West Jordan 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 2014 West
Jordan High School graduate and West Jordan, Utah native is serving in the U.S.
Navy as part of the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise,
Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).
Seaman Dallin Gurr is a gas
turbine systems technician (mechanical) aboard USS Lake Erie, currently
operating out of San Diego.
A Navy gas turbine systems
technician (mechanical) is responsible for the
repair, maintenance, and safe operation of the ship’s gas turbines engines.
Gurr applies the lessons he
learned from West Jordan to his work in the Navy.
“If you start a task you
should finish it, see it through to the very end,” said Gurr.
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 the
time out to sea and working together with other nation's militaries,” said
Gurr.
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 realizing whatever challenge arises I
can overcome it through my expertise and training,” said Gurr.
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,
Gurr and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond
their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving in the Navy to me means protecting the freedoms of
America through my service at sea and ensuring everyone back home is safe,”
said Gurr.