160710-N-ND246-0010 POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA, Hawaii

160710-N-ND246-0010 POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA, Hawaii (July 10, 2016) – Lance Cpl. Erika Vargas empties a bag of food into a serving dish at a mess hall in Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii, July 10, 2016, during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Twenty-six nations, 49 ships, six submarines, about 200 aircraft, and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC 16 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 between participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 16 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971. Vargas, a native of Arlington, Texas, is a food service specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Natalie A. Dillon)