PACIFIC OCEAN

U.S. Navy Command Master Chief Nicholas Green, command master chief of Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), fires an M27 infantry automatic rifle during a live-fire range aboard Essex in the Pacific Ocean, June 15, 2026, ahead of Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2026. Thirty-one nations, more than 30 surface ships, 5 submarines, 15 national land forces, more than 206 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC in and around the Hawaiian Islands, June 24 to July 31. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2026 is the 30th exercise in the series that began in 1971. Green is a native of Arizona. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jashua Hernandez Ramos) Share

PHILIPPINE SEA

An F-35C Lightning II, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, launches off the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) to support a live-fire sinking exercise (SINKEX) as a part of Valiant Shield 2026 while underway in the Philippine Sea, June 27, 2026. The exercise targeted former amphibious transport dock USS Juneau (LPD 10) – which saw action in the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm before decommissioning in 2008 - more than 40 nautical miles off the coast of Guam, and brought together air, surface, and subsurface assets in coordinated strikes, allowing crews to sharpen critical skills in weapons employment and target engagement under realistic conditions that no simulator can fully replicate. Valiant Shield is a biennial, multilateral field training exercise conducted by the U.S. Armed Forces and partner nations in the Western Pacific focusing on joint, cross-combatant integration operating seamlessly across sea, air, land, and cyberspace. Exercises like Valiant Shield allow U.S. Pacific Command the opportunity to integrate forces from all branches of service and with our allies to conduct precise, lethal, and overwhelming multi-domain effects that demonstrate the strength and versatility of the Joint Force and our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Andrew Novak) Share

PHILIPPINE SEA

An E-2D Hawkeye, attached to Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 125, launches off the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) to support a live-fire sinking exercise (SINKEX) as a part of Valiant Shield 2026 while underway in the Philippine Sea June 27, 2026. The exercise targeted former amphibious transport dock USS Juneau (LPD 10) – which saw action in the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm before decommissioning in 2008 - more than 40 nautical miles off the coast of Guam, and brought together air, surface, and subsurface assets in coordinated strikes, allowing crews to sharpen critical skills in weapons employment and target engagement under realistic conditions that no simulator can fully replicate. Valiant Shield is a biennial, multilateral field training exercise conducted by the U.S. Armed Forces and partner nations in the Western Pacific focusing on joint, cross-combatant integration operating seamlessly across sea, air, land, and cyberspace. Exercises like Valiant Shield allow U.S. Pacific Command the opportunity to integrate forces from all branches of service and with our allies to conduct precise, lethal, and overwhelming multi-domain effects that demonstrate the strength and versatility of the Joint Force and our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Andrew Novak) Share

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii

Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Illinois (SSN 786) leaves Dry Dock 2 at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF), June 24, 2026, completing an important milestone in the submarine’s scheduled lifecycle maintenance period. Commissioned Oct. 29, 2016, Illinois is the 13th Virginia-class submarine. It is the second U.S. Navy ship to be named for the state of Illinois. Illinois is assigned to Submarine Squadron 1 and is capable of supporting various missions, including anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface ship warfare; strike warfare; special operations forces support; and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. PHNSY & IMF’s mission is to keep the Navy’s fleet “Fit to Fight" by repairing, maintaining, and modernizing the Navy's fast-attack submarines and surface ships. Strategically located in the heart of the Pacific, it is the most comprehensive fleet repair and maintenance facility between the U.S. West Coast and the Far East. (U.S. Navy photo by Mike Wilson) Share

PHILIPPINE SEA

Quartermaster 3rd Class Enrique Rubio, from Texas, assigned to navigation department, raises the battle ensign aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) while underway in the Philippine Sea, July 2, 2026. The George Washington Carrier Strike Group is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. George Washington is the U.S. Navy’s premiere forward-deployed aircraft carrier, a long-standing symbol of the United States’ commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, while operating alongside allies and partners across the U.S. Navy’s largest numbered fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jack D. Barnell) Share

