Morgan Hill 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 Ann
Sobrato High School graduate and Morgan Hill, 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 2nd Class Sean
Anderson is a fire controlman (aegis) aboard USS Lake Erie, currently operating
out of San Diego.
A Navy fire controlman
(aegis) is responsible for self-defense of the ship through the safe operation of the radar and missile systems.
Anderson applies the lessons
he learned from Morgan Hill to his work in the Navy.
“Punctuality is a big key in
being successful, especially in the Navy,” said Anderson.
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.
“The sporting events have
been fun,” said Anderson. “My shipmates and I competed in the tennis doubles event and
defeated a team of sailors from South Korea, which was
really cool.”
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 obtaining the rank of petty officer
second class and earning my surface warfare qualification pin while on my first deployment,” said Anderson.
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,
Anderson and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond
their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving n the Navy means to put others first and sacrificing your time and other freedoms to
protect others,” said Anderson.