Morgan Hill Native Participates in World’s Largest International Maritime Warfare Exercise

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Photo Credit: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Theodore Quintana


Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class David Wyscaver
Navy Office of Community Outreach

PEARL HARBOR – A 2013 Ann Sobrato High School graduate and Morgan Hill, California native is serving in the U.S. Navy as part of the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).

Petty Officer 2nd Class Sean Anderson is a fire controlman (aegis) aboard USS Lake Erie, currently operating out of San Diego.

A Navy fire controlman (aegis) is responsible for self-defense of the ship through the safe operation of the radar and missile systems.

Anderson applies the lessons he learned from Morgan Hill to his work in the Navy.

“Punctuality is a big key in being successful, especially in the Navy,” said Anderson.

As the world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC 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 2018 is the 26th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

The theme of RIMPAC 2018 is “Capable, Adaptive, Partners,” according to Navy officials. 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.

“The sporting events have been fun,” said Anderson. “My shipmates and I competed in the tennis doubles event and defeated a team of sailors from South Korea, which was really cool.”

This is the first time Israel, Sri Lanka and Vietnam are participating in RIMPAC. Additional firsts include New Zealand serving as sea combat commander and Chile serving as combined force maritime component commander. This is the first time a non-founding RIMPAC nation (Chile) will hold a component commander leadership position.

“I’m most proud of obtaining the rank of petty officer second class and earning my surface warfare qualification pinwhile on my first deployment,” said Anderson.

Twenty-six nations, 46 surface ships, five submarines, and more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel will participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific Exercise. This year’s exercise includes forces from Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam.

As a member of the U.S. Navy, Anderson and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.

“Serving in the Navy means to put others first and sacrificing your time and other freedoms to protect others,” said Anderson.

Additional information about RIMPAC is available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil.

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