The Avenger-class mine countermeasure ship USS Pioneer (MCM 9) pulls into Ishigaki Port on Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 7, 2023. U.S. Sailors hosted a tour of the ship and participated in a community relations event where they cleaned a beach along with members of the U.S. Consulate General Naha. The USS Pioneer is a forward-deployed class Mine Countermeasures Ship out of Fleet Activity Sasebo, underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. This marks the first time that a U.S. Navy ship has pulled into Ishigaki since 2009, and the first that the Pioneer has made port at the island. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Gunnery Sgt. Andrew Ochoa)
Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG 62) and America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) with embarked elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11 and Commander, Task Force (CTF) 76 arrived in Da Nang, Vietnam, Dec. 8, while conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.
