By
Navy Office of Community Outreach
PEARL HARBOR – A 2008 South River High School graduate and
Crofton, Maryland 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 2nd Class James Halfer is an electronics technician
aboard USS America, currently operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
A Navy electronics technician is
responsible
for electronic equipment used to send and receive messages, computer
information systems, long range radar, and calibration of test equipment. They
maintain, repair, calibrate, tune and adjust electronic equipment used for
communications, detection and tracking, recognition and identification and
navigation.
“I am the ship’s satellite
communications subject matter expert,” said Halfer. “I inform my superiors on the mechanical and
electrical readiness, and they let me know about the updates we need. I enjoy fixing things and the commander relies
on me to keep the internet working.”
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.
“I’ve been particularly excited about this opportunity. We’ve just come out of a lengthy period of maintenance,” said Capt. Michael W. Baze, Commanding Officer of USS America. “Our sailors knew this was coming and that it is a unique experience to exercise our abilities while building our connections with allies. RIMPAC gives us the opportunity to strengthen our bond with these navies in addition to sending a message to the world about our collective strength. Our crew is mostly under the age of 30 and something like this offers a tremendous opportunity for them.”
“It’s important to me to be serving aboard the ship that
bears this country's name,” said Halfer. “We went around South America visiting
Cuba, Columbia, Peru and Chile. You
wouldn’t get that opportunity on any other ship. I got my photo taken at Christ
the Redeemer Statue in Brazil.”
Challenging living conditions build strong fellowship among
the crew, Halfer explained. The crew is highly motivated, and quickly adapt to
changing conditions. It is a busy life of specialized work, watches, and drills.
“I come from a family with military careers,” said Halfer. “My father and both cousins joined the Navy.
My brother joined the Marine Corps. It's the family business at this point. I'm
proud to have the chance to serve.”
Additional information about Rim of the Pacific Exercise is
available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil/rimpac/