MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- U.S. Marines and Sailors assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, or MEU, welcome service members with Task Force Mexico and Canada during Rim of the Pacific, or RIMPAC, exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, June 27, 2018.
The Marines and partner forces gathered to review range safety procedures to ensure operational risk management is adhered to and all participants are safe during RIMPAC.
RIMPAC is the world’s largest international maritime exercise and includes forces from 25 nations who train together in order to foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are critical to the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans.
“Canada is trying to build a familiarization with amphibious operations, [and] integrating with our coalition partners for RIMPAC is a perfect opportunity to accomplish our goals,” said Canadian Army Maj. Jean-Francois Labonte, commander of 2e Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment.
RIMPAC is held primarily in Hawaii and Southern California, or SOCAL, and is currently on its 26th iteration in the series. Credible, ready maritime partners and amphibious forces such as the 15th MEU help to preserve peace and prevent conflict. RIMPAC participants have the opportunity to further enhance their capability and proficiency to respond to crises as part of a joint or combined effort.
“Operating out of SOCAL provides the MEU and our partner nations with realistic and relevant training opportunities like few other places in the world,” said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Christopher M. Baker, fire support coordination officer and lead planner for RIMPAC, 15th MEU. “Working with partner forces and integrating with them while sharing knowledge and practices align with the MEU’s ideology of being adaptive and flexible partners who can overcome any adversity.”
Roughly 70 percent of the world is made up of water, 80 percent of the world’s population lives on or near the coast, and 90 percent of international commerce moves by sea. Capable maritime partners help ensure stability and prosperity around the world, and RIMPAC helps all participating nations improve that capability.
“This year’s RIMPAC will show the world the capabilities of the participating countries by demonstrating the inherent flexibility and value of our capable and adaptive maritime partners and amphibious forces,” Baker said.
Marines training with the U.S. Navy and partner nations from around the world enhances prowess. RIMPAC provides high-value training for task-organized, highly-capable Marine Air-Ground Task Force and enhances the critical crisis response capability of U.S. Marines in the Pacific.