Swanton, Ohio native and Swanton High School graduate Lillian Echler is serving aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) during Exercise Valiant Shield, Sept. 14-25. Exercise participants include USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), USS America (LHA 6), USS New Orleans (LPD 18), USS Germantown (LSD 42) and multiple surface ships – approximately 100 aircraft and an estimated 11,000 personnel from the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps. Echler, a Retail Specialist Seaman Recruit, helps build morale by providing goods and services to the crew.“I’m glad I can do my part to help keep the ship afloat with a positive attitude,” said Echler.
“Exercises such as Valiant Shield allow U.S. forces the opportunity to integrate warfighting concepts such as all-domain strike group operations in a joint high end warfare training environment to continuously improve joint lethality,” said Rear Adm. Michael Boyle, director maritime operations, U.S. Pacific Fleet.