Midshipmen aboard USS Peleliu Take Part in RIMPAC

Midshipmen who chose to do their summer cruise aboard USS Peleliu (LHA 5) received the added bonus of participating in exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2014, the world’s largest multinational naval exercise.

Their summer cruise training began June 17, and continues through August 1.

The Midshipmen stood conning officer watch on the bridge during replenishments-at-sea, attended navigation briefs and department head meetings. They also learned celestial navigation, experienced helicopter operations, participated in damage control training and a variety of other shipboard evolutions and watches.

According to Capt. Paul C. Spedero, commanding officer of Peleliu, the wardroom’s responsibility was to expose the Midshipmen to a wide variety of shipboard communities so that they could learn as much as possible.

Midshipmen from Columbia and Mexico also had an opportunity to spend time aboard Peleliu learning what it is like to be an officer aboard a U.S. ship.

Twenty-two nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC exercise from June 26 to August 1, in and around the Hawaiian Islands.

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Press Release, June 27, 2014; Image: US Navy