Naval Boat Operations at Sea

Images depict U.S. Navy and Coast Guard personnel in rigid hull inflatable boats conducting various maritime operations at sea, showcasing teamwork and military readiness.

220615-N-ZQ263-1167 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 15, 2022) Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63), conducts rigid hull inflatable boat operations. Stethem is underway in the 3rd Fleet area of operation.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - U.S. Navy personnel use several rigid hull inflatable boats during the Orion underway recovery test. Earlier in the week, the Orion boilerplate test vehicle and other hardware were transported in the well deck of the USS San Diego about 100 miles offshore for an underway recovery test. NASA and the U.S. Navy conducted tests to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test allowed the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, hardware and personnel in open waters. During the testing, the tether lines were unable to support the tension caused by crew module motion that was driven by wave turbulence in the well deck of the ship. NASA and the U.S. Navy are reviewing the testing data collected to evaluate the next steps. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program conducted the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacec

120803-N-ZE938-094CARIBBEAN SEA (Aug. 3, 2012) Sailors assigned to the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36) and U.S. Coast Guardsmen assigned to Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 107 recover contraband from the water. Underwood is deployed to Central and South America and the Caribbean supporting Southern Seas 2012.

220615-N-ZQ263-1167 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 15, 2022) Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63), conducts rigid hull inflatable boat operations. Stethem is underway in the 3rd Fleet area of operation.

U.S. Navy Sailors extract from USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5) during a Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure exercise, Philippine Sea, Aug. 7, 2022.This group of Sailors are designated at the prize crew, who commandeer the ship after the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit's Maritime Raid Force has cleared it.The 31st MEU is operating aboard the ships of the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group in the 7th fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific Region.

120720-N-BB534-126 PACIFIC OCEAN (July 20, 2012) The visit, board, search and seizure team assigned to the amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20) participates in a boarding exercise. Green Bay is part of the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group and is underway conducting composite training unit exercise in the Pacific Ocean.

A New England commercial fishing vessel is seen in the foreground as USCGC Bear (WMEC 901) patrols in the back, Atlantic Ocean, Sep. 7, 2022. The Bear is on the final leg of its North Atlantic patrol.

A New England commercial fishing vessel is seen in the foreground as USCGC Bear (WMEC 901) patrols in the back, Atlantic Ocean, Sep. 7, 2022. The Bear is on the final leg of its North Atlantic patrol.

U.S. Navy Sailors receive combat rubber raiding craft in the well deck aboard San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22) during Underway Recovery Test 11, Feb. 25, 2024. In preparation for NASAs Artemis II crewed mission, which will send four astronauts in Orion beyond the Moon, NASA and the Department of Defense will conduct a series of tests to demonstrate and evaluate the processes, procedures, and hardware used in recovery operations for crewed lunar missions. The U.S. Navy has many unique capabilities that make it an ideal partner to support NASA, including its amphibious ships with the ability to embark helicopters, launch and recover small boats, three-dimensional air search radar and advanced medical facilities. Navy

U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 2/5, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, navigate in combat rubber raiding crafts during a boat launch rehearsal aboard USS New Orleans (LPD 18) in the South China Sea, Sept. 20, 2022. The 31st MEU is operating aboard ships of the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group in the 7th fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific Region.

220926-A-YK067-2690 VICTORIA, Seychelles (September 26, 2022) - Members of the Seychelles Peoples Defence Force standby to demonstrate visit, board, search, and seizure in Victoria, Seychelles, September 26. Combined Maritime Forces launched the two-week mission Sept. 18 to strengthen regional collaboration and enhance operational readiness.

The US Navy and NASA recovery teams are on station off the cost of California on Dec. 3, 2014 and ready to recover Orion after Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1) landing. Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

221007-N-XB010-1013 Philippine Sea (Oct. 7, 2022) - Sailors assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) assist Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) returning to the well deck in combat ready rubber crafts (CRRCs). New Orleans, part of the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group, along with the 31st MEU, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Participants in a rescue training exercise, known as Mode VIII, are successfully launched from a U.S. Coast Guard rescue boat off Florida's central east coast. In support of, and with logistical support from, NASA, USSTRATCOM is hosting a major exercise involving Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, search and rescue (SAR) forces, including the 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, which support space shuttle astronaut bailout contingency operations, known as Mode VIII. This exercise tests SAR capabilities to locate, recover and provide medical treatment for astronauts following a space shuttle launch phase open-ocean bailout. Participants include members of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Air Force, and NASA's Kennedy Space Center and Johnson Space Center.

