Photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Gary Ward
PEARL HARBOR – A 1999 Wadsworth Senior High School graduate and Wadsworth, Ohio, 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 Elizabeth Into is a crytologic technician (collection) aboard USS John P. Murtha, currently operating out of San Diego.A Navy crytologic technician (collection) is responsible for maintaining clearances for personnel and assisting in briefs for intel briefs as well as collection of intelligence.
Into applies the lessons learned from Wadsworth to working in the Navy.
“You need to be goal-oriented and have a hard work ethic,” said Into. “Also, in my field you have to be a person of your word. Honor, courage, and commitment is imperative.”
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 think it is a very neat experience to work with the other navies,” said Into. “It is a neat thing you can put in your scrapbook of things you were able to do in the Navy.”
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 proud of being a plank owner on the ship,” said Into. “Also, I’m proud of becoming fluent in Arabic. The best thing about that was I was able to speak with the head of the Yemen, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Oman navies during the International Sea Symposium in 2015.”
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, Into and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“I learned my strengths and what I am capable of from being in the Navy,” said Into. “I don't think I would have accomplished that in the civilian world. The Navy also taught me humility and patience. I want my children to be able to see what they can accomplish as well.”
Additional information about RIMPAC is available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil