This past week saw several high level visits by the White House and the Department of Defense to Naval installations and ships around the world and to Afghanistan.
After attending NATO and European Union meetings in Poland, President Obama visited U.S. Naval Station Rota in Spain and the USS Ross.
Lead photo: U.S. and Spanish military leaders renders honors to President Barack Obama as Air Force One arrives at Naval Station Rota. Naval Station Rota enables and supports operations of U.S. and allied forces and provides quality services in support of the fleet, fighter, and family Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brian Dietrick
President Barack Obama shakes hands with a Sailor after speaking to U.S. and Spanish service members along with their families during his visit to Naval Station Rota. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brian Dietrick
President Obama departs USS Ross after a tour aboard the ship. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brian Dietrick
Vice President Joe Biden visited the Sailors aboard USS John C. Stennis, July 14, while the ship and the John C. Stennis Strike Group were participating in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) maritime exercise. “Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 30 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 that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971.”
Vice President Joe Biden exits an MV-22 Osprey assigned to the Greyhawks of Marine Medium Tiltroter Squadron 161 on USS John C. Stennis’ flight deck during the Rim of the Pacific maritime exercise. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan Jiang)
Vice President Joe Biden poses for a photograph with Sailors in the hangar bay aboard USS John C. Stennis during the RIMPAC maritime exercise (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Luke Moyer)
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John M. Richardson visited the amphibious assault ship USS America to meet with shipboard and embarked leadership, speak with Sailors and Marines, and tour the ship’s spaces, July 15. Richardson’s visit coincided with this year’s Rim of the Pacific Exercise.
USS America (LHA 6) underway in the waters near the Hawaiian Islands as part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016 (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Nathan Laird/Released)
During his visit, Richardson took the time to reenlist and promote Sailors previously selected through the Navy’s meritorious advancement program.
Also, Defense Secretary Ash Carter visited Afghanistan to discuss the Resolute Support mission with Afghan government leaders in Kabul and to visit with the troops at Bagram Airfield, July 12, 2016.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter exchanges greetings with a soldier upon arriving at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, July 12, 2016. DOD photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Tim D. Godbee
Defense Secretary Ash Carter observes the landscape from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter while traveling to Kabul, Afghanistan, July 12, 2016. DoD photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Tim D. Godbee
Finally, Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Afghan airmen participating in the Train, Advise, Assist Command – Air program at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, July 16, 2016 (below).
DoD photo by Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Dominique A. Pineiro.
But probably the best meetings by far were those of sailors returning home to their loved ones after long deployments.
Sailors man the rails aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) as it returns to homeport at Naval Station Norfolk, completing an 8-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jordan Twiss)
Cmdr. Alysa L. Ambrose Mansfield, commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely, greets her family during a homecoming celebration at Naval Station Norfolk. Gravely arrived as part of Carrier Strike Group 8 after an eight-month deployment in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th fleet areas of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Wolpert)
All photos and parts of captions: DOD
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.