TRINCOMALEE, Sri Lanka -- The 27th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise series between the U.S. Navy and the armed forces of partner nations commenced with CARAT Sri Lanka, June 24.

PACIFIC OCEAN - U.S. and Republic of Singapore navies join together in Guam for exercise Pacific Griffin 2021, June 21 through July 7, to conduct advanced maritime training.

YOKOSUKA, Japan - USS Mustin (DDG 89) departed Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, June 22, following 15 years of service forward-deployed to U.S. 7th Fleet.

OKINAWA, Japan - America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) deployed June 10 for scheduled routine operations across the Indo-Pacific.

SEA OF JAPAN - USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) concludes a 5-day multi-domain maritime presence operation in the Sea of Japan, June 11–15.

YOKOSUKA, Japan - U.S. 7th Fleet Enforcement Coordination Cell (ECC) leadership recently visited with partner nations and embarked the French Navy ship, FS Tonnerre (L9014), part of the Jeanne d’Arc Task Group, in the vicinity of Sasebo, Japan.

MANILA, Philippines — U.S. 7th Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Bill Merz arrived in the Philippines on June 10 to engage with counterparts within the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for a scheduled two-day visit.  

PHILIPPINE SEA – Vice Adm. Bill Merz, commander of U.S. 7th Fleet, visited the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), June 2.

PHILIPPINE SEA – Vice Adm. Bill Merz, commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, visited the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious assault ship, USS America (LHA 6), at sea, June 2.

YOKOSUKA, Japan – Nearing 50 years as the Navy’s largest forward-deployed destroyer squadron (DESRON) and U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force, commander, DESRON 15 was established as Commander, Task Force (CTF) 71, Jan. 1, 2021.