By
Navy Office of Community Outreach
PEARL HARBOR – A 2010 Rex Putnam High School graduate and
Portland, Oregon 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 Evan Hargitt is a boatswain's mate aboard USS San
Diego, currently operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
A Navy boatswain's mate is responsible for mooring and
anchoring the ship as well as all of the amphibious operations aboard.
“I'm looking forward to going out and doing everything with
all of the other nations,” said Hargitt.
“This is going to be a great team building opportunity with our allies.”
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.”
“We are the only ship in the entire Navy that is stationed
in the city for which the ship is named and there is a lot of pride for the
ship in the city,” said Hargitt. “Anytime
someone hears I'm stationed aboard San Diego they are very enthusiastic.”
Challenging living conditions build strong fellowship among
the crew, Hargitt explained. The crew is highly motivated, and quickly adapt to
changing conditions. It is a busy life of specialized work, watches, and
drills.
“I've learned how to become a leader and how to mentor some
of the younger guys,” said Hargitt. “I
came in a little bit older and that extra maturity has helped me in mentoring
the new sailors that arrive.”
Additional information about Rim of the Pacific Exercise is
available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil/rimpac/