PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (July 6, 2018) -- United States Navy, Indian Navy, and Royal Australian Air Force P-8 Poseidons....ready and staged for an early morning start to a long day of in-flight and on-the-ground training together....at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for massive naval exercise RIMPAC 2018.
In a very recent POST HERE I gave a quick review of the key stats about, and nations participating in, this biennial largest of world naval exercises.
Now that the in-port phase of RIMPAC 2018 is drawing to an end, the at-sea phase is beginning, this middle week of July 2018.
These three exceptional multi-mission maritime aircraft....from three far-flung nations....learning to work together as brothers in arms....but, even more importantly, forging enduring professional, cultural, and national bonds.
And off they go, in the early-morning Hawaiian sunshine, to fly over the Pacific Ocean to train together....and, in the weeks ahead, become an integral part of the vast international naval force gathered in and near Hawaii.
One of the great professional “treats” of being a Naval Officer is the periodic opportunity to mingle and work closely with your counterparts in military services from other nations.
There was nearly always an instantaneous respectful and friendly bond....often to grow into genuine friendships....
....as you trained together during the in-port phase of an exercise....and then went to sea (and air) together....to carry out your duties and responsibilities as an international team of warriors....
....and, near the end, return to port to debrief, discuss lessons-learned, party a bit....and, eventually, bid farewell to new friends from the other side of the world.
Always a memorable experience!
What a lucky opportunity it was to do this stuff routinely back in, especially, my 20s, and 30s!
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>>CLICK each photo for a larger image. Check out the third photo above....three almost-identical-looking aircraft.....except for the markings of three different nations.
>>Photos: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kevin A. Flinn, USN