Fresno Native
Participates in World’s Largest International Maritime Warfare Exercise
By Mass Communication
Specialist 1st Class David Wyscaver, Navy Office of Community Outreach
Photo by Mass Communication
Specialist 2nd Class Theodore Quintana
PEARL HARBOR – A 2013
Washington Union High School graduate and Fresno, California
native is serving in the U.S. Navy as part of the world’s largest international
maritime warfare exercise, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).
Petty Officer 2nd Class Dylan
Bagdasarian is a fire controlman aboard USS Lake Erie, currently operating out
of San Diego.
A Navy fire controlman is
responsible for the safe and effective operation of the tomahawk missile systems onboard the ship.
Bagdasarian applies the
lessons he learned from Fresno to his work in the Navy.
“The importance of dedication
and being committed to the mission is something that
I learned from growing up,” said Bagdasarian.
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,”
according to Navy officials. 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'm looking forward to participating in the actual
exercise as a whole,” said Bagdasarian.
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’m most proud of the humanitarian aid and relief we
conducted in Sri Lanka,” said Bagdasarian. “It felt good knowing we were able to make a difference
for the locals through our actions.”
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,
Bagdasarian and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last
beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving is the willingness
to get up and keep doing it everyday even though
it’s tough sometimes,” said Bagdasarian.