Photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Gary Ward
PEARL HARBOR – A 2015 Horizon High School graduate and Louisville, Colorado, native is serving in the U.S. Navy as part of the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).
Airman Amber Templin is an aviation machinist's mate attached to Strike Fighter Squadron192, The Golden Dragons, currently operating out of Lemoore, California.A Navy aviation machinist's mate is responsible for repairing and maintaining jet engines.
Templin applies the lessons she learned from Louisville to her work in the Navy.
“I learned to be early to everything,” said Templin. “It helps that I am never late and keeps me out of trouble.”
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.
“This is my first time in Hawaii,” said Templin. “I am looking forward to the new experiences.”
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 graduate from boot camp,” said Templin. “It was something I didn't think I would be able to do.”
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, Templin and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“I have learned that I like to get things done,” said Templin. “I will work until the job is done. I have gained a strong work ethic since joining the Navy.”
Additional information about RIMPAC is available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil