Military chaplains strengthen multinational partnerships during RIMPAC 2026

Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel Lopez | International Military Chaplains pose for a photo during a meeting on Ford Island, Hawaii, during Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2026, July 9, 2026. Thirty nations, over 30 surface ships, five submarines, 15 national land forces, more than 206 aircraft and 30,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC in and around the Hawaiian Islands, June 24 to July 31. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2026 is the 30th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Third Class Daniel Lopez)  

PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, UNITED STATES

07.13.2026

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Savion Concepcion 

Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet           

Military chaplains from allied and partner nations strengthened professional relationships and exchanged best practices during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026, supporting future multinational operations.

While RIMPAC is best known for maritime and amphibious training, chaplains play a different but equally important role by providing spiritual and religious care, ethical guidance and personal support to service members throughout the exercise.

According to Royal Canadian Navy Chaplain Cmdr. Michael Macintyre, six Canadian chaplains are participating across multiple components of RIMPAC, including Commander, Combined Task Force, Combined Force Maritime Component Command and Combined Force Air Component Command, including two chaplains deployed aboard ships at sea.

Macintyre said chaplains from Canada, the United States, Australia, Mexico and the Republic of Korea have participated in coalition-building activities, humanitarian assistance and disaster response site visits, and discussions aboard USS Essex (LHD 2) and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) focused on the challenges of providing ministry in deployed maritime environments. Beyond exchanging experiences, the engagements focused on preparing chaplains to better support coalition forces during future operations.

One of the highlights of the engagement was an international chaplain symposium that brought together chaplains representing seven nations. During the symposium, Col. Lisa Pacarynuk, chaplain general of the Canadian Armed Forces, delivered the keynote address, discussing the human dimension of care on future battlefields. Pacarynuk emphasized that while warfare continues to evolve through emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and drone warfare, the need to care for the human dimension of war will remain unchanged.

According to Macintyre, the symposium reflected the broader purpose of the chaplains' engagement throughout RIMPAC, providing an opportunity to exchange experiences and strengthen the relationships that support coalition operations.

"Participation enhances interoperability by allowing chaplains to share best practices in spiritual and religious support, humanitarian assistance, casualty response, moral injury care and advising commanders in a pluralistic environment," Macintyre said.

Macintyre said those professional relationships improve coalition forces' ability to care for personnel during future operations while reinforcing Canada's commitment to the moral, spiritual and human dimensions of military readiness.

Thirty nations, 30 ships, five submarines, 15 national land forces, more than 190 aircraft and more than 30,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC in and around the Hawaiian Islands, June 24 to July 31. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2026 is the 30th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

• Date Taken: 07.13.2026
• Date Posted: 07.15.2026 15:50
• Story ID: 569867
• Location: PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, US