By Mass Communication
Specialist 1st Class Electa Berassa, Navy Office of Community Outreach
Photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication
Specialist Gary Ward
PEARL HARBOR – A 2013 Taft
High School graduate and San Antonio 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
Kenneth Higbee is a sonar technician (surface) aboard USS William P. Lawrence,
currently operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
A Navy sonar technician
(surface) is responsible for locating,
classifying, and tracking submarines all
around the world.
Higbee applies the lessons he
learned from San Antonio to his work in the Navy.
“My parents taught me
cultural acceptance and not being close-minded,” said Higbee. “It has helped me
to talk to people of different backgrounds.”
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.
“This is my third RIMPAC in a
row,” said Higbee. “I hope that everyone learns a lot
from this.”
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 making second class and getting my surface warfare pin,” said
Higbee.
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,
Higbee and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond
their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“It was interesting coming into the Navy at 18 years old and learning a lot from everyone else,”
said Higbee. “Going overseas and seeing different cultures is
fun. I can also learn a lot and experience different aspects of life.”