Long Island, NY - June 7, 2016 - Lt. Ned Davis, a native of Long Island, New York, conducts preflight checks of an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Blackjacks of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21 during an alert 60 medical evacuation drill on the flight deck of hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19). During and alert 60 medical evacuation drill, essential flight deck personnel have 60 minutes to have the aircraft ready to launch. Deployed in support of Pacific Partnership 2016, Mercy is scheduled to visit Timor Leste, the Republic of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia. Medical, engineering and various other personnel embarked aboard Mercy will work side-by-side with partner nation counterparts, exchanging ideas, building best practices and relationships to ensure preparedness should disaster strike.
"Why Being There Matters"
On our planet, more than 70 percent of which is covered by water, being there means having the ability to act from the sea. The Navy is uniquely positioned to be there; the world's oceans give the Navy the power to protect America's interests anywhere, and at any time. Your Navy protects and defends America on the world's oceans. Navy ships, submarines, aircraft and, most importantly, tens of thousands of America's finest young men and women are deployed around the world doing just that. They are there now. They will be there when we are sleeping tonight. They will be there every Saturday, Sunday and holiday this year. They are there around the clock, far from our shores, defending America at all times.