Gibsonia Native
Participates in World’s
Largest International
Maritime Warfare
Exercise
By Mass Communication
Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Brown, Navy Office of Community Outreach
Photo by Mass Communication
Specialist Senior Chief Gary Ward
PEARL HARBOR – A 2009 Pine
Ridgeland High School graduate and Gibsonia, Pennsylvania 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).
Ensign Brian Cowen is a
prospective surface warfare officer aboard USS Lake Champlain, currently
operating out of San Diego, California.
Cowen is responsible for leading the deck division,
which performs the seamanship duties of the ship, including line handling,
anchor evolutions, underway replenishments, and small boat operations. He is
also in charge of the ship's search-and-rescue program.
Cowen is looking forward to
applying the lessons learned from Gibsonia to working in the Navy.
“I grew up with parents who
were both naval officers, so they instilled
that code of conduct in me from a young age,” said Cowen. "They taught me
to always improve myself, never give up, and always keep learning, which has
helped me in the Navy."
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 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.
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 proud of graduating from the Basic Division Officer's
course in San Diego, which taught me how to manage a division in the Navy, and
set me up for success in a leadership role,” said Cowen.
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, Brazil, 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,
Cowen and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond
their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“I've learned how to identify
my own faults, and how to improve upon myself constantly,” said Cowen.
"The Navy has shown me how to depend on the experience of my sailors to
get the job done. Serving in the Navy means I get to be a part of a team, and a
part of something much bigger than myself. It's very humbling to be a part of
such a tight-knit community, and I'm very proud to be a part of it."