CEBU, Philippines

Philippine Navy Rear Adm. Juario C. Marayag, Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command, boards Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) as part of ship wartime repair and maintenance exercise (SWARMEX) in Cebu, Philippines, March 25, 2026. SWARMEX is designed to rehearse coordination and execution of ship damage repair from forward locations within the Indo-Pacific region, strengthening ties with the skilled workforce within allied and partner countries. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John B. Hetherington) Share

CEBU, Philippines

Cmdr. Adam Peeples, commanding officer of Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) [left], walks with Philippine Navy Rear Adm. Juario C. Marayag, Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command [center], during a visit as part of ship wartime repair and maintenance exercise (SWARMEX) in Cebu, Philippines, March 25, 2026. SWARMEX is designed to rehearse coordination and execution of ship damage repair from forward locations within the Indo-Pacific region, strengthening ties with the skilled workforce within allied and partner countries. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John B. Hetherington) Share

CEBU, Philippines

Hull Maintenance Technician 2nd Class Christian Deang, assigned to Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, grinds a fan unit bracket aboard Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) as part of ship wartime repair and maintenance exercise (SWARMEX) in Cebu, Philippines, March 25, 2026. SWARMEX is designed to rehearse coordination and execution of ship damage repair from forward locations within the Indo-Pacific region, strengthening ties with the skilled workforce within allied and partner countries. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Maliq J. Martin) Share

CEBU, Philippines

Engineman 2nd Class Walid Ventayen, left, and Engineman 1st Class Michael Carantes, assigned to Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, replace an engine component in the main engine room while Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) is in port in Cebu, Philippines, as part of ship wartime repair and maintenance exercise (SWARMEX), March 25, 2026. SWARMEX is designed to rehearse coordination and execution of ship damage repair from forward locations within the Indo-Pacific region, strengthening ties with the skilled workforce within allied and partner countries. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Maliq J. Martin) Share

CEBU, Philippines

A Philippine Navy contractor works with Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class Chase Bohan, left, assigned to Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, and Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class Wyatt Rimmer, assigned to Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48), as they perform maintenance on valves as part of ship wartime repair and maintenance exercise (SWARMEX) in Cebu, Philippines, March 25, 2026. SWARMEX is designed to rehearse coordination and execution of ship damage repair from forward locations within the Indo-Pacific region, strengthening ties with the skilled workforce within allied and partner countries. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Maliq J. Martin) Share

CEBU, Philippines

Hull Maintenance Technician 2nd Class Christian Deang, assigned to Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, welds a fan unit bracket aboard Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) as part of ship wartime repair and maintenance exercise (SWARMEX) in Cebu, Philippines, March 25, 2026. SWARMEX is designed to rehearse coordination and execution of ship damage repair from forward locations within the Indo-Pacific region, strengthening ties with the skilled workforce within allied and partner countries. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Maliq J. Martin) Share

SOUTH CHINA SEA

U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) steams in the South China Sea, March 31, 2026. Blue Ridge and embarked U.S. 7th Fleet staff conduct regular Indo-Pacific patrols to deter aggression, strengthen alliances and partnerships, and advance future warfighting capabilities. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Damian Cook) Share

PACIFIC OCEAN

A U.S. Marine, with Battalion Landing Team 3/5, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducts weapons maintenance on an M240B machine gun aboard Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45) in the Pacific Ocean, March 27, 2026. The 11th MEU is currently underway aboard the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations demonstrating the United States’ long-term commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Trent A. Henry) Share

PACIFIC OCEAN

U.S. Marines, with the Maritime Raid Force, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, operate a rigid-hull inflatable boat in the Pacific Ocean, April 2, 2026. The 11th MEU is currently underway aboard the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations demonstrating the United States’ long-term commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Avery Wayland) Share

PACIFIC OCEAN

A U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 163 (Reinforced), 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, lands aboard Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) during flight operations in the Pacific Ocean, April 2, 2026. The 11th MEU is currently underway aboard the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations demonstrating the United States’ long-term commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Oliver Nisbet) Share

SOUTH CHINA SEA

Naval Air Crewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class Carlos Rodriguez fires a .50-caliber machine gun from an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 12, embarked with U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), during a live-fire exercise in the South China Sea, March 31, 2026. Blue Ridge and embarked U.S. 7th Fleet staff conduct regular Indo-Pacific patrols to deter aggression, strengthen alliances and partnerships, and advance future warfighting capabilities. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Damian Cook) Share

SOUTH CHINA SEA

Aviation Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Jonathan Zazueta signals the crew of an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 12, aboard U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) in the South China Sea, March 23, 2026. Blue Ridge and embarked U.S. 7th Fleet staff conduct regular Indo-Pacific patrols to deter aggression, strengthen alliances and partnerships, and advance future warfighting capabilities. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Zachary Del Rio) Share