Dolphins swim alongside the SpaceX support teams after the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft landed with NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Kayla Barron, Tom Marshburn, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer aboard, in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Tampa, Florida, Friday, May 6, 2022. Maurer, Marshburn, Chari, and Barron are returning after 177 days in space as part of Expeditions 66 and 67 aboard the International Space Station.

The Over the Horizon (OTH) cutter boat crew assigned to the Famous-class medium endurance cutter USCGC Mohawk (WMEC 913) conducts boat operations Atlantic Ocean, Aug. 5, 2022. USCGC Mohawk is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Africa area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.

110621-N-GH121-467ATLANTIC OCEAN (June 21, 2011) The visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team assigned to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) returns to the ship after boarding the Spanish navy landing platform dock ship Castilla (L 52) during the bilateral Spanish Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) 2011. Whidbey Island is deployed as part of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group participating in PHIBLEX off the coast of Spain.

PHILIPPINE SEA (April 6, 2022) Chief Gunners Mate Vincent Palinski, left, from Kansas City, braces Fire Controlman 3rd Class Danny Massa, from Utica, N.Y., during a .50 caliber machine gun live-fire exercise aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53). Abraham Lincoln Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability through alliances and partnerships while serving as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

101013-N-XXXXH-001ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 13, 2010) Sailors aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) conduct rigid-hull inflatable boat operations supporting a Composite Training Unit Exercise with the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group.

110530-N-EC642-046MEDITERRANEAN SEA (May 30, 2011) Navy Divers assigned to the Deep Submergence Unit prepare to pick up observers for a demonstration of their submarine rescue vehicle during Bold Monarch 2011. Participants and observers from more than 25 countries are taking part in NATO exercise Bold Monarch 2011, the worldÕs largest submarine rescue exercise. This 12-day exercise supports interoperability between all submarine rescue units.

U.S. Navy Landing Craft, Utility 1663 exits the well deck of the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) to debark multinational forces for an amphibious assault during exercise UNITAS LXIII, Sept. 16, 2022. The multinational amphibious assault was one of the culminating events of UNITAS LXIII. UNITAS is the worlds longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise that focuses on enhancing interoperability among multiple nations and joint forces during littoral and amphibious operations in order to build on existing regional partnerships and create new enduring relationships that promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the U.S. Southern Commands area of responsibility.

220411-N-AO868-1037 IONIAN SEA (April. 11, 2022) A rigid hull inflatable boat pulls along side Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56), during a training evolution, April. 11, 2022. San Jacinto is deployed with the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national interests, security, and stability in Europe and Africa.

220926-N-VI910-1363 PACIFIC OCEAN (Sept. 26, 2022) Sailors, assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), sail in a rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB). Abraham Lincoln is underway conducting routine operations in U.S. 3rd Fleet.

220512-O-NR876-761SEA OF JAPAN (May 12, 2022) Sailors began to transit outbound in the 7m rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RIB) from the Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18) after being launched from the side of Charleston during Exercise Noble Vanguard. Noble Vanguard serves as an enabler to reinforce tactics and techniques of different mission sets that contribute to regional stability.

110517-N-WL717-059 GULF OF THAILAND (May 17, 2011) GunnerÕs Mate 3rd Class Jorge Paz, left, looks to the boat deck petty officer in charge aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) to signal that the torpedo is ready to be hoisted during a recoverable torpedo exercise scenario as part of Cooperation Afloat and Readiness Training (CARAT) Thailand 2011. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance force readiness.

220529-N-TI693-1060MEDITERRANEAN SEA (May 29, 2022) Moroccan sailors arrive alongside the Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary sea base USS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB 4) to conduct visit, board, search and seizure drills as part of exercise Phoenix Express 22, May 29, 2022. Phoenix Express 22, conducted by U.S. Naval Forces Africa, is a maritime exercise designed to improve cooperation among participating nations in order to increase maritime safety and security in the Mediterranean.

Crew members aboard USCGC Bear (WMEC 901) conduct training in a 26-foot Over the Horizon (OTH) small boat, Atlantic Ocean, July 13, 2022. The Bear and its crew are deploying to support the Northern Atlantic Fisheries Organization, deter illegal fishing and increase maritime domain awareness in tandem with partner nations.

