U.S. military kicks-off 2012 PACANGEL season in the Philippines Published Feb. 27, 2012 13th Air Force Public Affairs JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR HICKAM, Hawaii -- Approximately 99 U.S. military members, along with local non-governmental organizations and host nation military forces will kick-off the 2012 Pacific Angel season in Legaspi, Bicol Province, Philippines, March 5 through 10. Operation PACANGEL 2012 includes humanitarian medical, dental, and optometry care; engineering programs, as well as, various subject-matter expert exchanges and training opportunities. Officially in its fifth year, Operation PACANGEL is a joint and combined humanitarian assistance operation led by 13th Air Force. The operation supports U.S. Pacific Command's capacity-building efforts by partnering with other governments, non-governmental agencies and multilateral militaries in the respective region to provide medical, dental, optometry, and engineering assistance to their citizens. This training can be used during future humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts. Three additional PACANGEL missions are scheduled this year. They include Laos from April 23 through 28; Vietnam from June 11 through 16, and Nepal from Sept.10 through 15. Since 2007, U.S. military members, together with host nation military personnel throughout the region, have improved the lives of tens of thousands of people through Operation PACANGEL missions.