By Navy Office
of Community Outreach
PEARL HARBOR – A 2014 Aldine Senior High
School graduate and Houston 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 Bryant Benavidez is a boatswain's
mate aboard USS Chung-Hoon, currently operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
A Navy boatswain's
mate is responsible for major evolutions aboard the ship including underway
replenishments, anchoring, and mooring and small boat operations. The boatswain’s mates also drive the ship at
the helm.
“It’s all about the exercises,” said
Benavidez. “RIMPAC can teach me how to work with other countries. I look forward
to meeting people from around the world.”
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.
“RIMPAC demonstrates the value of capable maritime partners,” said Cmdr. Tom Ogden, commanding officer of USS Chung-Hoon. “It’s an honor for our sailors to participate in this unmatched exercise. Our crew looks forward to building relationships and interoperability with our partner nations.”
“What matters to me are the friendships
that can be made aboard this ship,” said Benavidez. “The
community is wide and there are endless opportunities.”
Challenging living conditions build
strong fellowship among the crew, Benavidez 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'm more patient
and appreciate the little things like, flexibility with watches and off duty
time,” said Benavidez.
Additional information about Rim of the
Pacific Exercise is available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil/rimpac/