Tulelake 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 2013
Tulelake High School graduate and Tulelake, 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
Zachary Idrogo is a boatswain's mate aboard USS Lake Champlain, currently
operating out of San Diego, California.
A Navy boatswain's mate is
responsible for the repair, maintenance and
preservation of the ship as well as driving the ship.
Idrogo applies the lessons he
learned from Tulelake to his work in the Navy.
“I learned to give everything
100% and not be selfish,” said Idrogo. “I learned to
make sure everyone who I work with is
as comfortable as I am.”
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.
“I’m
looking to make my division into a tighter
division, because it always changes,” said Idrogo. “I just want everyone to
come together and work well with each other.”
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 picking up my rate since I joined the Navy as an undesignated seaman,” said Idrogo.
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,
Idrogo and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond
their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“The
Navy has taught me that there is always something to improve on,” said
Idrogo. “I see myself growing every day.”