SULU SEA

250206-N-TD381-1188 SIBUTU PASSAGE STRAIT (Feb. 6, 2025) An MH-60R Seahawk, assigned to the “Blue Hawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 78, prepares to land on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) as the ship transits the Sibutu Passage Feb. 6, 2025. The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Isaiah B. Goessl) Share

SOUTH CHINA SEA

SOUTH CHINA SEA (Feb. 6, 2025) Lt. j. g. Peter Greenbaum, assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65), and Australian Navy Sailors rig a Zodiac Mark 2 Grand Raider general purpose inflatable boat alongside USS Benfold during multilateral operations with Australia and the United Kingdom in the South China Sea, Feb. 6. Benfold is forward deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s Largest DESRON and U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Monica Walker.) Share

SOUTH CHINA SEA

SOUTH CHINA SEA (Feb. 6, 2025) Lt. j. g. Peter Greenbaum, a junior officer stationed aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65), climbs a ladder up the starboard side of USS Benfold during multilateral operations with Australia and the United Kingdom in the South China Sea, Feb. 6. Benfold is forward deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s Largest DESRON and U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Monica Walker.) Share

SOUTH CHINA SEA

SOUTH CHINA SEA (Feb. 6, 2025) Lt. j. g. Peter Greenbaum, assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65), and Australian Navy Sailors guide a Zodiac Mark 2 Grand Raider general purpose inflatable boat toward USS Benfold during multilateral operations with Australia and the United Kingdom in the South China Sea, Feb. 6. Benfold is forward deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s Largest DESRON and U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Monica Walker.) Share

SOUTH CHINA SEA

SOUTH CHINA SEA (Feb. 6, 2025) Lt. j. g. Peter Greenbaum, assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65), and Australian Navy Sailors guide a Zodiac Mark 2 Grand Raider general purpose inflatable boat alongside USS Benfold during multilateral operations with Australia and the United Kingdom in the South China Sea, Feb. 6. Benfold is forward deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s Largest DESRON and U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Monica Walker.) Share

SOUTH CHINA SEA

SOUTH CHINA SEA (Feb. 6, 2025) Lt. j. g. Peter Greenbaum, assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65), and Australian Navy Sailors guide a Zodiac Mark 2 Grand Raider general purpose inflatable boat alongside USS Benfold during multilateral operations with Australia and the United Kingdom in the South China Sea, Feb. 6. Benfold is forward deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s Largest DESRON and U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Monica Walker.) Share

SOUTH CHINA SEA

SOUTH CHINA SEA (Feb. 6, 2025) Royal Australian Navy Sailor Leading Seaman Edward Ploy leans out of an Royal Australian Navy MH-60R helicopter on the flight deck of the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) during multilateral operations with Australia and the United Kingdom in the South China Sea, Feb. 6. Benfold is forward deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s Largest DESRON and U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Monica Walker.) Share

SOUTH CHINA SEA

SOUTH CHINA SEA (Feb. 6, 2025) Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65), support flight operations for a Royal Australian Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopter on Benfold’s flight deck during multilateral operations with Australia and the United Kingdom in the South China Sea, Feb. 6. Benfold is forward deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s Largest DESRON and U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Monica Walker.) Share

SOUTH CHINA SEA

SOUTH CHINA SEA (Feb. 6, 2025) Boatswain’s Mate Seaman Rohan Preston guides a Royal Australian Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopter onto the flight deck of the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) during multilateral operations with Australia and the United Kingdom in the South China Sea, Feb. 6. Benfold is forward deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s Largest DESRON and U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Monica Walker.) Share

PHILIPPINE SEA

250205-N-SW005-1053 PHILIPPINE SEA (Feb. 5, 2025) Lance Cpl. Emily Segura, from Houston, assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fires in an M4 carbine rifle during a deck shoot evolution onboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) in the Philippine Sea, Feb. 5. America, lead ship of the America Amphibious Ready Group, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sade’ Anita Wallace) Share

PHILIPPINE SEA

250208-N-TW227-1174 PHILIPPINE SEA (Feb. 8, 2025) An AS 322 Puma helicopter from the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE-10), participates in a vertical replenishment with the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) during a replenishment-at-sea evolution in the Philippine Sea, Feb. 8. America, lead ship of the America Amphibious Ready Group, along with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, are underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kenneth Melseth) Share

SULU SEA

SIBUTU PASSAGE (Feb. 6, 2025) – The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), left, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) transit the Sibutu Passage Feb. 6, 2025. The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brianna Walker) Share