Right now your Navy is 100% on watch around the globe helping to preserve the American way of life. Whether it be operating and training in the waters off the coast of Virginia or forward deployed to the South China Sea, the flexibility and presence provided by our U.S. naval forces provides national leaders with great options for protecting and maintaining our national security and interests around the world. The imagery below highlights the Navy’s ability to provide those options by operating forward.
AT SEA (July 2012) The U.S. Navy’s first afloat forward staging base-interim, USS Ponce (AFSB-I), arrived in Bahrain for duty in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR). Ponce, formerly designated as an amphibious transport dock (LPD), was converted and reclassified as an AFSB(I) in April to fulfill a long-standing U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) request for an AFSB to be located in its area of responsibility (AOR). (U.S. Navy video/Released)
- An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Island Knights of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 flies over USS McCampbell (DDG 85). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cody R. Boyd/Released)
Tugboats assist the Afloat Forward Staging Base (Interim) USS Ponce (AFSB-I) as the ship pulls into the Kingdom of Bahrain. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ashante Hammons/Released)
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG 85) breaks away from the Military Sealift Command Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO 193) after completing a replenishment at sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Declan Barnes/Released)
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) performs a firepower demonstration alongside the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and combat flight operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joshua E. Walters/Released)
Sailors prepare to perform in flight refueling with an MH-60R Sea hawk helicopter aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78). Porter is deployed as part of the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alex Forster/Released)
Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) man their positions before conducting a replenishment at sea with the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Kanawha (T-AO 196). James E. Williams is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel Meshel/Released)
