The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) departed Naval Station Rota, Spain to begin its fifth scheduled forward-deployed patrol in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe April 3.

Ross's patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations serves to bolster relationships with allies and regional partners, and its participation in theater exercises will contribute toward improving our maritime forces and maintaining security and stability in the region.

Quote:

"I am very excited to go underway for patrol one last time with the officers and crew of the USS Ross. They do amazing work and I look forward to the days ahead and the many things they will accomplish,"
Cmdr. R.J. Caldwell,
commanding officer USS Ross

Quick Facts:
This is Ross's fifth patrol since being forward-deployed to Rota, Spain.

Ross is currently working with allies and regional partners to help develop and improve our maritime forces, maintain regional security and work toward mutual goals in order to advance security and stability in Europe.

Ross, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/.