By Navy Office of
Community Outreach
PEARL
HARBOR – A 2013 Frederick
High School
graduate and Dacono, Colorado 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 Othon Romero is an engineman aboard USS America, currently operating
out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
A Navy engineman
is responsible for
diesel engine maintenance and the propulsion system aboard the ship.
“I
like the hands-on experience and knowing there is always something to do,” said Romero. “I
know so much more about the engines. The hands-on experience is invaluable.”
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.”
“I like the people I work with,” said
Romero. “I am always getting to know new
people, cultures and experience levels.”
Challenging
living conditions build strong fellowship among the crew, Romero explained. The crew is highly motivated, and quickly adapt
to changing conditions. It is a busy life of specialized work, watches and
drills.
“The travel is the most important piece,
but the knowledge comes in second,”
said Romero.
Additional
information about Rim of the Pacific Exercise is available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil/rimpac/