Photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Gary Ward
PEARL HARBOR – A 1998 Milpitas High School graduate and Rancho Cordova, California, 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 2nd Class Tom Tonthat is a mass communication specialist aboard USS Carl Vinson, currently operating out of San Diego.A Navy mass communication specialist is responsible for telling the Navy's story through photojournalism, writing and other mediums while highlighting sailors' accomplishments and boosting moral.
Tonthat applies the lessons he learned from Rancho Cordova to his work in the Navy.
“I learned that hard work and leading by example are essential in being successful,” said Tonthat.
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 experiencing Hawaii as a sailor and enjoying the local attractions,” said Tonthat.
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.
“My greatest Navy accomplishments have been obtaining the rank of petty officer second class in such a short period of time and becoming surface and air warfare qualified,” said Tonthat.
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, Tonthat and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving in the Navy has allowed me a chance to provide for my family and made me more goal-oriented,” said Tonthat.
Additional information about RIMPAC is available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil