Santa Claus, flying in an MH-60S Sea Hawk, attached to the "Tridents" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9, greets Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke guided-missile destroyer USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) in the Mediterranean Sea, Dec. 24, 2023. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is currently operating in the Mediterranean Sea. The U.S. maintains forward-deployed, ready, and postured forces to deter aggression and support security and stability around the world. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacob Mattingly)

KINGSTON, Jamaica (July 13, 2024) Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ships USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10) prepares to depart Kingston, Jamaica as part of Continuing Promise 2024. Continuing Promise 2024 helps to strengthen the defense readiness of Caribbean and Latin American partners against malign threats in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adriones Johnson)

Hampton Roads Sailors and government civilians attend training in the NIWC Atlantic Mobile Training Lab (MTL), part of a week of training for fast-attack submarines, June 24-28, 2024.

NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily (July 11, 2024) A P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 45 prepares to take off as part of the 28th iteration of the annual exercise Breeze 2024, July 11, 2024. Led by the Bulgarian Navy and scheduled in the Black Sea, Breeze 2024 is focused on anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, force protection/anti-terrorism operations, maritime interdiction operations and anti-piracy mission areas. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan D. Berlier)

NORFOLK, Va. (June 17, 2024) Students in the nine-week Aegis Tactical Action Officer course execute realistic, relevant, and complex scenarios in a threat environment that they may face at sea in the Reconfigurable Combat Information Center Trainer at Surface Combat Systems Training Command Hampton Roads onboard Naval Station Norfolk. (U.S. Navy photo by Electronics Technician 1st Class Cassondra Johnson)

Lt. Cmdr. Zachary Smith, Continuing Promise 2024 Mission Commander, and Lt. Daniel Ehrlich, Continuing Promise 2024 Public Affairs Officer, greet U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica N. Nick Perry prior to his visit and tour of Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10) at Kingston Wharves.