Mystic 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 2011 Fitch
Senior High School graduate and Mystic, Connecticut 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).
Lieutenant Junior Grade Gabrielle
Dimaapi is an anti-submarine warfare officer aboard USS Lake Champlain,
currently operating out of San Diego, California.
A Navy anti-submarine warfare
officer is responsible for the operation of undersea
warfare center on the ship and its personnel.
Dimaapi is looking forward to
applying the lessons learned from Mystic to working in the Navy.
“My dad was in the Navy for
23 years, and both my parents immigrated from the Philippines, so they
instilled in me the value of hard work,” said
Dimaapi.
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
working with other nations,” said Dimaapi. "We know how we work together
as a Navy, but it will be interesting to see how we interact with them."
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.
“My proudest achievement in the Navy was when I earned my
Surface Warfare Officer pin in 2017,” said Dimaapi. "It's the culmination
of a lot of training, although it's not the end of a journey, rather just the
beginning."
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,
Dimaapi and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond
their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“I'm definitely more aware of
the little details that make military operations work,” said Dimaapi. "I had no idea what the role of a chief
or a petty officer was before I got commissioned, but I've learned just how
important everyone is to making the Navy work."
“Serving in the Navy means I
get to be a part of something bigger than myself, and even though people don't
recognize it sometimes, it's for the greater good,” said Dimaapi. "I see
myself as a servant leader, and whether I stay in or get out of the Navy, my
role is to serve my community."