North Bend native participates in world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise
Published 10:30 am Sunday, August 21, 2016
A 2014 Duke High School graduate and North Bend native, Zac Pearlstein, is serving in the U.S. Navy and participating in the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise, the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC).
Ensign Pearlstein is the first lieutenant aboard USS Shoup, operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
“I’m looking forward to operating with other navies, and I’m looking forward to swapping ship paraphernalia with the foreign sailors during RIMPAC,” said Pearlstein. “We’ll have the opportunity to tour some of the foreign ships.”
A Navy first lieutenant is responsible for supervising the division of sailors responsible for top side preservation and shipboard evolutions including small boat operations and underway replenishment.
According to Navy officials, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971.
The theme of RIMPAC 2016 is “Capable, Adaptive, Partners.” The participating nations and forces will exercise a wide range of capabilities, from disaster relief and maritime security operations to sea control and complex warfighting, and demonstrate the inherent flexibility of maritime forces. The training program includes amphibious operations, gunnery, missile, anti-submarine and air defense exercises, as well as counter-piracy, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal and diving and salvage operations.
More than 200 aircraft, 45 surface ships, and five submarines will be used in the exercise, involving 25,000 personnel from 26 nations. This year’s exercise includes forces from Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, People’s Republic of China, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom and the United States.
“This is my first ship and I really like the crew and the size of the ship,” said Pearlstein. “Everyone is very well committed and dedicated to the mission. We make sure everyone is taken care of and there is a good work and life balance on board.”
Challenging living conditions build strong fellowship among the crew, Pearlstein explained. The crew is highly motivated, and quickly adapt to changing conditions.
“I’m learning that there is a lot to learn from other people,” said Pearlstein. “There is also a wealth of technical knowledge to gain in the Navy. I have greater respect for people around me and their expertise and dedication to what they do.”
For more information about the Rim of the Pacific Exercise, visit http://www.cpf.navy.mil/rimpac.
