San Fransisco Native Participates in World’s Largest International Maritime Warfare Exercise
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Electa Berassa, Navy Office of Community Outreach
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Senior Chief Gary Ward
PEARL HARBOR – A 2014 Abraham Lincoln High School graduate and San Francisco, California 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 3rd Class Jie Liu is a damage controlman aboard USS Lake Champlain, currently operating out of San Diego, California.
A Navy damage controlman is responsible for the repair and maintenance on firefighting equipment as well as being in charge of firefighting drills so the rest of the crew is trained.
Liu applies the lessons he learned from San Fransisco to his work in the Navy.
“My mom always told me to stay positive,” said Liu. “That is how I make it through hard times in the military.”
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 seeing different nations and ships and being a part of RIMPAC, I’m able to do that,” said Liu.
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 third class petty officer,” said Liu. “I’m also proud to have received my surface warfare qualification pin.”
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, Liu and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“I learned that I don't give up easily since being in the Navy,” said Liu