Posted 8/5/2012
MARINE CORPS BASE, Hawaii (Aug. 1, 2012) Marines assigned to Amphibious Assault Vehicle platoon, Combat Assault Company, 3rd Marine Regiment, storm the beach in their amphibious assault vehicles during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012. Twenty-two nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in the biennial RIMPAC exercise from June 20 to Aug. 3, in and around the Hawaiian Islands. The world's largest maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of the sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2012 is the 23rd exercise that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Daniel Johnston)