Marines of 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrive in Staten Island, N.Y., Nov. 4. The Navy-Marine Corps team is well-equipped to respond to national disasters when required, through the coordination of U.S. Northern Command. While the military plays an important role in disaster response, all our efforts are in support of FEMA first and foremost, who coordinate closely with state and local officials. Photo by Cpl. Bryan Nygaard

The sound of Marine helicopters overhead has come to mean that help is on the way. From the Southeast Asian tsunami in 2004, to Hurricane Katrina, to the flooding in Pakistan, the earthquake in Haiti and now in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the Marines and the Navy provide assistance unlike any other. Nothing conveys the feeling that everything is going to be all right like a United States Marine. Staten Island and the Rockaways in Queens know that feeling tonight.
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Arm;y Spcs. Aryel De Andrade, left, and Angel Fuentes hook up a trailer to a medium tactical vehicle as the unit readies for Hurricane Sandy at the National Guard Armory in Lawrenceville, N.J., Oct. 26, 2012. Andrade and Fuentes are assigned to the 250th Brigade Support Battalion, New Jersey Army National Guard. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark Olsen

Department of Defense

At the direction of Secretary Panetta, the Department of Defense is taking aggressive steps to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and State authorities as Hurricane Sandy moves northward.
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Physician, Lt. Jennifer Eng-Kulawy checks the health of a local child during a medical civic action project (MEDCAP) in Samar, Philippines in support of Pacific Partnership 2012, 22 June. While in the Philippines a total of six MEDCAPs are scheduled to take place and provide a variety of medical, dental and optometry patient centered care. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Clay M. Whaley

Having finished the second visit of its four nation assistance mission, the USNS Mercy is now anchored off Vietnam. Pacific Partnership 2012 had a wildly successful two weeks in the Philippines and Mercy, with its international and NGO partners, accomplished a great deal.
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Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy sails through the remote islands to the Northeast of North Sulawesi, Indonesia, on June 12.The Mercy had just left Sangihe i, one of several islands in North Sulawesi that Pacific Partnership 2012 visited. Photo by Kristopher Radder

Pacific Partnership 2012 arrived in Samar, the Philippines today after completing a successful humanitarian mission in Indonesia. PP 2012 consists of the hospital ship USNS Mercy, scores of U.S. military volunteers, troops from other militaries and personnel from many non-governmental organizations. The 2012 version of this annual event has wrapped up a visit to Indonesia and moved on to the second of four host nations on its schedule. PP 2012 will have a total of eleven partner nations and two dozen non-governmental organizations participating at various times during the mission.
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MV Green Wave arrives at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, on Feb. 14, 2012, carrying over 300 units of United States Antarctic Program cargo representing the program's annual food, parts and other supplies during Operation Deep Freeze, the DoD’s support activity to the National Science Foundation-managed USAP.

U.S. Air Force
by Maj. Jonathan Hannon
Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica

Following the redeployment of the last two C-17 Globemaster IIIs to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and Stewart Air National Guard Base, N.Y., the personnel participating in the 2011-2012 edition of Operation Deep Freeze can lay claim to yet another successful and history-making season.

ODF is the U.S. military’s support to science and research activities conducted by the U.S. Antarctic Program. ODF is a joint, inter-agency operation under the direction of the National Science Foundation and led by Lt Gen Ted Kresge, Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica commander.
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