Members of a boarding party from the Spanish frigate Vencedora (F-36) ride in a Zodiac inflatable boat as they return to their ship after inspecting a merchant vessel. The Vencedora is one of the ships of the Maritime Interdiction Force (MIF), which was formed during Operation Desert Shield to enforce U.S. trade sanctions against Iraq.. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT SHIELD Country: Red Sea

A U.S. Coast Guard Harriet Lane (WMEC 903) 26-foot over-the-horizon small boat crew and Fijian shipriders from the Republic Fiji Navy, Ministry of Fisheries, Fiji Immigration, and Fiji Revenue and Customs Services, transit to a fishing vessel in the Fiji Exclusive Economic Zone in the South Pacific Ocean, Feb. 15, 2024. Building upon our history of successful shiprider operations, the U.S. Coast Guard remains dedicated to enhance Fijis maritime law enforcement capabilities. Coast Guard

U.S. Marines with 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Sailors assigned to USS New Orleans (LPD 18) swim during a swim call aboard New Orleans in the South China Sea, Sept. 25, 2022. The 31st MEU is operating aboard ships of the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group in the 7th fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific Region.

An ST Engineering vessel equipped with the AUTONOMAST system, conducts autonomous navigation and force protection maneuvers during an Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) capabilities demonstration at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH), Oct. 26, 2022. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Science and Technology Office hosted the Singapore Ministry of Defense, Future Systems and Technology Directorate sponsored demonstration. The AUTONOMAST system developed by ST Engineering, a global technology, defense and engineering group headquartered in Singapore, is designed to convert any manned vessel into a USV, with all-round situational awareness capabilities for tracking stationary or moving surface obstacles for safe autonomous navigation. The demonstration, with support from MCBH Waterfront Operations, focused on autonomous navigation in congested waters and force protection maneuvers.

020226-N-0872M-502. Country: Unknown Scene Major Command Shown: USS Yorktown (CG 48)

RED SEA (May 22, 2012) Sailors from the amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21) prepare to conduct visit, board, search and seizure exercises during Exercise Eager Lion 12. Eager Lion is a multinational exercise involving 19 nations from five different continents and more than 11,000 participants intended to strengthen military-to-military relationships through a joint, whole-of-government approach to meet current and future complex national security challenges.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The Orion boilerplate test vehicle floats in the Pacific Ocean during Underway Recovery Test 4A. Orion was lowered into the water with a stationary crane from the USS Salvor, a safeguard-class rescue and salvage ship. Nearby, U.S. Navy personnel in a Zodiac boat have attached a flotation collar and tether lines to Orion to bring the test vehicle closer to the ship. NASA, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy are conducting crane recovery tests to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters.The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the

Coast Guard law enforcement crews rescue people from an unsafe and overloaded 40-foot cabin cruiser about 20 miles off Boca Raton, Florida, Oct. 12, 2022. The people were transferred to Bahamian authorities, Oct 16, 2022.

PACIFIC OCEAN (June 24, 2022) Royal Australian Navy Sailors in rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) approach the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Izumo (DDH-184) during a helicopter visit, board, search and seizure (HVBSS) drill in conjunction with the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (ABECSG). ABECSG is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 3rd Fleet. An integral part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary to flawlessly execute our Navys role across the full spectrum of military operations—from combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. U.S. 3rd Fleet works together with our allies and partners to advance freedom of navigation, the rule of law, and other principles that underpin security for the Indo-Pacific region.

EAST CHINA SEA (June 10, 2015) Sailors aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20) wait in the well deck for Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU)to return from a combat rubber raiding craft training exercise. Green Bay is assigned to the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group and is on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

A U.S. Navy Mark 3 patrol craft pulls alongside a raft from the Iranian mine-laying ship IRAN AJR. Country: Unknown

Coast Guard Cutter Resolute's crew rescues migrants from a sinking vessel near Lake Worth Inlet, Florida, Oct. 30, 2022. The people were transferred to Bahamian authorities on Nov. 1, 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

Crew members observe from the port bridge wing as the frigate USS ELMER MONTGOMERY (FF-1082) participates in an underway replenishment during exercise West Wind '88. Subject Operation/Series: WEST WIND '88 Country: North Atlantic Ocean

U.S. Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit conduct amphibious operations during KAMANDAG 6, Zambales, Philippines, Oct. 7, 2022. KAMANDAG is an annual bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences.

