PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - Airman Nicholas Quam, a native of St. Jacob, Illinois, 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 |
Quam graduated from Triad High School in 2022.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in St. Jacob.
“My hometown taught me to treat everyone with respect,” said Quam. "In a small town where everyone knows each other, trust and respect are essential. If you need help, everyone is there for you, but you also have to be respectful in return."
Quam joined the Navy two years ago. Today, Quam serves as an aviation ordnanceman.
“I joined the Navy to carry on a family tradition,” said Quam. "I'm a fourth-generation service member, my great-grandfather was a Navy officer during World War II, my grandfather served in Vietnam, and my dad was enlisted during the Gulf War."
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.
Quam plays an important role in the exercise.
“My role during RIMPAC involves taking care of aviation ammunition, ensuring everything is safe and well-maintained,” said Quam. "RIMPAC brings together different militaries to strengthen our relations with each country and reinforce our alliances."
Quam 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 allows me to protect my country and family,” said Quam. "Service also allows me to travel the world. I've always wanted to travel since I was little because I love the cultures and histories of different countries."
Quam is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my mom and dad. My dad taught me a lot about the Navy and helped me prepare for boot camp with tips and tricks. My mom has been supportive of what I am doing, no matter what.,” added Quam. "They are proud of me unconditionally and I am very grateful for them."
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 St. Jacob.
“My hometown taught me to treat everyone with respect,” said Quam. "In a small town where everyone knows each other, trust and respect are essential. If you need help, everyone is there for you, but you also have to be respectful in return."
Quam joined the Navy two years ago. Today, Quam serves as an aviation ordnanceman.
“I joined the Navy to carry on a family tradition,” said Quam. "I'm a fourth-generation service member, my great-grandfather was a Navy officer during World War II, my grandfather served in Vietnam, and my dad was enlisted during the Gulf War."
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.
Quam plays an important role in the exercise.
“My role during RIMPAC involves taking care of aviation ammunition, ensuring everything is safe and well-maintained,” said Quam. "RIMPAC brings together different militaries to strengthen our relations with each country and reinforce our alliances."
Quam 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 allows me to protect my country and family,” said Quam. "Service also allows me to travel the world. I've always wanted to travel since I was little because I love the cultures and histories of different countries."
Quam is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my mom and dad. My dad taught me a lot about the Navy and helped me prepare for boot camp with tips and tricks. My mom has been supportive of what I am doing, no matter what.,” added Quam. "They are proud of me unconditionally and I am very grateful for them."
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/