Richmond 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 Clover Hill High School graduate and Richmond, Virginia native is serving in the U.S. Navy as part
of the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise, Rim of the
Pacific (RIMPAC).
A Navy quartermaster is
responsible for the safe navigation of the
ship.
Jenkins applies the lessons
he learned from Richmond to his work in the Navy.
“Discipline growing up helped
me a lot,” said Jenkins. “Most of my family served in the military and they
helped me transition into my service, which
set me for success.”
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
coming together with all of the different countries and seeing what they do,” said Jenkins.
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.
“My proudest Navy achievement is earning my surface warfare as well as my air warfare qualification pins as a seaman,” said
Jenkins.
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,
Jenkins and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond
their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“It feels really good to
serve and take pride in knowing I'm making a difference for those who are
depending on us,” said Jenkins. “It takes a lot of courage and sacrifice.”