San Diego Native
Participates in World’s Largest International Maritime Warfare Exercise
By Mass Communication
Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Brown, Navy Office of Community Outreach
Photo by Mass Communication
Specialist Senior Chief Gary Ward
PEARL HARBOR – A 1999 Patrick
Henry High School graduate and San Diego, California native is serving in the
U.S. Navy as part of the world’s largest international maritime warfare
exercise known as the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).
Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin
Miller is a sonar technician aboard USS Lake Champlain, currently operating out
of San Diego, California.
A Navy sonar technician is
responsible for underwater surveillance.
Miller is looking forward to
applying the lessons learned from San Diego to working in the Navy.
“I learned the value of hard
work growing up and it's enabled me to take on
responsibility in the Navy,” said Miller.
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 will 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
amphibious operations, gunnery, missile, anti-submarine and air defense
exercises, as well as counter-piracy, mine clearance operations, explosive
ordnance disposal and diving and salvage operations.
“I'm looking forward to
working with our allies in anti-submarine warfare exercises and seeing how they
work,” said Miller.
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.
This year will also feature live firing of a Long Range
Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) from a U.S. Air Force aircraft, surface to ship
missiles by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and a Naval Strike Missile
(NSM) from a launcher on the back of a Palletized Load System (PLS) by the U.S.
Army. This marks the first time a land based unit will participate in the live
fire event during RIMPAC. RIMPAC 2018 will also include international band
engagements and highlight fleet innovation during an Innovation Fair.
“I'm proud of being able to become the leading petty
officer of a division at sea,” said Miller.
Twenty-six nations, 46 surface ships, five submarines, 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, Brazil, 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,
Miller and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond
their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“I've learned how to play to
my strengths and also how to improve upon
myself,” said Miller. “The Navy has given me
the chance to give me everything I put into it.”
“Serving in the Navy has
given me the chance to prove myself and push myself. Every
day is a challenge and I get to solve complex problems while serving my country
at the same time,” said Miller. "I also get the chance to give my
children the future they deserve."