PACIFIC OCEAN

Two U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopters, background, assigned to the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade, 7th Infantry Division (Multi-Domain Command - Pacific), and a U.S. Marine AH-1Z Viper prepare to take off from Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) for a live-fire exercise in the Pacific Ocean, June 14, 2026, in preparation for Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2026. Thirty nations, over 30 surface ships, five submarines, 15 national land forces, more than 206 aircraft and 30,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC in and around the Hawaiian Islands, June 24 to July 31. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2026 is the 30th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christian Morton) Share

SOUTH CHINA SEA

A U.S. Navy MH-60S Sea Hawk, attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21, delivers cargo to Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) during a replenishment-at-sea in the South China Sea, June 15, 2026. The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, embarked aboard the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, is a persistent, combat credible force contributing to deterrence and crisis response in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Joseph Helms) Share

PACIFIC OCEAN

Master-at-Arms Senior Chief Kevin Smith, assigned to Emory S. Land-class submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40), shoots a .50-caliber machine gun during a live-fire exercise in the Pacific Ocean, June 24, 2026. Frank Cable, forward deployed to the island of Guam, repairs, rearms, and resupplies submarines and surface vessels in the Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Elijah Webb) Share

KANEOHE BAY

U.S. Navy explosive ordnance disposal technicians, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11, prepare to jump out of an MH-60S Sea Hawk, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, as part of free-fall jump training during Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2026 in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, June 30, 2026. Thirty nations, over 30 surface ships, five submarines, 15 national land forces, more than 206 aircraft and 30,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC in and around the Hawaiian Islands, June 24 to July 31. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2026 is the 30th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist First Class Ryan A. LeCompte) Share

YOKOHAMA, Japan

U.S. Coast Guard maritime enforcement specialists assigned to Legend-class cutter USCGC Midgett (WMSL 757) stand and salute with members of the Japan Coast Guard law enforcement teams on the flight deck of Japan Coast Guard patrol vessel JCGS Buko (PL-10) after completing a law enforcement demonstration for Japan Coast Guard official; members of Legend-class cutter USCGC Midgett (WMSL 757) command staff; U.S. Coast Guard Vice Adm. Joseph Buzzella, commander, Pacific Area; during a law enforcement tactics demonstration during Pacific Atlas in Yokohama, Japan, June 19, 2026. Pacific Atlas is a series of demonstrations of allied logistics interoperability, signaling collective capability to sustain distributed maritime operations in the region. (U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Austin Wiley) Share

YOKOHAMA, Japan

A U.S. Coast Guard 35-foot Long Range Interceptor II embarked cutter boat and a U.S. Coast Guard 26-foot Over-the-Horizon embarked cutter boat attached to Legend-class cutter USCGC Midgett (WMSL 757) travel in formation with Japan Coast Guard small boat maritime enforcement teams during a law enforcement tactics demonstration during Pacific Atlas in Yokohama, Japan, June 19, 2026. Pacific Atlas is a series of demonstrations of allied logistics interoperability, signaling collective capability to sustain distributed maritime operations in the region. (U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Austin Wiley) Share

YOKOHAMA, Japan

From left to right, U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Keith Wilkins, the U.S. Coast Guard Attaché to Japan; U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Brian Whisler, commanding officer of Legend-class cutter USCGC Midgett (WMSL 757); U.S. Coast Guard Vice Adm. Joseph Buzzella, commander, Pacific Area; Japan Coast Guard Vice Commandant for Operations, Hiroaki Kanosue; Japan Coast Guard Superintendent, 1st-Grade Takuya Fukumoto, commander of the 3rd Regional Coast Guard Headquarters; and Japan Coast Guard Rear Adm. Hisako Nakabayashi, commander of the Yokohama Coast Guard Office; pose in front of Legend-class cutter USCGC Midgett (WMSL 757) after a welcoming ceremony in Yokohama, Japan, June 19, 2026. Pacific Atlas is a series of demonstrations of allied logistics interoperability, signaling collective capability to sustain distributed maritime operations in the region. (U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Austin Wiley) Share