20 July 2016 - Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam- Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft, and 25,000 personnel are currently in Hawaii since June 30 to participate in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), the world’s largest maritime exercise which will run until August 04. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series done every two years that started in 1971. The maritime exercise aims to foster collaboration and promotes interoperability among maritime states to ensure the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans.
Admiral Scott Swift, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet of the Pacific Command is hosting the RIMPAC while Vice-Admiral Nora Tyson, Commander of the U.S. Third Fleet based in San Diego, California, is leading the RIMPAC exercise as the Combined Task Force Commander. During the opening press conference held at Pearl Harbor last July 05, Admiral Scott Swift said that RIMPAC has three core elements namely, “inclusivity, continuity and place.” He added that “it is fitting that the world’s largest maritime exercise is centered on the world’s largest and most important ocean” and “protecting and navigating these shared interests increasingly rests on the hulls of our ships, the wings of our aircraft, and on the backs of every mariner represented here at RIMPAC.”
US Pacific Command (PACOM) and naval commanders and consular heads of RIMPAC participant countries hosted welcome receptions on board their ships. Philippine Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin attended the opening reception hosted by the U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Swift aboard USS Battleship Missouri on Ford Island on June 30; National Day reception hosted by Canada on board its ship on July 01, “Calgary;” reception hosted by Japan on board its ship on July 02, “Hyuga;” reception hosted by Australia on board its ship on July 03, “Canberra;” reception hosted by New Zealand on board its ship on July 06, “HMNZ Te Kaha;” and reception hosted by South Korea on July 07 on board its ships, “Roks Sejong The Great and Kang Gam Chan.” Rear Admiral John Fuller, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii, also hosted a Fourth of July Independence Day luncheon at his official residence for all RIMPAC officers, Hawaii State officials and members of the consular corps. END