220529-N-TI693-1157MEDITERRANEAN SEA (May 29, 2022) Mauritanian sailors board the Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary sea base USS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB 4) during a visit, board, search and seizure drill as part of exercise Phoenix Express 22, May 29, 2022. Phoenix Express 22, conducted by U.S. Naval Forces Africa, is a maritime exercise designed to improve cooperation among participating nations in order to increase maritime safety and security in the Mediterranean.

060418-N-2893B-001. Base: Bgs Drazki (F 41) Country: Tunisia (TUN)

060924-N-3310F-090. Country: Pacific Ocean (POC)

On the top deck of the USS San Diego, a helicopter flies overhead to monitor conditions as the Orion underway recovery test begins in the Pacific Ocean, about 100 miles off the coast of San Diego, California on Feb. 20, 2014. The Orion boilerplate test vehicle and other hardware are secured in the well deck of the ship in preparation for the test. NASA and the U.S. Navy conducted tests to prepare for the recovery of the Orion crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from a deep space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, hardware and personnel in open waters. Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

050811-N-0318R-037. Base: USS Bataan (LHD 5)

220415-N-IL330-1189 PACIFIC OCEAN (Apr. 15, 2022) - A landing craft, air cushion (LCAC) and two small boats operate in the vicinity of amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) in the Pacific Ocean, April 15, 2022. Tripoli is underway conducting routine operations in U.S. 3rd Fleet.

AQABA, Jordan - U.S. Coast Guardsmen assigned to the Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA) Maritime Engagement Team, and members of the Royal Jordanian Naval Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) team, prepare to board a vessel during Exercise Eager Lion 22 at the Royal Jordanian Naval Base, Jordan, September 7, 2022. Eager Lion 22 is a multilateral exercise hosted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, designed to exchange military expertise, and improve interoperability among partner nations, and considered the capstone of a broader U.S. military relationship with the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF). Jordan is one of U.S. Central Commands (USCENTCOM) strongest and most reliable partners in the Levant sub-region.

PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 24, 2020) Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class Ronald Elizondo, from Austin, Texas, top, and Aviation Electricians Mate 3rd Class Garrett Cates, from Irvine, Calif., assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21, participate in a search-and-rescue (SAR) training during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2020. Ten nations, 22 ships, one submarine, and more than 5,300 personnel are participating in Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) from August 17 to 31 at sea around the Hawaiian Islands. RIMPAC is a biennial exercise designed to foster and sustain cooperative relationships, critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The exercise is a unique training platform designed to enhance interoperability and strategic maritime partnerships. RIMPAC 2020 is the 27th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

220803-A-KS490-1050 GULF OF AQABA (August 3, 2022) U.S. Coast Guardsmen assigned to fast response cutter USCGC John Scheuerman (WPC 1146) reel in a rescue dummy to a patrol boat in the Gulf of Aqaba, Aug. 3. John Scheuerman is one of the newest additions to a slate of Coast Guard ships supporting U.S. 5th Fleet.

220720-N-UM706-1707 SAN DIEGO (July 20, 2022) Civilian Mariners aboard Range Support Craft One recover a towed sonar array during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022 in Southern California. Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, three submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The worlds 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 worlds oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

110706-N-ZZ999-048GULF OF ADEN (July 6, 2011) Sailors assigned to the guided- missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) rescue a crew member from the Liberian-flagged motor vessel MT Brilliante Virtuoso. The crew of Brilliante Virturoso abandoned ship due to a fire aboard the vessel.

220807-N-XB010-1002 PHILIPPINE SEA (Aug. 7, 2022) Sailors assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) supervise the well deck as Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), fall into formation in combat ready reconnaissance crafts (CRRCs). New Orleans, part of the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group, along with the 31st MEU, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Members of the Philippine Navy Special Operations Group, U.S. Navy SEALs with Special Warfare Group, and Australian Operators with 2nd Commando Regiment conduct maritime security operations together during exercise Balikatan 22 off the coast of Palawan, Philippines, April 7, 2022. Balikatan is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. Balikatan, Tagalog for 'shoulder-to-shoulder' is a longstanding bilateral exercise between the Philippines and the United States highlighting the deep-rooted partnership between both countries. BK22 is the 37th iteration of the exercise and coincides with the 75th anniversary of U.S. Philippine security cooperation.

