An Enumclaw native is serving in the U.S. Navy and is participating in the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise, the Rim of the Pacific Exercise.
Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan Riley, a 2003 graduate of Enumclaw High School, is a mass communication specialist aboard USS America, currently operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Riley is responsible for photojournalism and graphic design aboard the ship.
“I’m in charge of production,” Riley said. “All of the products the ship releases come through me; photos, videos, graphics and stories.”
According to Navy officials, the Rim of the Pacific Exercise provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain 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.
The theme of RIMPAC 2016 is “Capable, Adaptive, Partners.” The participating nations and forces will exercise a wide range of capabilities, from disaster relief and maritime security operations to sea control and complex warfighting. The relevant, realistic training program includes amphibious operations, gunnery, missile, anti-submarine and air defense exercises, as well as counter-piracy, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal and diving and salvage operations.
RIMPAC 2016 involves 26 nations, 45 surface ships, five submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel. This year’s exercise includes forces from Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, People’s Republic of China, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom and the United States.
“I like serving on the ship named after our country,” Riley said. “It’s an honor to be a plank owner for this ship. A plank owner is an individual who was a member of the crew of a ship at the time that ship was placed in commission.”
Challenging living conditions build strong fellowship among the crew, Riley explained. The crew is highly motivated, and quickly adapt to changing conditions. It is a busy life of specialized work, watches, and drills.
“I love all the opportunities the Navy has given me,” said Riley. “I don’t know where I would be today if I hadn’t joined.”
