Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Kylie Jagiello | PEARL HARBOR (July 29, 2022) From left, Vice Commander Combined Task Force RIMPAC...... read more read more
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Eight years ago, 51 naval officers from 50 countries walked through the gates of the U.S Naval War College at Rhode Island as strangers, and 11 months later were long term friends.
A unique situation has seen three of those officers come back together in senior leadership and command positions for Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022.
As the Deputy Commander Combined Task Force RIMPAC 2022, Royal Canadian Navy Rear-Admiral Christopher Robinson said the closeness of their class was a result of the extra effort by the College staff.
“They had taken the time to memorize our biographies, pictures, and family information. They greeted us and asked us those questions,” Rear-Admiral Robinson said.
“The amount of care and effort they put in to memorize 50 students and family, set the tone,” he said.
With a deep understanding of each other, Combined Force Maritime Component Commander Royal Australian Navy Commodore Paul O’Grady said it helped expedite the professional relationship in the planning and execution of RIMPAC 2022.
“In bringing a large multinational force together, our close relationship as friends and classmates helped significantly in welding it together quickly,” Commodore O’Grady said.
“It's made the force integration a lot easier, as well as being personally and professionally satisfying.
“Our friendship is a powerful example for the junior leaders at RIMPAC 2022 to see how the relationships they build don't just last for this exercise but endure and deepen over time.
“It shows that ‘Capable Adaptive Partners’ is not just a mantra for four weeks, it's an enduring thing,” Commodore O’Grady said.
Last member of the RIMPAC trio, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Rear-Admiral Toshiyuki Hirata is Vice Commander Combined Task Force RIMPAC 2022.
“Because English isn’t my mother tongue, it has helped working with my classmates as we understand each other,” Rear-Admiral Hirata said.
“Friends are important, especially multinational friends. We need that as leaders,
to understand dynamic situations.
“Our views may be domestic and sometimes we need an outside perspective.
“I would highly recommend other people doing college like we did, where everyone's views and opinions are valued, and you share common values.
“It has been an honour and privilege to be working with my friends here. I’d like to say thank you for my good luck to meet my friends here and to work together,” Rear-Admiral Hirata said.
Rear-Admiral Robinson’s advice to new leaders would be embrace all opportunities.
“If you're offered an opportunity, step outside of your comfort zone, and make the most out of it,” Rear-Admiral Robinson said.
“I've had an amazing career. I grew up in a very small town in a rural part of Canada and have seen the world.
“We all join the Navy for an experience and working together like this allows us to.
“It adds a bit of fun to our roles and it's what keeps us serving,” Rear-Admiral Robinson said.
Rear Admirals Robinson, Hirata and Commodore O’Grady attended the Naval Command College program and graduated in 2015.
Located in Newport, Rhode Island, the U.S. Naval War College was established in 1884 as an advanced course of professional study for naval officers.
It educates and develops leaders at specific stages in their careers from all services and international navies.
Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, three submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 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 while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971.
| Date Taken: | 08.01.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 08.03.2022 13:08 |
| Story ID: | 426286 |
| Location: | HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 738 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Former Classmates Come Together For RIMPAC 2022, by PO3 Kylie Jagiello, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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