PACIFIC OCEAN (May 13, 2022) Machinists Mate 3rd Class Zachary Martinez, form Elmwood Park, N.J., swims in the ocean to train search-and-rescue skills during a man overboard drill aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69). USS Milius is assigned to Task Force 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navys largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th fleets principal surface force. Milius is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability through alliances and partnerships while serving as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photograph by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James S. Hong)

A Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force rescue swimmer with Air Rescue Squadron 71, Fleet Air Wing 31, reaches for a rope tied to a JMSDF ShinMaywa US-2 during the JMSDF New Year flight at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, January 5, 2023. The JMSDF New Years flight is typically held at the beginning of January, and this years flight showcased the US-2s capabilities, as well as Fleet Air Wing 31s ability to swiftly and successfully conduct search and rescue missions. This is the first time in 9 years the event has been held at Iwakuni.

Military Photographer of the Year Winner 1999 TITLE: "Search and Rescue" CATEGORY: Portfolio PLACE: Third Place Portfolio CAPTION INFORMATION: USS Barry DDG 52, homeport Norfolk, Virginia, August 3, 1999. Search and rescue swimmer OS2 J.P. Powell practices strapping BM3 Henry Taylor to a stretcher and pulling him to safety, during a man overboard drill. Such drills are frequent due to the resent loss of a crewman on one of the Norfolk based aircraft carriers. IMAGE FILE #DD-SP-01-00055. Country: Unknown

060730-N-8797R-005. Base: USS Cleveland (LPD 7) Country: Pacific Ocean (POC)

Orion recovery training and operations continue in the Pacific Ocean on Sept. 14, 2014. NASA and the Navy team on board the USS Salvor are evaluating procedures for pulling a test version of the spacecraft out of the ocean using the ship's crane. Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

SOUTH CHINA SEA (Jan. 15, 2021) Sailors conduct "horseshoe maneuvers" in a rigid-hull inflatable boat prior to boarding the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) during a visit, board, search and seizure drill. John S. McCain is assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navys largest forward-deployed destroyer squadron and the U.S. 7th Fleets principal surface force.

S65-18645 (23 March 1965) --- Navy swimmers are shown attaching a flotation collar to the Gemini-Titan 3 (GT-3) spacecraft during recovery operations following the successful flight. A helicopter hovers in the background. Astronauts Virgil I. Grissom and John W. Young are still in the spacecraft.

221007-N-XB010-1014 Philippine Sea (Oct. 7, 2022) - Sailors assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) stand by to assist Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) returning to the well deck in combat ready rubber crafts (CRRCs). New Orleans, part of the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group, along with the 31st MEU, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

011016-N-0715P-002. Base: Crowley 450-10 Barge Scene Major Command Shown: CINCPACFLT

050626-N-0905V-055. Base: USS Antietam (CG 54)

U.S. Air Force Capt. Nicholas Brown, 33rd Fighter Wing F-35A Lightning II student pilot, gets rescued by U.S. Coast Guard Boatswains Mate Petty Officer 2nd Class Sean Shepard during exercise Nomad Lightning in the Gulf of Mexico at the Eglin Aquatic Test and Training Range, May 5, 2022. Our Airmen and pilots integrated into a joint rescue exercise with the U.S. Coast Guard, where personnel rehearsed a search and rescue procedure for a downed pilot offshore.

Special Forces team members transport a simulated casualty during Vigilant Guard 17-03, a natural disaster response exercise, at Magen's Bay in St. Thomas, May 15. The members were air dropped on the beach and hiked for a number of miles to conduct the rescue of a lost service member.

Coast Guard Cutter Heriberto Hernandez's crew repatriates 41 people to a Dominican Republic Navy vessel just off the Dominican Republic Oct. 31, 2022. The group was interdicted Oct. 28, 2022 aboard a grossly overloaded makeshift vessel during an illegal voyage in the Mona Passage. (U.S. Coast Guard photo).

220910-N-EH998-1155 RED SEA (Sept. 10, 2022) Sailors assigned to guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94) conduct visit, board, search, and seizure drills with the Royal Jordanian Navy in the Red Sea, Sept. 10. Nitze is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to help ensure maritime security and stability in the Middle East region.

