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 2017 Perry
High School graduate and Perry, Georgia native
is serving in the U.S. Navy as part of the world’s largest international
maritime warfare exercise, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).
Seaman Rodney Teal is an
information systems technician aboard USS Lake Erie, currently operating out of
San Diego.
A Navy information systems
technician is responsible for ensuring safe and
effective communication internally and externally on and off the ship.
Teal applies the lessons he
learned from Perry to his work in the Navy.
“Working hard from a young
age will get you a lot in life,” said Teal. “A good work ethic will be recognized and
appreciated.”
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.
“I'm looking forward to
participating in the exercise and interacting with other countries and their militaries,” said Teal.
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 graduating my training school and
learning more about my job,” said Teal.
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,
Teal 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 to me means doing my part to protect my
country,” said Teal. “It's
a selfless act and I'm very proud to be a part of the Navy.”