Photos

120716-F-MQ656-492

120716-F-MQ656-492 MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII (July 16, 2012) Explosive Ordnance Disposal 1st Class Kyle Jones, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 11, jokes and laughs with his colleagues as he puts in hearing protection prior to conducting fast-rope training as part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012. Twenty-two nations, 42 ships, six submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 3, in and around the Hawaiian Islands. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2012 is the 23rd exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Michael R. Holzworth/Released)