Pararescuemen and Combat Rescue Officers from the 103rd Rescue Squadron load onto their boat after being dropped from the back of a C-17 Globemaster during a joint training exercise with Human Space Flight Support Detatchment 3 at Marine Core Base Hawaii,March 5 2017.During this training, a rigid inflatible boat (known as a "Hard Duck") was dropped from a C-17 along with several jumpers and an inflatable device known as the "Front Porch".This device is intended to be mated to the Orion spacecraft, and can be used to support astronauts who have made a water landing in the Orion spacecraft following a flight. US Air National Guard

The USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC 1140) crew onload supplies from the Marshallese government in Majuro Lagoon on Feb. 24, 2024, for delivery to Wotje Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. Underway in support of Operation Blue Pacific, the cutter crew showcased the effectiveness of the U.S. and RMI maritime bilateral agreement, conducting a shared patrol with shipriders emphasizing collaborative efforts in maritime safety, security, and stewardship in terms of resource protection. Coast Guard photo)

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Briana Johnson, an aircraft avionics technician with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (Rein.), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, jumps from the flight deck during a swim call aboard USS New Orleans (LPD 18) in the South China Sea, Sept. 25, 2022. The 31st MEU is operating aboard ships of the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group in the 7th fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific Region.

120816-N-AP176-010 U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Aug. 16, 2012) Explosive ordnance disposal technicians, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) Platoon 12-3-1, embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65), swim toward a barrel while an HH-60H Sea Hawk helicopter flies overhead during a training exercise. Enterprise is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions for Operation Enduring Freedom.

120118-N-VH839-032 ARABIAN SEA (Jan. 18, 2012) Sailors from the guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey's (DDG 105) visit, board, search and seizure team provide food, water and medical supplies to distressed Iranian mariners. Dewey, assigned to Commander, Task Force 50, responded to a distress call from the Iranian fishing dhow Al Mamsoor, which indicated it was sinking and in need of assistance. Dewey is conducting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

DN-ST-88-09995. Country: Pacific Ocean (POC)

U.S. Coast Guard Marine Protector-class patrol boat USCGC Sea Otter (WPB-87362) enforces the safe maritime mitigation zone while a rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) attached to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 11 prepare to deploy an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) during a mine countermeasure (MCM) live fire training exercise off the coast of San Clemente Island, Aug. 26, 2022. The MCM live fire is realistic, relevant training that enablesour joint, multi-domain forces to integrate and rehearse a critical capability and complex skillset.

040720-N-1464F-007. Subject Operation/Series: UNITAS 45-04 Country: Pacific Ocean (POC)

A Coast Guard Cutter Campbell law enforcement crew stopped a grossly overloaded, unsafe vessel near Turks and Caicos, May 9, 2022. Coast Guard Cutter Campbell is homeported in Kittery, Maine.

NASAs SpaceX Crew-4 Splashdown. Support teams work around the SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom spacecraft shortly after it landed with NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Robert Hines, Jessica Watkins, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti aboard in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. Lindgren, Hines, Watkins, and Cristoforetti are returning after 170 days in space as part of Expeditions 67 and 68 aboard the International Space Station.

U.S. Marines with Maritime Raid Force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct physical training with Republic of Korea and Philippine reconnaissance Marines during KAMANDAG 6, at Marine Barracks Gregorio Lim, Philippines, Oct. 4, 2022. The U.S., Republic of Korea, and Philippine reconnaissance Marines conducted PT together every morning to boost morale and strengthen relationships. KAMANDAG is an annual bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen interoperability, capabilities, trust and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences.

Java Sea (Jan. 4, 2015) The recovery team from the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 102) signals the boat deck crew while conducting search and recovery operations in support of the Indonesian-led Air Asia flight QZ8501 search efforts. Sampson is home ported in San Diego and is in the midst of an independent deployment to the Western Pacific.

MARINE CORPS BASE, Hawaii (Jan. 30, 2019) U.S. Navy Lt. Connie Ramsburg, assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSC) 37, assists U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (MAG) 463 during a water rescue training event off the shore of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Jan. 30, 2019. The purpose of the training is to make Marines and Sailors more proficient in water rescue operations.

060429-N-4154B-004. Base: USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)

Partner force team members Helocast during the water and land course of the Fuerzas Comando 2022 competition into the Gulf of Fonseca, Honduras on June 20, 2022. The overall competition promotes military-to-military relationships, increases mission readiness, and improves regional security.

