FACES OF RIMPAC [Image 2 of 2]

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HI, UNITED STATES

07.08.2016

Photo by Canadian Forces Sgt Marc-Andre Gaudreault 

Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet           

Royal Canadian Air Force Major Darla Oja has served for 24 years, and currently is the Logistics Officer for Canada at Rim of the Pacific.

Oja, from Leoville, Saskatchewan, said she joined the Royal Canadian Air Force because she wanted to seek adventure beyond the boundaries of a small northern community.

"Being in the military has allowed me to travel across Canada, and the United States and to be employed overseas on a European Union Forces (EUFOR) tour, as part of Operation Althea. I have seen a lot of places and have met a lot of interesting people. This is the best career in the world.  Why am I still in?  Because I love it."

"Out of a handful of Reservists being employed at RIMPAC, I am enthusiastic to use the skills I have developed as Logistics Officer on an international exercise. It is pretty exhilarating to take people representing different elements of the Canadian Armed Forces, and bring them together as a cohesive team in order to provide an up-to-date Human Resources operational picture to the Commander."

Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 30 to Aug. 4, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC 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 on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (Royal Canadian Army Photo By MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault/RELEASED)

• Date Taken: 07.08.2016
• Date Posted: 07.11.2016 23:27
• Photo ID: 2715847
• VIRIN: 160708-O-XH256-008
• Resolution: 2352x3534
• Size: 2.16 MB
• Location: JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HI, US