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Monongahela native takes part in largest maritime warfare exercise

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Luke Oberle learned plenty of important lessons growing up in Monongahela, Washington County, lessons he can now apply to his military career.

“I learned the importance of cleanliness growing up,” said Oberle. “Cleanliness is important in the Navy and maintaining a good work center is vital to the mission.”

It is crucial to Oberle’s mission abord the USS Lake Champlain: as a Navy gunner’s mate, Oberle is responsible for monitoring and regulating the temperature of the ship’s weapons magazines, in order to keep the weapons operational. Gunner’s mates also maintain the crew-served weapons mounts on the ship.

That will be a helpful skill as he takes part in the world’s largest maritime warfare exercise, known as the Rim of the Pacific, or RIMPAC.

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 will 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 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.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the different sites while here in Hawaii,” said Oberle. “It’s my third time here, and I try to see different parts of the island every time I come here.”

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.

This year will also feature live firing of a Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) from a U.S. Air Force aircraft, surface to ship missiles by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and a Naval Strike Missile (NSM) from a launcher on the back of a Palletized Load System (PLS) by the U.S. Army. This marks the first time a land based unit will participate in the live fire event during RIMPAC. RIMPAC 2018 will also include international band engagements and highlight fleet innovation during an Innovation Fair.

Twenty-six nations, 46 surface ships, five submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel will participate in the biennial RIMPAC Exercise. This year’s exercise includes forces from Australia, Brazil, 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.