Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (Story by Royal Australian Air Force Flight Lieutenant Lily Lancaster)

Student to Teacher on RIMPAC 22

If you asked Private Lucas Hinselwood where he would be two years into his infantry career, he would never have guessed Hawaii for the world’s largest maritime exercise, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. He certainly couldn’t have imagined he’d find himself, just one year out of training, instructing urban close combat training for his counterparts from Indonesia, Mexico, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea.

Private Lucas Hinselwood was not nervous though, he has been training for this all year with his company at 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, the Australian Army’s dismounted infantry minor tactics specialists.

“It’s a great opportunity for me, not just to work with other nations, but to practise our instruction skills to take back home,” Private Lucas Hinselwood said.

“We have learnt that a lot of our partner nations’ tactics are fairly similar to ours. It’s important to build on our relationships with each other so if push comes to shove, we know that we can work side by side without any dramas at all.”

RIMPAC marked another first for the rifleman, who had the opportunity to experience life aboard a ship in transit to RIMPAC on Landing Helicopter Dock HMAS Canberra. Between adjusting to sea and getting a little lost aboard, he enjoyed training in a new environment alongside his counterparts from 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment and of course, the renowned Navy Chefs food.

“Unreal” is the way Private Lucas Hinselwood describes his experience in the military so far. Having moved from a management career trading tyres, he finds himself training alongside new Tongan friends from His Majesty’s Armed Forces. In just 12 months, he has proudly worn his uniform in three countries, including Afghanistan for the withdrawal of Australian troops.

‘The best part of being in the Army so far has been to travel, and train with other nations like we have been here on RIMPAC. It’s definitely everything I signed up for and more’ Private Lucas Hinselwood said.

‘I am absolutely honoured to be working with our foreign partners and representing Australia, being able to show our professionalism, how we work and have a good laugh at the same time. It’s been absolutely unreal.’