Photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Gary Ward
PEARL HARBOR – A 2017 Del Valley High School graduate and El Paso, Texas, native is serving in the U.S. Navy as part of the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).
Seaman Apprentice Chrystal McClelon is a logistics specialist aboard USS Carl Vinson, currently operating out of San Diego. Logistics specialists will order, receive, inspect, stow, preserve, package, ship, and issue materials and cargo. They also supervise, organize, and establish or disestablish Navy post offices.
McClelon applies the lessons she learned from El Paso to her work in the Navy.
“Nobody is going to hand you anything,” said McClelon. “Life isn't easy but it is your responsibility to get out and get what you want out of life.”
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 want to gain life experiences and adventures while here,” said McClelon. “A lot of my friends are surprised when they learn I made history by going to Vietnam. It is pretty cool to get to be a part of that.”
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 am proud to have made it in the Navy,” said McClelon. “Boot camp was not easy. I am the first in my family to serve.”
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, McClelon and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“I learned I am a lot stronger than I thought I was,” said McClelon. “I am a better leader. I have my own little shop that I run as a seaman apprentice, this is my biggest achievement.”
Additional information about RIMPAC is available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil