U.S. Navy Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) returned to sea showcasing a multinational group onboard, together with Sailors representing Australia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Israel, Mexico, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore. Amongst the various crew have been three Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy chaplains.
“That is the primary time Essex has embarked ROK Navy chaplains, which makes this a relatively distinctive second within the ship’s historical past,” stated U.S. Navy Cmdr. Aaron Roberton, Essex Group chaplain. “Not solely are we strengthening worldwide partnerships by means of this multinational train, we’re demonstrating that even the chaplains perceive and observe interoperability. We now have proven that we are able to execute the spiritual ministries mission to offer and facilitate for quite a lot of spiritual providers that match the wants and beliefs of the ship’s various crew.”
With the rise in chaplain help onboard, Essex multiplied its spiritual providers obtainable all through the week, to incorporate day by day Catholic mass, Buddhist and Protestant providers. Regardless of a few of these providers solely being provided in Korean, ROK Navy Catholic Chaplain, Lt. Younggun Ahn, encourages all to attend.
“When individuals strategy me, I invite them with an open coronary heart. I feel this sort of perspective is a universally understood language in itself,” Ahn stated.
RIMPAC trains and enhances management in any respect ranges. It additionally supplies alternatives for associate nations to return collectively for occasions just like the Rim of the Pacific 2022 Worldwide Chaplaincy Symposium, which was held on July 7-8, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
“The varied spiritual group of a giant, mixed fleet wants chaplains from associate nations to work collectively to make sure that Sailors and Marines from all cultural backgrounds are spiritually prepared to finish the mission,” stated Fleet Chaplain of Commander, U.S. Third Fleet, Capt. Darren Stennett.
The symposium introduced collectively chaplains from all navy providers of various nations in an effort to advertise worldwide partnership, share greatest practices, and make essential connections to help operations within the Pacific.
“As chaplains, now we have an lively strategy to help all individuals, no matter spiritual perception, not simply stand by,” stated ROK Navy Buddhist chaplain, Lt. Minsu Wi. “We are going to research English and use translators when wanted. It’s not the language that’s essential, however the sincerity of our coronary heart. You may see it from our gestures and our expressions.”
RIMPAC builds true partnerships primarily based on mutual understanding and respect.
“Ships characterize their nation,” stated ROK Protestant Chaplain, Lt. Cmdr. Gu Lee. “The truth that three ROK chaplains have been invited aboard Essex reveals that the U.S., no matter nationality or faith, has allowed us to return right here in a joint, mixed worth of freedom. ROK Navy helps these shared values, and we’ll proceed to show this.”
Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, three submarines, greater than 170 plane and 25,000 personnel are collaborating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 4 in and across the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world’s largest worldwide maritime train, RIMPAC supplies a singular coaching alternative whereas fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships amongst contributors vital to making sure the protection of sea lanes and safety on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the twenty eighth train within the collection that started in 1971.
