By
Navy Office of Community Outreach
PEARL HARBOR – A 2010 Oakland graduate and Chester, West Virginia
native is serving in the U.S. Navy and is participating in the world’s largest
international maritime warfare exercise, the Rim of the Pacific Exercise
(RIMPAC).
Petty Officer 3rd Class Franklin Shepherd is an aviation
boatswain's mate aboard USS San Diego, currently operating out of Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii.
A Navy aviation boatswain's mate is responsible for aircraft
operations and handling aboard the ship.
“I'm looking forward to eating really good food while here
in Hawaii and hiking,” said Shepherd. “I've
had the opportunity for one hike so far and it kind of reminded me of West
Virginia.”
According to Navy officials, RIMPAC provides a unique
training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain cooperative
relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and
security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series
that began in 1971.
The theme of RIMPAC 2016 is "Capable, Adaptive,
Partners," Navy officials explained. 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.
The Department of the Navy's Great Green Fleet yearlong
initiative will also play a major role in RIMPAC. The initiative highlights
global operations using energy conservation measures and alternative fuel
blends to demonstrate how optimizing energy use increases resiliency and operational
readiness. During RIMPAC, almost all participating units will operate using an
approved alternate-fuel blend.
26 nations, 45 surface ships, 5 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, Brunei,
Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy,
Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, People's Republic of
China, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom and the United States.
“This is a great opportunity for us to come together as a team within the ship doing the mission the nation expects us to be able to accomplish,” said Capt. Carl Meuser, commanding officer aboard USS San Diego. “I enjoy leading young sailors and watching them develop, and not just as sailors, but as young men and women. RIMPAC has tremendous resources to support all of the platforms involved. Cruisers and destroyers will be shooting weapons, the air wing has evolutions going on and the Marines are out with us conducting amphibious operations.”
“I really appreciate my chain of command,” said Shepherd. “They have great communication skills and have
a squared away mindset.”
Challenging living conditions build strong fellowship among
the crew, Shepherd explained. The crew is highly motivated, and quickly adapt
to changing conditions. It is a busy life of specialized work, watches, and
drills.
“Since joining the Navy, I have learned that I'm capable of more than I thought I was,” said Shepherd.
Additional information about Rim of the Pacific Exercise is
available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil/rimpac/