Marysville 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
Marysville High School graduate and Marysville, Ohio native is serving in the
U.S. Navy as part of the world’s largest international maritime warfare
exercise, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).
Ensign Madison Mason is a
strike officer aboard USS Lake Erie, currently operating out of San Diego.
A Navy strike officer is
responsible for leading the sailors who are responsible for the vertical launch
system. The system is capable of shooting tomahawk missiles from ship to shore
and is a big reason why USS Lake Erie was built.
Mason applies the lessons she
learned from Marysville to her work in the Navy.
“My hometown is a family
atmosphere and coming into the Navy I feel this ship is family,” said Mason. “It's
a very important aspect of 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
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.
“Being in weapons department
we are scheduled to conduct a gun shoot exercise with other nation’s navies,” said Mason. “I'm really looking forward to
working together and accomplishing our goals.”
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.
“My proudest Navy achievement is when I was recently asked to reenlist one of
my sailors,” said Mason. “It will be my first time
and I'm looking forward to the opportunity.”
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,
Mason and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond
their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“For me to serve means to do
what you can for others,” said Mason. “It isn’t about yourself, it's about protecting the
ones you love and care about.”