PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - Airman Recruit Benjamin Rivas, a native of Pensacola, Florida, 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 3rd Class Marissa Johnson |
Rivas graduated from West Florida High School of Advanced Technology in 2023.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Pensacola.
“My hometown taught me how to be respectful and stay honest,” said Rivas. "Through life experiences and interacting with local people, I've learned that staying honest makes it easier to help others."
Rivas joined the Navy one year ago. Today, Rivas serves as an aviation support equipment technician.
“I joined the Navy to find a stable job with decent pay,” said Rivas. "I also wanted to follow a family tradition. My father was Commander Gerald Rivas. I remember my uncle was a part of the Vinson as Captain William Rience."
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.
Rivas plays an important role in the exercise.
“My role during RIMPAC involves working on flight support equipment for our jets,” said Rivas. "RIMPAC is a great experience, especially for someone newer to the navy, it allows me to get exposure to my job and interaction with people from other countries."
Rivas 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 helps me develop skills that will contribute to a better future,” said Rivas. "It has deepened my respect for people and allowed me to gain experience with different cultures."
Rivas is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my recruiter, Chief Castro, who guided me through my initial steps in joining the military, preparing me and providing valuable advice and pointers,” said Rivas. "I would also like to thank my father, Gerald, who encouraged me and provided the final push for me to join the Navy. I'm very grateful for his encouragement."
Rivas offered words of advice for those considering joining the military.
“For those considering taking the leap, if you're unsure, go for it,” added Rivas."The worst thing that could come from it is gaining more life experience."
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/