Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Theodore Quintana
PEARL HARBOR – A 2012 South River High School graduate and Annapolis, Maryland, native is serving in the U.S. Navy as part of the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).
Ensign Christopher Carr is a first lieutenant aboard USS Dewey, currently operating out of San Diego.A Navy first lieutenant is responsible for safety of personnel during special evolutions, anchoring, and bringing the ship into the pier.
Carr applies the lessons he learned from Annapolis to his work in the Navy.
“I learned to have respect for other people,” said Carr. “Showing respect for others makes your job easier because they give you the same respect.”
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 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, gunnery, missile, anti-submarine and air defense exercises, as well as amphibious, counter-piracy, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal and diving and salvage operations.
“I am looking forward to working with other countries,” said Carr. “It’s good to have a basic understanding to be able to work with them if the situation arises.”
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.
“I am proud to have made sure a few of my guys have accomplished their goals,” said Carr. “That is a big achievement for me.”
Twenty-six nations, 46 surface ships, five submarines, and 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, Carr and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“I don't have all the answers and need great people around me to make sure I am giving them the best,” said Carr. “People can accomplish great things without you, but can accomplish more with your help. I have learned to always be there for the team.”
Additional information about RIMPAC is available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil