. Pacific Partnership, now in its 19th iteration, is the largest multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific and works to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Celia Martin)

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Nov. 21, 2023) A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) airman is hoisted into a RNZNF NH90 helicopter from Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopter from No. 3 Squadron out of Ohakea Palmerston, North New Zealand, during an exercise aboard the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), anchored off of Honiara, Solomon Islands, during Pacific Partnership 2024-1, Nov. 21, 2023. Now in its 19th iteration, Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacob Woitzel)

PACIFIC OCEAN (Oct. 10, 2023) A Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM ) 161 lands on the flight deck of the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) during a training exercise while underway in the Pacific Ocean during Pacific Partnership 2024-1, Oct. 10, 2023. Now in its 19th iteration, Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacob Woitzel)