San Antonio 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 2005 William
H. Taft High School graduate and San Antonio, 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 Mario
Amaro is a fire controlman (aegis) aboard USS Lake Erie, currently operating
out of San Diego.
A Navy fire controlman
(aegis) is responsible for combat systems maintenance
and ensuring the equipment operates effectively.
Amaro applies the lessons he learned
from San Antonio to his work in the Navy.
“A hard work ethic is
something I learned at a very young age,” said Amaro.
“I brought this quality with me to the Navy and it has helped me be
successful in my career.”
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
interacting with other countries and working together as one,” said Amaro.
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 participating in the humanitarian effort in Sri Lanka in
2017 and helping out the locals by reconstructing their homes and providing
supplies,” said Amaro. “It was a great sense of
accomplishment for me.”
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,
Amaro and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond
their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving to me means we are
the protectors of our nation,” said Amaro. “It's good to know our presence makes a difference
and is recognized.”