New Prague native takes part in largest international maritime warfare exercise

1998 New Prague High School graduate 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 (RIMPAC).

Lt. Shawn Madsen is a deck officer aboard USS America, currently operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

A Navy deck officer is responsible for the safe operation of the ship including anchoring, refueling, mooring, search and rescue, preservation and more.

"My family is coming to Hawaii from San Diego to spend time with me on the island which is exciting," said Madsen.

According to Navy officials, RIMPAC 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," Navy officials explained. The participating nations and forces will 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 amphibious operations, gunnery, missile, antisubmarine and air defense exercises, as well as counterpiracy, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal and diving and salvage operations.

The Department of the Navy's Great Green Fleet yearlong initiative will also play a major role in....

To see more on this story pick up the July 28, 2016 print edition of The New Prague Times.