General John C. Aquilino

Today, we celebrate , an opportunity to reflect on the outstanding service of Native American Marines in defense of our nation. Native American Marines are heirs to a proud legacy, most famously defined by the actions of the Navajo Code Talkers of WWII – utilizing their unwritten native language as an unbreakable code, they played a crucial role in secure communications and significantly contributed to the Allied victory in the Pacific. Today, Native American Marines serving in our ranks carry on this tradition of service, ingenuity and warrior culture.

Semper Fidelis.

Adiós Rota! 🇪🇸 🇺🇸

USS PORTER (DDG-78) departs from Rota, Spain, May 2, 2023. Porter is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied and partner interests.

📷: IC3 Hailey Servedio

Making their rounds!

🎯 Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class Nayeli Lara mans an M240B machine gun aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS PORTER (DDG-78) during a live-fire exercise in support of exercise Formidable Shield 2023, May 13, 2023.

🌊 Formidable Shield is a biennial exercise involving a series of live-fire events against subsonic, supersonic, and ballistic targets, incorporating multiple Allied ships, aircraft, and ground forces working across battle spaces to deliver effects.

📸: MC Specialist 2nd Class Sawyer Connally

🇺🇸–🇹🇭

U.S. Pacific Fleet and conclude .

“The goal of this exercise was to strengthen our individual and combined abilities to better anticipate threats, protect sovereignty, respond to natural disasters and promote development.”

Read more:
https://dvidshub.net/r/j3y8ae

📸: MC1 Brandon Parker

Photos of the Day:

1️⃣ USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) hosts commanders from U.S., United Kingdom and French navy Middle East commands in the Strait of Hormuz. Royal Navy, Marine nationale, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet
2️⃣ Strike Fighter Squadron 37 - Ragin' Bulls flight operations from USS Gerald R. Ford - CVN 78 in the Atlantic Ocean.
3️⃣ USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) holds a GQ drill during Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO - STRIKFORNATO exerciseFormidable Shield 2023 in the north Atlantic Ocean. U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet
4️⃣ USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) holds a change of command at Naval Air Station North Island.
VIEW the U.S. Navy photo gallery at: https://dvidshub.net/r/uw5gq2