Los Angeles 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 West
Chester High School graduate and Los
Angeles, California 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
Cory Bowers
is a damage controlman aboard USS Lake Champlain, currently operating out of San Diego, California.
A Navy damage controlman is responsible for maintaining all of the ship's firefighting systems as
well as training the crew to ensure they are always ready to fight a casualty.
Bowers is looking
forward to applying the lessons learned from Los
Angeles to working 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 meeting people from different
countries and learning their cultures,” said Bowers.
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 whenever I see
my junior sailors succeed in the Navy,” said Bowers. "It makes me feel good
to see them achieve their goals in the Navy."
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, Bowers 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 mature into a leader. The Navy has shown me the difference between being a
boss and being a leader,” said Bowers. “Serving in the Navy also gives me the
opportunity to provide for my family while also giving back by serving the
greatest country in the world.”