Photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Gary Ward
PEARL HARBOR – A 2006 Pearsall High School graduate and Pearsall, Texas, 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 Ray Valle is a boatswain's mate aboard USS John P. Murtha, currently operating out of San Diego.A Navy boatswain's mate is responsible for the safe boarding of Marines and amphibious assault craft and vehicles, as well as the driving, refueling and maintaining all equipment as well as landing helicopters.
Valle applies the lessons he learned from Pearsall to his work in the Navy.
“My parents always told me to do the right thing,” said Valle. “That is something I always try to do. You do the right things so good things will come to you. Also, my dad told me to keep working hard.”
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 working with other nations and figuring out different tactics if something happens while here,” said Valle.
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.
“Just being in the Navy is something I'm really proud,” said Valle. “I can also provide for my family.”
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, Valle 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 paying it forward,” said Valle. “My great grandpa was in the Navy, and I am doing my part and giving back to those who served before me.”
Additional information about RIMPAC is available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil