A 2017 Bremen high school graduate is participating in the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise as part of her U.S. Navy service.
Airman Recruit Makali Detweiler will be part of the 26th Rim of the Pacific training, which teaches on skills needed to ensure safety at sea.
Detweiler applies the lessons she learned from Bremen to her work in the Navy.
“My grandfather was in the Navy and taught me to focus on the positive and keep a positive attitude,” she explains.
The theme of RIMPAC 2018 is “Capable, Adaptive, Partners”.
The participating nations and forces exercise a wide range of capabilities and demonstrate the inherent flexibility of maritime forces. These capabilities range from disaster relief and maritime security operations to sea control and complex warfighting. The relevant, realistic training program includes, gunnery, missile, anti-submarine and air defense exercises, as well as amphibious, counter-piracy, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal and diving and salvage operations.
Twenty-six nations, 46 surface ships, five submarines, and more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel will participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific Exercise.
This year’s exercise includes forces from Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam.
As a member of the U.S. Navy, Detweiler says sailors are part of a legacy.
“As long as you believe in yourself, you can accomplish anything,” she says. “It’s important to not put limits on yourself and what you’re capable of achieving.”
The Navy Office of Community Outreach contributed to this story.
