By Navy Office of
Community Outreach
PEARL
HARBOR – A 2011 South
High School
graduate and Pueblo, 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 3rd Class Sheena Olson is an electronics technician aboard USS America, currently
operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
A Navy electronics technician is responsible for working
with cargo elevators, flight deck lighting, anchor windlass and the aft
steering aboard the ship.
“I work in an engineering rate that will
benefit me in the future,” said Olson.
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.”
“It's an honor to be a plank owner,”
said Olson referring to her status as part of the America’s first crew. “I did the South America tour then we brought
the ship home for commissioning.”
Challenging
living conditions build strong fellowship among the crew, Olson explained. The crew is highly motivated, and quickly adapt
to changing conditions. It is a busy life of specialized work, watches, and
drills.
“The
biggest part is being
able to travel and get a college degree while doing it,” said Olson. “In three years, I've been to six countries and
eight states. I still have a world tour to come.”
Additional
information about Rim of the Pacific Exercise is available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil/rimpac/