Photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Gary Ward
PEARL HARBOR – A 2017 Independence High School graduate and Columbus, Ohio, native is serving in the U.S. Navy as part of the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).
Fireman Recruit Jeremy Brace is a machinery repairman aboard USS Carl Vinson, currently operating out of San Diego.A Navy machinery repairman is responsible for repairing and creating various parts and tools that are used on the ship.
Brace applies the lessons learned from Columbus to working in the Navy.
“Growing up, I learned how to focus on work and to handle my business, which has helped me in the Navy,” said Brace.
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 meeting people from all the different countries during this exercise,” said Brace.
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 proud of graduating machinery repairman 'A' School, it was a tough school with a high attrition rate,” said Brace.
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, Brace and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“The Navy has shown me that I like making things,” said Brace. "It's satisfying to know I can make something for the ship that's going to last for a while. Serving in the Navy gives me pride and confidence in myself. I’m proud to tell people that I serve in the Navy.”
Additional information about RIMPAC is available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil