The multinational exercise Rim of the Pacific Southern California 2016 has kicked off, occurring in and around Southern California through Aug. 4. RIMPAC SOCAL, helmed for the first time by Naval Surface Mine Warfare Development Center (SMWDC), allows U.S. and partner nation participants to train together with sea and shore based commands. Participants will receive relevant and realistic training in amphibious operations, explosive ordnance disposal, mine warfare countermeasures and dive operations.

The 26 Participating Countries are: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, China, Peru, Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom and the United States.

In RIMPAC 2016, three new nations are participating for the first time. They are Denmark, Germany and Italy. India is being represented by Indian Naval ship (INS) Satpura, an indigenously built guided missile stealth frigate.

RIMPAC 2016 Theme:  “Capable, Adaptive, Partners”.

The biennial exercise seeks to provide a unique training opportunity to participants in order foster cooperative relationships to ensure the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans. It is hosted and administered by the United States Navy’s Pacific Fleet (headquartered at Pearl Harbor) in conjunction with the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard, and Hawaii National Guard forces under the control of the Governor of Hawaii