Third Fleet reserve Sailors key to RIMPAC success

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HI, UNITED STATES

07.31.2014

Courtesy Story

Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet           

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Sorensen, Navy Public Affairs Support Element Midwest/RIMPAC Combined Information Bureau

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii – Since Sept. 11, 2001, the role of the United States Navy Reserve has changed. Operational support has increased to the point where the Active Component (AC) of the Navy relies heavily on Reservists. This has been especially evident at Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2014, taking place from June 26 to Aug. 1 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and in Southern California.

RIMPAC is the largest maritime exercise in the world, scheduled by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet and conducted by Commander, U.S. Third Fleet (C3F).

Approximately 330 Reservists assigned to Third Fleet are involved with every aspect of RIMPAC. These RC sailors are directly involved in 2,200 maritime and nearly 4,000 air events. Rear Adm. John Jolliffe, Deputy C3F, is the Exercise Control Director.

"We couldn't do RIMPAC or any other exercise in our Navy without the support of the Reserve Component, period, end of story," Jolliffe said. "The Reserve Component has global exercise expertise because the same sailors repeat these same exercises many times."

Longevity of service is invaluable to the success of RIMPAC. For some Reservists, RIMPAC 2014 marks their sixth time in 12 years being involved in the exercise. Because AC Sailors change duty stations every four years, many of them are participating in RIMPAC for the first time.

Whether it's the air component or the maritime component, Navy Reservists are there, "providing the resident expertise to allow the active component operational commanders the ability to run the exercise," Jolliffe said.

RIMPAC, a biannual maritime exercise, has been hosted by the United States in and around the Hawaiian Islands since 1971. The exercise has grown from three nations at its inception to the current 22, including for the first time, Brunei and the People’s Republic of China.

"It’s important that the Reserve Component maintain its operational level of warfare posture and we don't allow ourselves to be placed back into a strategic reserve force as we were prior to 9-11," Jolliffe said.

Twenty-two nations, 49 ships, six submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC. The exercise provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security of the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2014 is the 24th exercise in the series.

• Date Taken: 07.31.2014
• Date Posted: 08.02.2014 03:08
• Story ID: 138071
• Location: JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HI, US