The biennial RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific) exercise, currently happening in and off Hawaii and San Diego, allows participating countriesB次元官网网址� militaries to hone their critical incident combat and interdiction skills.
But casual observers may not realize that the more than 1,000 Canadian naval, air force and army personnel taking part in this six-week operation B次元官网网址� with counterparts from the U.S., Australia and 22 other countries B次元官网网址� are also gaining valuable expertise in dealing with post-disaster humanitarian efforts.
Esquimalt-based Rear Admiral Bob Auchterlonie, whose B次元官网网址渄ay jobB次元官网网址� is commander of Maritime Forces Pacific, is serving as deputy commander for the combined task force at RIMPAC 2018, second only to U.S. Vice Admiral John Alexander among the overall command.
Auchterlonie said exercises simulating a large-scale earthquake and tsunami not only train the various Pacific Rim military forces to respond with everything from medical treatment of survivors to the airlifting of food, fuel, water and other supplies for affected nations, they help hone the localized emergency management plans back home.
B次元官网网址淲e can tie it back to our own jobs,B次元官网网址� he said of relief efforts the navy and other Canadian military would be tasked with if a major earthquake happened in Greater Victoria or elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest, for example. B次元官网网址淲e do the Great BC Shakeout in the fall, and we bring these lessons back from this exercise.B次元官网网址�
The crew of HMCS Vancouver, which is taking part in RIMPAC 2018, gained first-hand experience in lending an international hand when a major earthquake shook New ZealandB次元官网网址檚 South Island just north of Christchurch in 2016.
| Members of 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e R茅giment administer care to a simulated civilian casualty of an improvised explosive device during Infantry Immersion Training at the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, July 11. Photo by Ordinary Seaman Justin Spinello/Canadian Armed Forces Imagery |
B次元官网网址滺惭颁厂 Vancouver was deployed off New Zealand at the time, so Canada provided one of the first units on scene supporting that effort,B次元官网网址� Auchterlonie said, noting that Canada is a reliable defence and support partner in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
While much of its efforts in the region have focused on helping patrol trade routes and the interdiction of drug and human smuggling activities, he said the ability of our forces to help in a humanitarian crisis is valued by other countries. B次元官网网址淲herever we are, we can be ready to help folks.B次元官网网址�
Largely due to its co-ordinated initiatives, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 military leadership has long-established relationships with RIMPAC co-founders the U.S. and Australia. But with the roster for this multi-pronged exercise now at an all-time high of 25 countries, connections are being made with military leaders from such countries as Japan, China and even Chile, whose Commodore Pablo Niemann gives a non-founding country its first RIMPAC maritime section commander.
B次元官网网址淲hen things happen around the globe, thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of interactivity with things,B次元官网网址� Auchterlonie said of the importance of international relations to military or humanitarian efforts. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hard to say B次元官网网址榥oB次元官网网址� to a friend, and thatB次元官网网址檚 one of the keys to [RIMPAC] B次元官网网址� When I pick up the phone, IB次元官网网址檓 talking to someone I know at the other end of the line.B次元官网网址�
Canadian ships joining HMCS Vancouver in maritime section exercises in and around Hawaii are HMCS Ottawa and interim oiler/supply ship MV Asterix, while two Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels Yellowknife and Whitehorse are engaged in exercises off San Diego. Members of the Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Army round out the contingent from this country.
