PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - Airman Joseph Napert, a native of Waynesville, North Carolina, serves aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt, a U.S. Navy warship 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 1st Class Patricia Elkins, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Napert graduated from Tuscola High School in 2017 and joined the Navy one year ago.
“I joined the Navy to find greater stability, a stronger sense of purpose, and the opportunity to serve others through meaningful work,” Napert said.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Waynesville.
“Before joining the Navy, I spent eight years working in construction,” Napert said. “That experience taught me the value of hard work, discipline, accountability, and showing up every day, even when facing personal challenges.”
Today, Napert serves as an undesignated airman
As the world’s largest international maritime exercise, 31 nations, approximately 40 surface ships, five submarines, 14 national land forces, over 140 aircraft and more than 25,000 personnel will participate in RIMPAC 2026. 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 2026 marks the 30th exercise in a series that began in 1971.
The theme of RIMPAC 2026 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.
It is fitting that the world’s premier maritime exercise occurs as the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary. For 250 years, the United States has built relationships with international partners based on trust, cooperation, and shared values. RIMPAC is where that trust is put into practice, strengthening the people-to-people relationships that are the bedrock of all the nations’ collective security.
Napert plays an important role in the exercise.
“RIMPAC has been a unique experience,” Napert said. “As a member of the standby crew, I stand watches, support shipboard operations, and assist with public tours.”
Napert 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 putting service before self and carrying out my responsibilities for the right reasons,” Napert said. “I strive to uphold the traditions, standards, and values of the Navy.”
Napert is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my parents, Jennifer Cooke and David Napert, as well as Chris, Laura, and Brent Turner, for their unwavering support and guidance before I joined the Navy,” Napert said. “ I am currently in my senior year pursuing a bachelor's degree in parks and recreation. I have earned my designation as a Seabee and am looking forward to receiving my orders.”
Hosted by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, RIMPAC 2026 will be led by Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, Rear Adm. Richard Meyer, who will serve as Combined Task Force (CTF) commander. Chile will fill the role of deputy commander of the CTF, and Japan will fill the role of vice commander. The Republic of Korea will command the maritime component, and Canada 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 2026 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/