PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - Airman Jhalon Finley, a native of Nashville, Arkansas, serves aboard USS Carl Vinson, a U.S. Navy warship operating out of San Diego, California, and participating in the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in and around the Hawaiian Islands.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Isaiah Williams |
Finley graduated from Nashville High School in 2018.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Nashville.
“My hometown taught me that, regardless of the situation, it's important to remain true to yourself,” said Finley.
Finley joined the Navy one year ago. Today, Finley serves as an aviation support equipment technician.
“I joined the Navy to position myself better for my future,” said Finley.
As the world’s largest international maritime exercise, approximately 29 nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, over 150 aircraft and more than 25,000 personnel will participate in RIMPAC 2024. This exercise 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 2024 marks the 29th exercise in a series that began in 1971.
The theme of RIMPAC 2024 is “Partners: Integrated and Prepared.” 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.
Finley plays an important role in the exercise.
“During RIMPAC, my role involves supporting aviation equipment squadrons, maintaining gear, and ensuring it meets operational standards,” said Finley. "It's great that we're all together, practicing the skills we use out here."
Finley serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation's prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy means living the life I want and enjoying freedoms that some countries do not have,” said Finley. "Service also allows me to contribute to global peacekeeping efforts."
Finley is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my recruiter for getting me started and helping me during my first couple of months here. I would also like to thank my family and friends, who support every decision I make, whether good or bad,” added Finley. "I would especially like to thank my mom and dad; they are my number one supporters. They are always there for anything I need."
Hosted by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, RIMPAC 2024 will be led by Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, Vice Adm. John Wade, who will serve as Combined Task Force (CTF) commander. For the first time in RIMPAC history, a member of the Chilean Navy, Commodore Alberto Guerrero, will serve as deputy commander of the CTF. Rear Adm. Kazushi Yokota of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will serve as vice commander. Other key leaders of the multinational force will include Commodore Kristjan Monaghan of Canada, who will command the maritime component, and Air Commodore Louise Desjardins of Australia, who will command the air component.
During RIMPAC, a network of capable, adaptive partners train and operate together in order to strengthen their collective forces and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. RIMPAC 2024 contributes to the increased interoperability, resiliency and agility needed by the Joint and Combined Force to deter and defeat aggression by major powers across all domains and levels of conflict.More information about RIMPAC is available here: https://www.cpf.navy.mil/RIMPAC/