Pacific Partnership 2008 is a US-led but multi-national initiative that provides free medical and dental care, as well as engineering work to people in the Pacific. Surgeon Commander John Duncan, director of naval medicine at Devonport naval base, was leader of the eight-person NZDF team on board the hospital ship USNS Mercy. The tri-service team comprised three nursing officers, an army medic, an environmental health officer, a medic from the air force and a medic from the navy. Read Surgeon Commander John Duncan's postcard from the USNS Mercy at our Features section.