Ensign Alex Hamel, a landing signals officer aboard

Ensign Alex Hamel, a landing signals officer aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751), launches a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) SH-60K Seahawk during a Search and Rescue Exercise off the coast of Hawaii as part of the Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HA/DR) portion of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2014. Twenty-two nations, 49 ships and six submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 26 to August 1, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2014 is the 24th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Manda M. Emery/Released)