Operation PACIFIC ANGEL 12-2 begins in Laos Published April 20, 2012 By 010412 4/20/2012 VIENTIANE, Laos -- The United States and the Lao People's Democratic Republic will conduct humanitarian assistance operations, April 23-28, in the Phonsavahn, Laos, area as part of the joint and combined Operation PACIFIC ANGEL 12-2. PACIFIC ANGEL operations have three pillars: Health Service Outreach (including medical, dental and optometry care); Engineer Civic Action Programs designed to repair and refurbish facility infrastructure; and Subject Matter Expert Exchanges, where the multinational partners share information and technical knowledge. For PACIFIC ANGEL 12-2, United States Air Force, Navy, and Lao medical professionals will see patients at the Lao-Mongolian Friendship Hospital and District Hospital, in Phonsavahn. The combined team will focus on general medicine, optometry and dental services. U.S. doctors and medics will also assist existing Provincial Public Health Education outreach programs, helping educate the Lao populace and caretakers on topics to enhance health and wellness in their communities. There will be nursing care, trauma and obstetrics SMEEs, along with professional lectures on several medical topics. U.S. Air Force civil engineers, local contractors and Lao military members will work to repair and renovate three medical facilities in the area during this timeframe. The engineers will also share information designed to enhance on-the-job safety for Lao military members. "We are excited to be here at the invitation of the Lao government," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Keith Gibson, PACIFIC ANGEL 12-2 mission commander. "There is great potential benefit to working together as an interoperable team, and we are very much looking forward to working with our partners in this operation to benefit the local community and people of Laos." Operation PACIFIC ANGEL is a joint and combined humanitarian assistance operation, currently in its fifth year. The Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) Exercise and Engagement Branch plans and organizes PACIFIC ANGEL. It's executed under the authority of 13th Air Force, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Approximately 30 U.S. military members, along with Lao military forces and local contractors, will work together as part of this operation. The operation supports U.S. Pacific Command's capacity-building efforts by partnering with other governments, non-governmental agencies and multilateral militaries in the region to provide training and assistance to their citizens. This interoperability and familiarity greatly enhances potential future humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts. Since 2007, U.S. military members, with host nation military personnel throughout the region, have improved tens of thousands of peoples' lives through the PACIFIC ANGEL mission.