Photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Gary Ward
PEARL HARBOR – A 2014 Theodore Roosevelt High School graduate and San Antonio 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 Dakota Crosby is a culinary specialist aboard USS Carl Vinson, currently operating out of San Diego.A Navy culinary specialist is responsible for operating and managing Navy messes and living quarters established to subsist and accommodate Navy personnel.
Crosby applies the lessons learned from San Antonio to working in the Navy.
“Both of my parents were in the Army and served for twenty years,” said Crosby. "They instilled in me the discipline and military manners at a young age that I apply to my Navy career today.”
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.
“Im looking forward to seeing Hawaii and doing things that I don't usually do,” said Crosby. “I'm also hoping to gain my Enlisted Surface Warfare qualification pin while on RIMPAC.”
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 really proud of receiving a Bravo Zulu from my department for great customer service and hard work,” said Crosby.
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, Crosby and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“Being in the Navy l have learned how to grow thick skin and tolerate what comes my way especiallly working past the clock and being flexible,” said Crosby. “Serving in the Navy means that I am doing something beyond myself.”
Additional information about RIMPAC is available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil