Photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Gary Ward
PEARL HARBOR – A 2003 Albemarle High School graduate and Albmarle, North Carolina, native is serving in the U.S. Navy as part of the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).
Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Smith is a gas turbine systems technician (mechanical) aboard USS O'Kane, currently operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. A Navy gas turbine systems technician (mechanical) is responsible for the maintenance of the ship’s engines which are used for propulsion and electrical generation.
Smith applies the lessons he learned from Albmarle to his work in the Navy.
“Being accepting of different ideas, keeping an open mind and a hard work ethic are all important,” said Smith.
As the world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring safety at sea and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2018 is the 26th exercise in the series that began in 1971.
The theme of RIMPAC 2018 is Capable, Adaptive, Partners. The participating nations and forces 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, gunnery, missile, anti-submarine and air defense exercises, as well as amphibious, counter-piracy, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal and diving and salvage operations.
“I’m looking forward to the sporting events with the other countries and seeing how other militaries operate underway,” said Smith.
This is the first time Israel, Sri Lanka and Vietnam are participating in RIMPAC. Additional firsts include New Zealand serving as sea combat commander and Chile serving as combined force maritime component commander. This is the first time a non-founding RIMPAC nation (Chile) will hold a component commander leadership position.
“I’m most proud of seeing my junior sailors excel in their careers through promotion and recognition for their hard work,” said Smith.
Twenty-six nations, 46 surface ships, five submarines, and 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, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam.
As a member of the U.S. Navy, Smith and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“I take pride in serving my country and knowing I’m helping to make a difference all around the world,” said Smith.
Additional information about RIMPAC is available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil