By Navy Office of
Community Outreach
PEARL
HARBOR – A 1999 Fraser High School graduate and Fraser, Michigan 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 Eric Chavez is a boatswain's mate aboard USS Shoup, currently
operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
"I'm excited to meet sailors from other ships, network and get to know their fleet community during RIMPAC,”
said Chavez.
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.
“Shoup sailors are taking part in RIMPAC 2016 and the missions they will be planning and executing are nothing short of awesome," said Cmdr. Jason E. Rogers, commanding officer of USS Shoup. "As captain, USS Shoup and the warfighting functions it is responsible for represent my domain. Fortunately, I am blessed with the talent and warrior spirit of 300 plus sailors who strive to exercise professional mastery and control over each and every one of those domains. Our sailors constantly challenge themselves and each other to know and do more.”
“The
crew is very close," said Chavez. "We get along very well. Boatswain’s mates are part of almost
all evolutions."
Challenging
living conditions build strong fellowship among the crew, Chavez explained. The
crew is highly motivated, and quickly adapt to changing conditions. It is a
busy life of specialized work, watches, and drills, but supportive of the sailors and their families.
“This
ship got me home for the birth of my son," said Chavez. "I was there three hours before he was
born."
Additional
information about Rim of the Pacific Exercise is available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil/rimpac/