220715-N-EE352-1267 BELLOWS AIR FORCE STATION, Hawaii (July 15, 2022) - Mexican Naval Infantry travel in formation on combat rubber raiding crafts during an amphibious operations training with the U.S. Marine Corps at Bellows Beach as part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The worlds 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 worlds oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (April 7, 2013) Two adrift Afghans were spotted by Sailors aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66). Hue City is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility promoting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Michigan conservation officers and Cheboygan County sheriff's deputies recover simulated victims of an active shooter during an exercise aboard a ferry in northern Lake Huron April 27, 2022. The full-scale exercise, dubbed Straits Shield, tested the ability of law enforcement and emergency medical personnel to secure a commercial vessel and treat injured people in the event of an incident. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer John Masson.

U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 2/5, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, navigate in formation during a company formation exercise off the USS New Orleans (LPD 18) in the Philippine Sea, Aug. 6, 2022. Blackhearts practiced formations on the water to refine infantry tactics. The 31st MEU is operating aboard the ships of the Tripoli Expeditionary Strike Group in the 7th fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific Region.

U.S. Marines with 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, 3d Marine Division conduct an amphibious raid during Recon Day on Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 2, 2022. Recon Day provided Marines considering lateral moves from other specialties with an opportunity to observe reconnaissance tactics and skills. .

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - NASAs Orion boilerplate test vehicle floats in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego surrounded by U.S. Navy divers in Zodiac boats during a portion of the Underway Recovery Test 2. U.S. Navy personnel in a rigid hull inflatable boat, at left, prepare for their part in the testing. The U.S. Navys USS Anchorage is ready for recovery nearby.The testing is being conducted to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep-space mission. The underway recovery test will allow the team to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep-sp

030205-M-7031A-053. Base: Marine Corps Base, Ternate State: Cavite Province Country: Philippines (PHL) Scene Major Command Shown: 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines

A U.S. Navy Sailor assigned to USS New Orleans (LPD 18), jumps from the catwalk during a swim call aboard New Orleans in the South China Sea, Sept. 25, 2022. The 31st MEU is operating aboard ships of the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group in the 7th fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific Region.

221007-N-LK647-0555 ATLANTIC OCEANFrom left: Machinists Mate 1st Class Andrew Crosswhite, Ens. Zachary Catz, Boatswains Mate 2nd Class Hope Scott, and Quartermaster 2nd Class Sean Dolan, all assigned to the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), collect GPS buoys in a rigid-hull inflatable boat following a Naval Surface Fire Support exercise while Normandy is underway as part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, Oct. 7, 2022. The first-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is on its inaugural deployment conducting training and operations alongside NATO Allies and partners to enhance integration for future operations and demonstrate the U.S. Navys commitment to a peaceful, stable and conflict-free Atlantic region.

220409-N-GF955-1252CARIBBEAN SEA - (April 9, 2022) -- The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) operates in the Caribbean Sea, April 9, 2022. Billings is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force Souths mission, which includes counter-illicit drug trafficking missions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA BELLOWS, Hawaii (July 18, 2022) U.S. Marines with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division and Australian Army Soldiers launch combat rubber raiding craft during helo-cast training for Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022, July 18. Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. 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 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

Coast Guard Cutters - Dauntless (WMEC 624) - 26-HK-73-31. CGC Dauntless -- Coast Guardsman boarding RHI boat -- 050928. Hurricane Katrina

(Left to right) U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Caitlyn Mason and Petty Officer 3rd Class Dylan Neathery, assigned to the Famous-class medium endurance cutter USCGC Mohawk (WMEC 913), rescue a sea turtle caught in a fishing net in the Atlantic Ocean, July 14, 2022. USCGC Mohawk is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Africa area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.

Coast Guard personnel conduct port security operations in CHA 2, a rigid-hull inflatable boat, at Port au Prince, Haiti during Operation Restore Democracy. Exact Date Shot Unknown. Subject Operation/Series: RESTORE DEMOCRACY Base: Port Au Prince Country: Haiti (HTI)

DN-ST-88-02104. Base: USS Dwight D Eisenhower (CVN 69) Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

An MH-60S Sea Hawk attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21 deploys an Airborne Mine Neutralization System (AMNS) in Pyramid Cove during a mine countermeasure (MCM) live fire training exercise off the coast of San Clemente Island, Aug. 26, 2022. The MCM live fire is realistic, relevant training that enables our joint, multi-domain forces to integrate and rehearse a critical capability and complex skillset.

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