160710-F-DF491-288 POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA, Hawaii (July 9, 2016) -- A combat controller from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron clears a UH-60 Blackhawk for takeoff during a humanitarian assistance and disaster response as part of Rim of the Pacific 2016, at Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii, July 10, 2016. Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 30 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 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 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Jaclyn Pienkowski)