The U.S. Naval forces and forces from Chile, Argentina, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Paraguay participated in a humanitarian disaster relief exercise in Pichidangui on August 18, as part of Partnership of the Americas 2014 (POA),which is taking place August 12 to 22 in Valparaiso and Pichidangui.
The exercise consisted in a humanitarian assistance operation in support of the local community in the context of the simulation of a natural disaster produced by an 8.8 Richter earthquake.
During the exercise, the U.S. Navy deployed Ch-46 Sea Knight helicopters brought to Chile especially for Partnership of the Americas.
Partnership of the Americas, which this year was organized by Chile, is designed to enhance joint interoperability and increase combined capability to execute amphibious peace and humanitarian assistance operations.
U.S. Marines taking part in the multinational exercise also visited the Ercole Bencini Primary School in Pichidangui to repair the school´s basketball field and removable soccer goals together with Chilean Navy marines. The marines worked in the school for several days and concluded their activities with an enthusiastic soccer game.
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