Lucerne Valley Native
Participates in World’s Largest International Maritime Warfare Exercise
By Mass Communication
Specialist 1st Class Electa Berassa, Navy Office of Community Outreach
Photo by Mass Communication
Specialist Senior Chief Gary Ward
PEARL HARBOR – A 2009 Victor
Valley Desert Christian School graduate and Lucerne Valley, 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 1st Class
Daniel Ketchum is an information systems technician aboard USS Lake Champlain,
currently operating out of San Diego, California.
A Navy information systems
technician is responsible for setting, troubleshooting,
and operating computer systems as well as
setting up radio communications on the ship.
Ketchum applies the lessons
he learned from Lucerne Valley to his work in the Navy.
“I learned to have a hard work ethic,
being faithful to what you believe in, and
being dependable from home,” said Ketchum.
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 hope to gain camaraderie
with those I serve with and achieving professional and personal goals,” said
Ketchum.
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 people I serve with and being able to
achieve different things,” said Ketchum. “I’m also proud to get out of my comfort zone and be
successful.”
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,
Ketchum and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond
their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving in the Navy means pride of country,”
said Ketchum.