U.S. Marine and Australian Army snipers with the Rim

U.S. Marine and Australian Army snipers with the Rim of the Pacific, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force train at a sniper, high-angle and unknown-distance course of fire at the Kaneohe Bay Range Training Facility, July 6. Australian and Canadian Army and U.S. Marine snipers honed their skills during Rim of the Pacific 2012. “It’s been a good experience for all of us out here,” said 1st Lt. Jeremy Graham, scout sniper platoon commander, 1st Battalion 3rd Marine Regiment. “We are able to share diverse fire knowledge and increase the training value within our militaries.” Approximately 2,200 personnel from nine nations are participating in RIMPAC 12 as part of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force 3, Combined Force Land Component Command. The CFLCC is conducting amphibious and land-based operations in order to enhance multinational and joint interoperability. Twenty-two nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC exercise from Jun. 29 to Aug. 3, in and around the Hawaiian Islands. 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 2012 is the 23rd exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by 1st Lt. Diann Olson/Released)