By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Brown, Navy Office of Community Outreach
Photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Gary Ward
PEARL HARBOR – A 2014 Alexander Local High School graduate and Albany, Ohio, native is serving in the U.S. Navy as part of the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise known as the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).
Petty Officer 2nd Class Andrea McGrath is an operations specialist aboard USS William P. Lawrence, currently operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
A Navy operations specialist is responsible for standing watch in the combat information center, acting as the tactical nerve center of the ship.
McGrath is looking forward to applying the lessons learned from Albany to working in the Navy.
“I grew up with two younger sisters, so I learned how to be patient,” said McGrath. "That's carried over to the Navy because I've had to be patient with junior sailors during my training."
As the world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring safety at sea and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2018 is the 26th exercise in the series that began in 1971.
The theme of RIMPAC 2018 is "Capable, Adaptive, Partners.” The participating nations and forces will exercise a wide range of capabilities and demonstrate the inherent flexibility of maritime forces. These capabilities range from disaster relief and maritime security operations to sea control and complex warfighting. The relevant, realistic training program includes amphibious operations, gunnery, missile, anti-submarine and air defense exercises, as well as counter-piracy, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal and diving and salvage operations.
“I'm looking forward to communicating with sailors from other foreign nations during RIMPAC,” said McGrath. "This is my second RIMPAC. I enjoy the challenge of accomplishing missions with a language barrier. Other nations operate at a different pace than we do, so it's interesting to see."
This is the first time Israel, Sri Lanka and Vietnam are participating in RIMPAC. Additional firsts include New Zealand serving as sea combat commander and Chile serving as combined force maritime component commander. This is the first time a non-founding RIMPAC nation (Chile) will hold a component commander leadership position.
This year will also feature live firing of a Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) from a U.S. Air Force aircraft, surface to ship missiles by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and a Naval Strike Missile (NSM) from a launcher on the back of a Palletized Load System (PLS) by the U.S. Army. This marks the first time a land based unit will participate in the live fire event during RIMPAC. RIMPAC 2018 will also include international band engagements and highlight fleet innovation during an Innovation Fair.
“I'm very proud of seeing my own personal growth since I've been in the Navy,” said McGrath.
Twenty-six nations, 46 surface ships, five submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel will participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific Exercise. This year's exercise includes forces from Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam.
As a member of the U.S. Navy, McGrath and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“Being able to make things happen and interacting with different people have been ways I've really seen myself grow in the Navy,” said McGrath. "I'm a very creative person, so I enjoy finding ways to have a creative outlet in ways that benefit the Navy. Serving in the Navy gives me the opportunity to be a role model for my youngest sister. We grew up in a very small town, and I love being able to show her that there are so many opportunities out there, and she can do anything she wants to do if she works for it."