By
Navy Office of Community Outreach
PEARL HARBOR – A 2011 Crossland High School graduate and
Fort Washington, 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).
Seaman Danielle Thomas is a personnel specialist aboard USS
San Diego, currently operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
A Navy personnel specialist is responsible for the
processing of all paperwork for the over 400 sailors on board including
information for their transfers, retirements, awards and more.
“I'm enjoying Hawaii and the beaches and sun,” said Thomas. “I'm looking forward to meeting new people. I've already had a chance to meet some sailors from New Zealand and the embarked Canadians.”
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 like the people on board the USS San Diego,” said Thomas.
Challenging living conditions build strong fellowship among
the crew, Thomas 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've learned that I'm a pretty good leader,” said Thomas.
Additional information about Rim of the Pacific Exercise is
available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil/rimpac/