Photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Gary Ward
PEARL HARBOR – A 2016 Calexico High School graduate and Calexico, 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 3rd Class Alberto Aguirre is a gas turbine systems technician (mechanical) aboard USS O'Kane, currently operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.A Navy gas turbine systems technician (mechanical) is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the ship’s gas turbine engines and the air and oil systems for the engines.
Aguirre applies the lessons he learned from Mesicali to his work in the Navy.
“Being professional at all times, keeping an open mind, being attentive and active listening is what I learned growing up,” said Aguirre.
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. 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'm looking forward to meeting new people from different nations and supporting the ship through maintenance and training,” said Aguirre.
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 working on the main reduction gear of the ship and helping the ship meet its qualifications during our inspections,” said Aguirre.
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, Aguirre and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“Not only am I defending the United States but also people all around the world,” said Aguirre. “The Navy has given me the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally.”
Additional information about RIMPAC is available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil