By Navy Office of
Community Outreach
PEARL
HARBOR – A 2011 Mt. Tahoma High School graduate and Tacoma, Washington 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).
Airman
Welyn-Nichole Coppock is an aviation boatswain's mate aboard USS San Diego,
currently operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
A Navy aviation boatswain's mate is responsible for the distribution
of aircraft fuels including quality assurance and testing for the correct
additives.
“I’ve
been temporarily assigned to the ship and my permanent station is here at Pearl
Harbor,” said Coppock. “Pulling into
Hawaii for this time in advance of RIMPAC is a blessing. I can get back to my permanent
command and see the rest of my friends in that division.”
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.”
“I'm
working on getting my ‘Chock and Chain’ qualifications, Landing Signalman
Enlisted qualifications, and maintenance qualifications for my own rating,”
said Coppock. “I want to know this ship
inside and out.”
Challenging
living conditions build strong fellowship among the crew, Coppock 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 feel more secure and more confident when I'm talking to
people,” said Coppock.
Additional
information about Rim of the Pacific Exercise is available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil/rimpac/