By Navy Office of Community Outreach
PEARL HARBOR – A
1989 Parkway Central High School graduate and St. Louis 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).
Command Master
Chief Maria Strader is serving aboard USS Shoup, currently
operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
A Navy command master chief is the senior most enlisted sailor aboard the ship and is responsible for
the health and welfare of every sailor aboard. She reports directly to the ship’s captain.
“I've never done
RIMPAC before," said Strader. "This is my first time underway
in the Pacific and I'm looking forward to seeing my sailors out there demonstrating
their capabilities. It is an incredible
opportunity to be out here operating with all these other countries. For a lot of my sailors this is their first opportunity
to observe so many nations operating alongside us."
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.”
“I like the camaraderie
of the crew and the pride they take in being sailors," said Strader. "The ownership that they take of our ship is
incredible. It is really the foundation
for everything else. When you have pride
in something, you take care of it."
Challenging
living conditions build strong fellowship among the crew, Strader explained.
The crew is highly motivated, and quickly adapt to changing conditions. It is a
busy life of specialized work, watches, and drills.
“I think the
most important thing I've learned about myself is that I love seeing sailors
succeed and being part of creating the opportunity for them to succeed," said Strader. "Whether it is training, being an instructor or
mentoring, when they succeed, we all succeed."
Additional
information about Rim of the Pacific Exercise is available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil/rimpac/