PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - Airman Kacie Najera, a native of Ontaria, California, 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 |
Najera graduated from Chaffey High School in 2018.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Ontaria.
“My hometown provided valuable insights and instilled in me a deep appreciation for community service, which is integral to my role in the US Navy,” said Najera. "My hometown taught me the importance of discretion, learning the hard way through experience."
Najera joined the Navy three years ago. Today, Najera serves as an aviation support equipment technician.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to be the first one in my family to be in the service,” said Najera.
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.
Najera plays an important role in the exercise.
“During this exercise, my role involves operating the hangar bay support equipment,” said Najera. "RIMPAC in Hawaii offers beautiful ocean views, and it's fascinating to witness countries from around the world come together for a shared mission."
Najera 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 I have resources that help support my family,” said Najera. "The support I can provide to my family, friends, and fellow sailors gives my service a meaningful sense of purpose."
Najera is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to express my gratitude to Aviation Support Equipment Technician 2nd Class Shaw, my mentor. She consistently guided me in the right direction, pushed me forward when I doubted myself, and steadfastly believed in my potential,” added Najera. "I would also like to thank my partner of eight years, Gabriela Tranquilo. While I'm away, she manages our home and cares for our six-year-old daughter. I wouldn't be who I am without her."
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/
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Ontaria.
“My hometown provided valuable insights and instilled in me a deep appreciation for community service, which is integral to my role in the US Navy,” said Najera. "My hometown taught me the importance of discretion, learning the hard way through experience."
Najera joined the Navy three years ago. Today, Najera serves as an aviation support equipment technician.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to be the first one in my family to be in the service,” said Najera.
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.
Najera plays an important role in the exercise.
“During this exercise, my role involves operating the hangar bay support equipment,” said Najera. "RIMPAC in Hawaii offers beautiful ocean views, and it's fascinating to witness countries from around the world come together for a shared mission."
Najera 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 I have resources that help support my family,” said Najera. "The support I can provide to my family, friends, and fellow sailors gives my service a meaningful sense of purpose."
Najera is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to express my gratitude to Aviation Support Equipment Technician 2nd Class Shaw, my mentor. She consistently guided me in the right direction, pushed me forward when I doubted myself, and steadfastly believed in my potential,” added Najera. "I would also like to thank my partner of eight years, Gabriela Tranquilo. While I'm away, she manages our home and cares for our six-year-old daughter. I wouldn't be who I am without her."
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/