Houston 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 2004
Westbury High School graduate and Houston, Texas 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 3rd Class Lucia
Marquezponce is an aviation structural
mechanic attached to Helicopter Maritime Squadron 78, currently operating out
of San Diego, California.
A Navy aviation structural
mechanic is responsible for maintaining the hydraulic systems of the two MH-60R
Seahawk helicopters onboard the ship, ensuring
they are always ready for missions.
Marquezponce is looking
forward to applying the lessons learned from Houston to working in the Navy.
“My parents are pastors, so I
had a very formal upbringing,” said Marquezponce. "I was taught to treat
everyone with respect no matter what their status is.
That's 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.
“I'm looking forward to
seeing the different navies of the participating nations and seeing how they operate,” said Marquezponce.
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 to have advanced to the rank of petty officer third class,” said
Marquezponce.
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,
Marquezponce 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 that I have the
potential to lead and I can learn many
different aspects of my job in the Navy,” said Marquezponce. “Serving in the
Navy is something I'm very proud of. My family is proud of me, because I'm one
of the very few that have joined. I'm glad to
start that legacy for my family."